The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countries
Member States of the European Union
Candidate countries and potential candidates
Konrad Adenauer
Robert Schuman
Winston Churchill
Alcide De Gasperi
Jean Monnet
New ideas for lasting peace and prosperity…
Founders
The EU symbols
The European flag
The European anthem
The euro Europe Day, 9 May
The motto: United in diversity
24 official languages
Български
Čeština
dansk
Deutsch
eesti keel
Ελληνικά
English
español
français
Gaeilge
hrvatski
Italiano
latviešu valoda
lietuvių kalba
magyar
Malti
Nederlands
polski
português
Română
slovenčina
slovenščina
suomi
svenska
Enlargement: from six to 28 countries
The big enlargement: uniting east and west
Fall of Berlin Wall – end of Communism EU economic help begins: Phare programme
Criteria set for a country to join the EU: • democracy and rule of law • functioning market economy • ability to implement EU laws
Formal negotiations on enlargement begin
Copenhagen summit agrees to a big enlargement of 10 new countries
Ten new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
1989
1992
1998
2002
2004
2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the EU 2013 Croatia joins on 1 July
Candidate countries and potential candidates
Country Area (x 1000 km²) Population (millions)
Wealth (gross domestic
product per person)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 51 3.8 7 600
Montenegro 14 0.6 10 900
Iceland 100 0.3 30 000
Kosovo under UN Security Resolution 1244
11 1.8 :
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 25 2.1 9 100
Albania 28 2.9 7 500
Serbia 77 7.2 9 100
Turkey 783 76.7 13 800
The 28 EU countries together 4 272 507.4 25 700
The treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on law
The European Coal and Steel Community
The treaties of Rome: • The European Economic Community • The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)
The European Single Act: the Single Market
Treaty on European Union - Maastricht
Treaty of Amsterdam
1952
1958
1987
1993
1999
2003 Treaty of Nice
2009 Treaty of Lisbon
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Binding for all the EU's activities 54 articles under 6 titles:
Freedoms Equality
Solidarity Citizens’ rights Justice
Dignity
EU population compared to the rest of the world
Population in millions (2014)
506
1537
1252
127 144
316
EU China India Japan Russia United States
EU surface area compared to the rest of the world
Surface area (x 1000 km²)
4272
9600
3287
378
17098
9831
EU China India Japan Russia United States
How rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world?
Size of economy: GDP in trillions of euro (2012)
Wealth per person: GDP per person (2012)
12,89
5,96
1,33
4,32
1,46
11,77
EU China India Japan Russia United States
25200
5800 2600
26300
12000
37100
EU China India Japan Russia United States
How big are the EU countries?
Surface area (x 1000 km²)
63
3
50
6
43
9
35
7
33
8
31
3
30
2
24
9
23
8
13
2
11
1
93
92
88
84
79
70
65
65
49
45
43
42
31
20
9
2,6
0,3
Fran
ce
Spa
in
Sw
eden
Ger
man
y
Finl
and
Pola
nd
Ital
y
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Rom
ania
Gre
ece
Bul
garia
Hun
gary
Port
ugal
Cro
atia
Aus
tria
Cze
ch R
epub
lic
Irel
and
Lith
uani
a
Latv
ia
Slo
vaki
a
Esto
nia
Den
mar
k
Net
herlan
ds
Bel
gium
Slo
veni
a
Cyp
rus
Luxe
mbo
urg
Mal
ta
How many people live in the EU?
