Http:// Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed The European Union 1 All photographs and graphics courtesy of European Commission Audiovisual Library

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Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed

The European Union 1

All photographs and graphics courtesy of European Commission Audiovisual Libraryhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/mediatheque/photo/index_en.html



The European Union



The EU, USA and Japan

Comparison between Japan-EU-USA population, share of world GDP, share of world trade



Institutions



Political

• EU Parliament – Currently 785 MEPs. Based in France, Belgium and Luxembourg– Passes laws, monitors budget, monitors EU institutions

• EU Council – Ministerial representations from each member state– Passes laws, approves EU budget, co-ordination

of economic policies, develops foreign policy, co-ordinates anti-crime strategies

• EU Commission – 20 Commissioners appointed by each member state every 5 years– Proposes legislation, implements EU policies,

law enforcement, international co-ordination



Financial

• European Central Bank – inflation target of less than 2% per year, sets short term interest rates for the whole eurozone area, – Implements and monitors Eurozone monetary policy

• European Investment Bank – ‘owned’ by member states. Raise finance through financial markets, – Invest in projects to promote aims of EU –

large scale projects

• Court of Auditors – monitors legality and efficiency of EU income and expenditure



Legal

• Court of Justice – one judge from each member state– Interprets and applies EU legislation



Member States pre-Enlargement



Member States

Map reproduced with permission from www.theodora.com



Enlargement - New Members

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Poland

Slovakia

Slovenia



Activities



Agriculture

• CAP – Common Agricultural Policy– Sustainablility– Food Quality– Animal Welfare– Food Safety– Control– Farmers welfare/incomes– Employment in agriculture



Fisheries

• CFP – Common Fisheries Policy– Conservation

of fish stocks– Aid to fishing industry

to cope with changing circumstances

– Monitor supply and demand for fish

– Negotiate with non-EU members on fishing issues



Regions• European Regional Development Fund• European Social Fund• European Agricultural Guidance and

Guarantee Fund• Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

– Aims to encourage development of poorer regions– Increase employment opportunities– Encourage new industry to locate in areas

of structural decline– Develop infrastructure in poorer regions– Encourage new training methods and facilities



Finance/Economics

• Euro – monitor introduction and development• Tax Harmonisation – reduce differentials

in tax regimes throughout the single market to aid competition and transparency

• Single Market – free movement of goods, services, labour and capital between member states



Eurozone 2001

Members of the Eurozone, 2001. UK, Denmark and Norway currently outside the zone

Documents

Http:// Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed The European Union 1 All photographs and graphics courtesy of European Commission Audiovisual Library