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The European Union

THE EUROPEAN UNION50 Years of Peace, Prosperity and Partnership


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The European Union

The European Union:

Since the creation of the EU half a century

ago, Europe has enjoyed the longest period of

peace in its history.

EU enlargement has helped overcome the

division of Europe contributing to peace,

prosperity, and stability across the continent.

A single market and a common currency

conditions for companies and consumers.

EU has united the citizens of Europe while

preserving Europes diversity.

European Union


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The European Union

What is the European Union?

Shared values: liberty, democracy, respect

for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

and the rule of law.

Largest economic body in the world.

Worlds most successful model for advancing

peace and democracy.

Worlds most open market for goods and

commodities from developing countries.

27

7

30

490

million

Member States

Combinedpopulation of

EU MemberStates

Percent of worldspopulation

Percent ofglobal GDP

55Percent of combinedworldwide OfficialDevelopment Assistance


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The European Union

EU Institutions

European Commission

27 Commissioners, representing the European

perspective, each responsible for a specific policy area.

EUs executive branch proposes legislation, manages

Unions day-to-day business and budget, and enforcesrules.

Negotiates trade agreements and manages Europes

multilateral development cooperation.

Council of the European Union

EUs main decision-making body, comprised of

ministers of 27 Member States, representing Member

States point of view.

Decides on foreign policy issues.

European Commission PresidentJos Manuel Barroso (Portugal)


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The European Union

EU InstitutionsEuropean Parliament

Voice of European citizens members elected for

five-year terms.

With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU

budgets.

Approves EU Commissioners.

European Court of Justice

Highest EU judicial authority.

Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied

correctly and uniformly.

Can act as an independent policy maker but the

ECJ can only deal with matters covered by the

Treaties.

European Parliament in session


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The European Union

European Central Bank The European Central Bank (ECB) is the

central bank for Europe's single currency,

the euro.

The ECBs main task is to maintain theeuro's purchasing power and thus price

stability in the euro area.

The euro area comprises the 16 European

Union countries that have introduced the

euro since 1999.

The ECB operates independently from

Member State governments.

The euro was introduced in 1999


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The European Union

The uro


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The European Union

The uro

In 1999, the euro area was established as a

currency in eleven of the then fifteen EU

Member States.

Of the 27 EU Member States today, sixteen

have adopted the euro.

One of the striking benefits of a single

European currency are low interest rates due

to a high degree of price stability.

The euro is as stable and credible as the best-

performing currencies previously used in the

euro area countries.


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The European Union

1951:

In the aftermath of World War II, the aim was to

secure peace among Europes victorious andvanquished nations and bring them together as

equals, cooperating within shared institutions.

Based on a plan by French Foreign Minister

Robert Schuman.

Six founding countries Belgium, the FederalRepublic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg

and the Netherlands signed a treaty to run heavy

industries (coal and steel) under common

management.

European Coal andSteel Community

Jean Monnet and other leaders withthe first European ingot of steel


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The European Union

Treaty of Rome

The six founding countries

expanded cooperation to other

economic sectors, creating the

European Economic Community

(EEC) or common market.

As a result, people, goods,services, and capital today

move freely across the Union.

1957:

Signing of the Treaty of Rome


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The European Union

1951

Founding

Members

Belgium

France

Germany

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands


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The European Union

1973

Denmark

IrelandUnited Kingdom


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The European Union

1981

Greece


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The European Union

1986

Portugal

Spain


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The European Union

1995

Austria

FinlandSweden


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The European Union

2004

Cyprus

Czech RepublicEstonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Poland

Slovakia

Slovenia


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The European Union

2007

Bulgaria

Romania


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The European Union

Candidate Countries

Croatia

Former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia

Turkey

Potential

Candidate Countries

Albania

Bosnia & HerzegovinaMontenegro

Serbia including Kosovo

under UN Security Council

Resolution 1244


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The European Union

Enlargement has:

Inspired reforms and consolidated common

principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human

rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and

market economy.

Enhanced the EUs weight in the world and made it

a stronger and more attractive international

partner.

Enlargement has been a

success story for the

European Union and

Europe as a whole. It hashelped to overcome the

division of Europe and

contributed to peace and

stability throughout the

continent.

European Council

DeclarationDec. 15, 2006 1957 2007

Member States 6 27

Population 174 million 493 million

Languages 4 23


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The European Union

Trade

European Commission represents all 27 EU

Member States before the World Trade

Organization.

Supports free trade and open markets, within

the rules-based structure of the WTO, to

promote growth and jobs in both industrialized

and developing countries.

The world's most open market for products and

commodities from developing countries 40%

of all EU imports are from developing countries.

Addressing Global Challenges


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The European Union

Economy

The economy of the European

Union generates a GDP of over

12,279.033 trillion (US$16,228.23 trillion in

2010) according to the IMF, making it thelargest economy in the world.

The EU economy consists of a single market and

the EU is represented as a unified entity in

the WTO.

The operation of the EU has an agreed budget of141 billion for the year 2011, and 862 billion

for the period 20072013


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The European Union

Imports & Exports

With just 7% of the worlds population, the EU's trade

with the rest of the world accounts for around 20% of

global exports and imports.

The EU is the worlds biggest exporter and the

second-biggest importer.

Around two thirds of EU countriestotal trade is done

with other EU countries.

The United States is the EUs most important trading

partner, followed by China. In 2005, the EU accounted

for 18.1% of world exports and 18.9% of imports.

European Union is the largest trader in agricultural

products. Total trade in agricultural products

amounted to almost 153 billion in 2007, split

between EU imports of 77.4 billion and exports of

75.1 billion


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The European Union

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