Population in millions (2014)
507 million in total
80
,8
65
,9
64
,3
60
,8
46
,5
38
,5
19
,9
16
,8
11
,2
11
10
,5
10
,4
9,9
9,6
8,5
7,3
5,6
5,5
5,4
4,6
4,3
2,9
2,1
2
1,3
0,9
0,6
0,4
Ger
man
y
Fran
ce
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Ital
y
Spa
in
Pola
nd
Rom
ania
Net
herlan
ds
Bel
gium
Gre
ece
Cze
ch R
epub
lic
Port
ugal
Hun
gary
Sw
eden
Aus
tria
Bul
garia
Den
mar
k
Finl
and
Slo
vaki
a
Irel
and
Cro
atia
Lith
uani
a
Slo
veni
a
Latv
ia
Esto
nia
Cyp
rus
Luxe
mbo
urg
Mal
ta
GDP per inhabitant: the spread of wealth
GDP per inhabitant (2013) Index where the average of the 28 EU countries is 100
26
4
12
9
12
7
12
7
12
6
12
5
12
4
11
9
11
2
10
8
10
6
98
95
87
86
83
80
76
75
75
74
72
68
67
67
61
54
47
Luxe
mbo
urg
Aus
tria
Net
herlan
ds
Sw
eden
Irel
and
Den
mar
k
Ger
man
y
Bel
gium
Finl
and
Fran
ce
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Ital
y
Spa
in
Mal
ta
Cyp
rus
Slo
veni
a
Cze
ch R
epub
lic
Slo
vaki
a
Port
ugal
Gre
ece
Lith
uani
a
Esto
nia
Pola
nd
Hun
gary
Latv
ia
Cro
atia
Rom
ania
Bul
garia
Europe 2020 – Europe's growth strategy
In 2020, EU leaders agreed the overall strategy to overcome the economic crisis by means of:
• Smart growth
Better education, more research, greater use of communication technologies
• Sustainable growth
A resource-efficient, greener and more competitive economy
• Inclusive growth
More and better jobs, investment in skills and training, modernisation of the labour market and welfare systems and spreading the benefits of growth to all parts of the EU
• Good economic governance
Better coordination of economic policy
The five targets for the EU in 2020
Agreed in the Europe 2020 strategy:
• Employment
75 % of 20 to 64-year-olds to be employed
• Research and innovation
3 % of the EU's GDP to be invested in research
• Climate change/energy
Greenhouse gas emissions to be 20 % lower than in 1990
20 % of energy to be from renewable sources
20 % increase in energy efficiency
• Education
School drop-out rates to be below 10 %
40 % of 30 to 34-year-olds to be completing third-level education
• Poverty
20 million fewer people in, or at risk of, poverty and social exclusion
Europe's response to the economic crisis
2008: Worldwide financial crisis starts in the United States Coordinated response from the EU's national governments, the European Central Bank and the European Commission:
• Commitment to the euro and to financial stability
• New crisis management tools and reforms of rules:
European Stability Mechanism: fund to help countries in extraordinary economic difficulties
New laws for stability of banks
EU-wide financial supervisory authorities
• Better economic governance:
European Semester: annual procedure to coordinate public budgets
Euro+ pact, ‘Fiscal compact treaty’: mutual commitments to sound public finances
How does the EU spend its money?
2015 EU budget: € 145.3 billion
= 1.02 % of gross national income
Global Europe:
including development aid 6 %
Other, administration 6 %
Smart and inclusive growth: jobs, competitiveness, regional development 46 %
Security and citizenship, justice 2 %
Sustainable growth – natural resources:
agriculture, environment 40 %
Climate change – a global challenge
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % by 2030, compared to 1990
• raise the share of renewable energy to 27 % by 2030 (wind, solar, hydro power, biomass)
• increase energy efficiency by 27 % by 2030
To stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2014 to:
Energy sources in a changing world
Fuel used in the EU in 2013
Share of fuel imported from outside the EU in 2013
44%
87%
65%
100%
2%
53%
Coal Oil Gas Nuclear (uranium)
Renewables All types of fuel
Research - investing in the knowledge society
Spending on research and development in 2012 (% of GDP)
2,1%
3,0%
1,8%
3,3%
2,7%
EU EU objective 2020
China Japan United States
Solidarity in practice: the EU cohesion policy
• Regional fund
• Social fund
• Cohesion fund
Less-developed regions: GDP per capita under 75 % of the EU average Transition regions: GDP per capita between 75 % and 90 % of the EU average More-developed regions: GDP per capita over 90 % of the EU average
2014-2020: € 352 billion invested in infrastructure, business, environment and training of workers for the benefit of poorer regions and citizens
The euro – a single currency for Europeans
EU countries using the euro
EU countries not using the euro
Why the euro? • No fluctuation risk and foreign exchange
cost
• More choice and stable prices for consumers
• Closer economic cooperation between EU countries
Can be used everywhere in the euro area • Coins: one side with national symbols,
one side common
• Notes: no national side
Beating inflation
European Economic and Monetary Union: stable prices
