The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countries
Member States of the
European Union
Candidate countries and
potential candidates
Founders
New ideas for lasting peace and prosperity…
Konrad Adenauer Alcide De Gasperi
Winston Churchill
Robert Schuman Jean Monnet
The EU symbols
The motto:
United in diversity The European anthem
The euro The European flag Europe Day, 9 May
24 official languages
Български English latviešu valoda português
Čeština español lietuvių kalba Română
dansk français magyar slovenčina
Deutsch Gaeilge Malti slovenščina
eesti keel hrvatski Nederlands suomi
Ελληνικά Italiano polski svenska
Enlargement: from six to 28 countries
The big enlargement: uniting east and west
1989 Fall of Berlin Wall – end of Communism
EU economic help begins: Phare
programme
1992 Criteria set for a country to join the EU:
• democracy and rule of law
• functioning market economy
• ability to implement EU laws
1998 Formal negotiations on enlargement begin
2002 Copenhagen summit agrees to a big
enlargement of 10 new countries
2004 Ten new EU members: Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia
2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the EU
2013 Croatia joins on 1 July
Candidate countries and potential candidates
Wealth
Area Population
Country (gross domestic
(x 1000 km²) (millions)
product per person)
Bosnia and
51 3.8 7 800
Herzegovina
Montenegro 14 0.6 10 600
Kosovo under UN
Security Resolution 11 1.8 :
1244
The former Yugoslav
25 2.1 10 000
Republic of Macedonia
Albania 28 2.9 7 800
Serbia 77 7.2 9 600
Turkey 783 77.7 14 400
The 28 EU countries
4 272 508.2 27 400
together
The treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on law
1952 The European Coal and Steel Community
1958 The treaties of Rome:
• The European Economic Community
• The European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM)
1987 The European Single Act: the Single
Market
1993 Treaty on European Union - Maastricht
1999 Treaty of Amsterdam
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:
Dignity Freedoms Equality
Solidarity Citizens’ rights Justice
EU population compared to the rest of the world
Population in millions (2015)
EU surface area compared to the rest of the world
Surface area (x 1000 km²)
How big are the EU countries?
Surface area (x 1000 km²)
How many people live in the EU?
Population in millions (2015)
508 million in total
The European economy: stronger together
2008: Worldwide financial crisis starts in the United States.
Coordinated response from European leaders:
• 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
Banking Union: EU-wide supervision of banks and a mechanism to close
down failing banks
• Better economic governance:
European Semester: annual procedure to coordinate public budgets
Euro+ pact, ‘Fiscal compact treaty’: mutual commitments to sound public
finances
Ten priorities for Europe
The European Commission of President Jean-Claude
Juncker focuses on:
The investment plan: a new A reasonable and balanced free
boost for jobs, growth and trade agreement with the United
investment States
A connected digital single market An area of justice and fundamental
rights based on mutual trust
A resilient energy union with a
forward-looking climate A new policy on migration
change policy
A deeper and fairer internal
Europe as a stronger global actor
market with stronger industries
A deeper and fairer economic A European Union of democratic
and monetary union change
An investment plan for Europe
The European Fund for Strategic Investments
• 2015: Europe’s economy begins to recover after the crisis, but the level of
investment is still low. Investors have money, but little confidence
• New EU fund from mid-2015
• The fund starts with € 21 billion from EU sources
• Investments are made in viable business projects, for example in digital and
energy infrastructure, transport, small businesses, green projects and
innovation
• Multiplier effect: public money will trigger private investors to follow suit,
with up to € 315 billion
• Could create 1.3 million new jobs over three years
Banking union: safe and reliable banks
The EU’s response to the financial crisis:
• Rulebook:
New laws to ensure that banks have adequate capital and
better risk control
• Supervision:
The European Central Bank supervises the +/- 130 of the
most important banks
National bank supervisors work closely together
• Resolution:
A Europe-wide Single Resolution Board can decide to wind
down a failing bank
This is backed by a fund that banks themselves pay into,
thus ensuring that taxpayers do not have to pick up the
bill.
How does the EU spend its money?
2017 EU budget: € 157.9 billion
= 1.05 % of gross national income
Climate change – a global challenge
To stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2014 to:
• 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
Solidarity in practice: the EU cohesion policy
2014-2020: € 352 billion invested in infrastructure, business,
environment and training of workers for the benefit of poorer regions
and citizens
• 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
The euro – a single currency for Europeans
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
EU countries using the euro
EU countries not using the euro
The single market: freedom of choice
Four freedoms of movement:
• goods
• services
• people
• capital
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
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
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
Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed
EU action has helped bring about:
• cleaner bathing water
• much less acid rain
• lead-free petrol
• easy 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)
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
Protecting consumers' rights
As a consumer you are protected by basic laws all
over the EU, even when you travel or shop online
• Clear labelling
• Health and safety standards
• Unfair practice in contracts prohibited
• Passengers’ rights, such as compensation for long delays
• Help to resolve problems
Three key players
The European Parliament
- voice of the people
Antonio Tajani, 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 Council (summit)
Council of Ministers
European Parliament (The Council) European Commission
Court of Court of Economic and Social
Justice Auditors Committee Committee of the Regions
European Investment Bank Agencies European Central Bank
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
Decides EU laws and budget together with the Council of Ministers
Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work
Number of members elected in each country
Austria - 18 Germany - 96 Netherlands - 26
Belgium - 21 Greece - 21 Poland - 51
Bulgaria - 17 Hungary - 21 Portugal - 21
Croatia - 11 Ireland - 11 Romania - 32
Cyprus - 6 Italy - 73 Slovakia - 13
Czech Republic - 21 Latvia - 8 Slovenia - 8
Denmark - 13 Lithuania - 11 Spain - 54
Estonia - 6 Luxembourg - 6 Sweden - 20
Finland - 13 Malta - 6 United Kingdom - 73
France - 74
Total - 751
The European political parties
Number of seats in the European Parliament
per political group (December 2016)
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
Summit of heads of state and government of all EU countries
• Held at least 4 times a year
• Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies
• President: Donald Tusk
A high representative for foreign affairs and security
Federica Mogherini
• 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
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
The European Central Bank: managing the euro
Mario Draghi
President of the Central Bank
• Ensures price stability
• Controls money supply and decides
interest rates
• Supervises that banks are safe
• Works independently from governments
The European Economic and Social Committee:
voice of civil society
353 members
• 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
The Committee of the Regions: voice of local government
353 members
• Represents cities and regions
• Advises on new EU laws and policies
• Promotes the involvement of local government in EU
matters
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
