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The Composition of the EU 27 States Includes:
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The European Union
By: Helen Squitieri and Erik Mahal
Before We Start
A brief video on the European Union and the benefits it brings its people A strive for free education or at least the
opportunity to be educated anywhere in the EU In unrestricted traveling (eurorail) Free trade between member states No tariffs between EU states Health services Human Rights European Union Introduction Video
The Composition of the EU
27 States Includes:
Membership? Candidates for Membership
Croatia Iceland Macedonia Montenegro Turkey
Potential Candidate Herzegovina Serbia
Joining the EU Each Country must meet the
Copenhagen criteria Defined by the 1993
Copenhagen European Council Requirements
Stable democracy Respect human rights and rule
of law Functioning market economy
Able to compete within the EU Accepting obligations of
membership Follow EU law
Basic Information
Population 495 million people
Area 4 million square kilometers France is the largest country Malta is the smallest country All countries are located in Europe
Classification Supranational organization
The Treaties that form the EU
Important Information Regarding the EU Convergence criteria
The steps EU members must satisfy in order to be eligible to join the single currency Includes debt and deficit level checks, interest and currency
exchange rate levels. Ex. Greece was denied on the first try
Stability Pact: Each country must meet each guideline Annual budget deficit must not exceed 3% of the total GDP Annual inflation rate must not exceed 3% Germany and France (presumed leaders of the EU) both
have violated the pact with no consequences
Allocation of Funds
Information cont. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Subsidy: a guaranteed payment from a government to a producer, usually farmers, for a certain commodity
An artificial raising of prices Designed to make all subsidies equal between member
states France fought hardest against this regulation (it hurts it
richer farmers, while benefitting poorer farmers in poorer countries.
Fundamental Charter of Rights Basic individual rights according to the EU Includes provisions:
Banning capital punishment, guaranteed health care for all, equal pay for equal work among genders
Government Seven parts:
European Parliament Council of the European
Union European Commissions European Council European Central Bank Court of Justice of the
European Union European Court of
Auditors
Leaders European Council
Herman Van Rompuy European Commissions
Jose Manuel Barroso European Parliament
Jerzy Buzek European Union
Jerzy Buzek
European Parliament
Legislative branch The battle for seats
Originally based on population per state Today, eastern European countries receive less votes,
so the older countries are favored Voting turnouts
Poor Even with hype about new members, still poor turnout
Possibly because people see this branch a weak or meaningless
Those who do vote are more likely to cast a protest vote according the their countries performance
European Court of Justice
Membership Each EU member state has one judge
Holds judicial review over decisions made by courts in member states
ex. The Court of Justice can overturn the House of the Lord’s decisions
Has power to limit member sovereignty via its rulings
EU Constitution?
Includes all treaties mentioned previously Would create a stronger EU presidency Would coordinate EU foreign policy Tony Blair allowed for a referendum
More states followed The proposed constitution failed.
Headquarters Brussels (largest seat)
European Council mostly based in Brussels The Council of the European Union (9 out of 12 months) European Commissions
Luxembourg Secretariat of the Council of the European Parliament The Council of the European Union (in April, June and October) The European Court of Justice General Court Court of Auditors European Investment Bank
Strasburg European Parliament
Frankfurt European Central Bank
Legislative Procedure
Current events
23 Languages are spoken in the European Union so how does each committee communicate?
Google under investigation by the eu Lybia worries EU foreign ministers