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Average annual inflation in the 18 EU countries using the euro (2013)
The single market: freedom of choice
The single market has led to:
• significant reductions in the price of many products and services, including airfares and phone calls
• more choice for consumers
• 2.8 million new jobs
Four freedoms of movement:
• goods
• services
• people
• capital
Free to move
‘Schengen’
• No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries
• Controls strengthened at the EU’s external borders
• More cooperation between police from different EU countries
• Buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cheaper mobile abroad
The EU has reduced the cost of phone calls, text messaging and data roaming abroad by over 80 % since 2007
Sending an SMS when abroad
Calling from abroad (per minute)
Downloading data when abroad
Euro cent, excluding VAT
Going abroad to learn
Erasmus+
Every year, more than 400 000
young people study or pursue
personal development in other
European countries with the
support of the EU’s Erasmus+
programme for education,
training, youth and sport.
Improving health and the environment
EU action has helped bring about:
• cleaner bathing water • much less acid rain • lead-free petrol • free and safe disposal of old electronic
equipment • strict rules on food safety from farm to
fork • more organic and quality farming • more effective health warnings on
cigarettes • registration and control of all chemicals
(REACH)
Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed
An area of freedom, security and justice
• EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
• Joint fight against terrorism
• Cooperation between police and law-enforcers in different EU countries
• Coordinated asylum and immigration policies
• Civil law cooperation
The EU: an exporter of peace and prosperity
• World trade rules
• Common foreign and security policy
• Development assistance and humanitarian aid
The EU – a major trading power
% of global exports goods (2012)
% of global exports services (2012)
The EU is the biggest provider of development aid in the world
The EU provides over half of all development aid
Official development aid, billion € (2013)
56
24
8
EU United States Japan
Protecting consumers' rights
• Clear labelling
• Health and safety standards
• Unfair practice in contracts prohibited
• Passengers’ rights, such as compensation for long delays
• Help to resolve problems
As a consumer you are protected by basic laws all over the EU, even when you travel or shop online
Gender equality
The gender pay gap:
Women in the EU earn on average 16.4 % less per hour than men.
Three key players
The European Parliament
- voice of the people
Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament
The European Council and the Council
- voice of the Member States
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council
The European Commission
- promoting the common interest
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
The EU institutions
European Parliament
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions
Council of Ministers (The Council) European Commission
European Investment Bank European Central Bank Agencies
European Council (summit)
How EU laws are made
Citizens, interest groups, experts: discuss, consult
Commission: makes formal proposal
Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly
National or local authorities: implement
Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation
The European Parliament – voice of the people
Number of members elected in each country
Decides EU laws and budget together with the Council of Ministers Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work
Austria - 18
Belgium - 21
Bulgaria - 17
Croatia - 11
Cyprus - 6
Czech Republic - 21
Denmark - 13
Estonia - 6
Finland - 13
France - 74
Germany - 96
Greece - 21
Hungary - 21
Ireland - 11
Italy - 73
Latvia - 8
Lithuania - 11
Luxembourg - 6
Malta - 6
Total - 751
Netherlands - 26
Poland - 51
Portugal - 21
Romania - 32
Slovakia - 13
Slovenia - 8
Spain - 54
Sweden - 20
United Kingdom - 73
The European political parties
Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (November 2014)
Greens/European Free Alliance 50
European Conservatives and Reformists 70
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
67 European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) 221
Non-attached members 52
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
191
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
52
Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy 48
Total: 751
Council of Ministers – voice of the Member States
• One minister from each EU country
• Presidency: rotates every six months
• Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament
• Manages the common foreign and security policy
Council of Ministers – how they vote
Most decisions in the Council are taken by ‘double majority’. A decision must have the support of at least:
• 55 % of Member States (16 countries)
• Member States that represent 65 % of the EU’s population
Summit at the European Council
• Held at least 4 times a year
• Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies
• President: Donald Tusk
Summit of heads of state and government of all EU countries
A high representative for foreign affairs and security
• Double role:
– chairs meetings of the Foreign Affairs
Council
– Vice-President of the European
Commission
• Manages the common foreign affairs and
security policy
• Head of the European External Action Service
Federica Mogherini
The European Commission – promoting the common interest
28 independent members, one from each EU country • Proposes new legislation
• Executive organ
• Guardian of the treaties
• Represents the EU on the international stage
The Court of Justice – upholding the law
28 independent judges, one from each EU country
• Rules on how to interpret EU law • Ensures EU countries apply EU laws in the same way
The European Ombudsman
Emily O’Reilly The European Ombudsman
• Investigates complaints about poor or
failed administration by the EU
institutions
• For example: unfairness, discrimination,
abuse of power, unnecessary delay,
failure to reply or incorrect procedures
• Anyone in the EU can make a complaint
The European Court of Auditors: getting value for your money
28 independent members • Checks that EU funds are used properly
• Can audit any person or organisation dealing with EU funds
• Ensures price stability
• Controls money supply and decides
interest rates
• Supervises that banks are safe
• Works independently from governments
The European Central Bank: managing the euro
Mario Draghi President of the Central Bank
The European Economic and Social Committee: voice of civil society
• Represents trade unions, employers, farmers,
consumers and so on
• Advises on new EU laws and policies
• Promotes the involvement of civil society in EU matters
353 members
The Committee of the Regions: voice of local government
• Represents cities and regions
• Advises on new EU laws and policies
• Promotes the involvement of local government in EU
matters
353 members
Civil servants working for the EU
The Commission employs about 23 000 permanent civil servants and 11 000 temporary or contract workers Other EU institutions employ about 10 000 staff • Permanent civil servants
• Selected by open competitions
• Come from all EU countries
• Salaries decided by law
• EU administration costs €15 per EU citizen per year
• EU staff will be reduced by 5% between 2013 and 2017
Getting in touch with the EU
Questions about the EU? Europe Direct can help
• By phone, email or webchat
• Over 500 regional information centres
europa.eu/europedirect
The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countriesDiapositiva numero 2The EU symbols24 official languagesEnlargement: from six to 28 countriesThe big enlargement: uniting east and westCandidate countries and potential candidatesThe treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on lawThe EU Charter of Fundamental RightsEU population compared to the rest of the worldEU surface area compared to the rest of the worldHow rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world?How big are the EU countries?How many people live in the EU? GDP per inhabitant: the spread of wealthEurope 2020 – Europe's growth strategyThe five targets for the EU in 2020Europe's response to the economic crisisHow does the EU spend its money?Climate change – a global challengeEnergy sources in a changing worldResearch - investing in the knowledge societySolidarity in practice: the EU cohesion policy The euro – a single currency for Europeans Beating inflationThe single market: freedom of choiceFree to moveCheaper mobile abroadGoing abroad to learnImproving health and the environmentAn area of freedom, security and justiceThe EU: an exporter of peace and prosperityThe EU – a major trading powerThe EU is the biggest provider of development aid in the worldProtecting consumers' rights Gender equalityThree key playersThe EU institutionsHow EU laws are madeThe European Parliament – voice of the peopleThe European political partiesDiapositiva numero 42Council of Ministers – how they voteSummit at the European CouncilDiapositiva numero 45Diapositiva numero 46Diapositiva numero 47The European OmbudsmanDiapositiva numero 49Diapositiva numero 50Diapositiva numero 51Diapositiva numero 52Diapositiva numero 53Getting in touch with the EU