https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8 fhbYuPT-rw The European Union https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8 fhbYuPT-rw

What is the European Union? It is European = it is situated in Europe It is a union = it unites countries and people. 1) © Wikimedia Commons/Ssolbergj 2) © fotolia/FotolEdhar Background information: The European Union counts nine Outermost Regions, which are geographically very distant from the European continent: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/themes/outermost-regions/ Let's have a closer look: What do Europeans have in common? How has the EU developed? What does the EU do today?

500 million of them in the European Union. It stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north Europe – our continent Europe is one of the world's continents. 500 million of them in the European Union. and from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east. More than 700 million people live in Europe, to the Mediterranean Sea in the south

War Battle of the Bulge. 16 December 1944–25 January 1945. 186,369 casualties

Founding of the European Union If you want to prevent war, you have to work together. A first step is to control jointly the things needed for war: steel for weapons and energy for factories and transport… © Wikimedia Commons/Eugen Nosko Background information: http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/index_en.htm

European Coal and Steel Community The Treaty on the European Coal and Steel Community was signed in Paris in 1951. … That's why six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) agreed to unite their coal and steel industries. They set up the European Coal and Steel Community. © European Union

European Economic Community The European flag was adopted by the European Economic Community in 1985. The six countries got on so well that they decided to go a step further and to set up the European Economic Community (EEC). The main idea was to create a 'common market'. That means getting rid of all national obstacles to free trade, such as border checks and customs duties, as if Europe were one country. © European Union

The Øresund Bridge, completed in 1999, links Sweden and Denmark. Not just economics… That's why the EEC decided to change its name to the 'European Union'. Over the years, more and more countries joined the EEC. They started working together in many more areas, for example, to protect the environment and to build better roads and railways across Europe. The Øresund Bridge, completed in 1999, links Sweden and Denmark. © Wikimedia Commons/Soerfm

What the European Union does today The EU tries to make life better for all of us. Let's have a look at some examples. Money In the past, each country in Europe had its own currency. Now, many EU countries use one single currency, the euro. 1) © Wikimedia Commons/Avij 2) © Gruber/Haigermoser Background information: The euro: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/money/euro/index_en.htm Erasmus +: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/index_en.htm Freedom for young people The EU supports young people who want to spend some time studying or training in another European country. (Erasmus+) :

What the European Union does today Freedom for employees EU citizens may live and work in any EU country of their choice. 1) © Wikimedia Commons/aldenchadwick 2) © Flickr/Christopher Michel Background information: Free Movement - EU nationals: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=457&langId=en Climate action: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/citizens/eu/index_en.htm Climate action In international negotiations on climate change, the European Union speaks with one voice. Do you want to become a chef? Why not work in another EU country to uncover the secrets of its cuisine.

What the European Union does today Helping poorer regions Some areas in Europe need money to build new roads and railways; in other places many people are looking for a job. The EU provides funding for specific projects that address these needs. © European Union Background information: Regional policy: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/ EU development aid: https://europa.eu/eyd2015/en/content/eu-development-aid Helping neighbouring countries The EU helps other countries improve schools, hospitals and social protection. Lida and Alina from Moldova have benefited from this. Wastewater treatment plant in Croatia, financed with the help of EU funds

What the European Union does today There are many more things the EU is doing today: Helping to save energy Protecting the environ-ment Ensuring the food we eat is safe Making phone calls cheaper 1) © flickr/Franck Vassen 2) © flickr/Mystery People 3) © fotolia/FOOD-pictures Background information: Environment: http://europa.eu/pol/env/index_en.htm Making phone calls cheaper: The EU has liberalised the telecommunications market which means that national monopolies have been broken up and competition permitted. The EU intervenes directly where there is insufficient competition. For example, mobile calls abroad have become cheaper as a result of action by the European Parliament and the European Commission. Energy: http://europa.eu/pol/ener/index_en.htm Food safety: http://europa.eu/pol/food/index_en.htm and lots, lots more!

The EU is even working in space with satellites that help cars navigate more intelligently and make air travel safer. © European Union Background information: http://europa.eu/pol/space/index_en.htm

How the EU makes decisions As you can imagine, it takes a lot of effort by many people to organise the EU and make everything work. So who does what? The European Commission is made up of 28 Commissioners, one from each member state. Their job is to think about what would be best for the EU as a whole. They propose laws and make sure that the EU treaties are respected. © flickr/Álvaro Millán Background information: How the European Union works: http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/how-the-european-union-works-pbNA0414810/ European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm

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The European Parliament The European Parliament represents all people in the EU. Its members are chosen in an election every five years. All adult citizens in the EU have the right to vote. The Parliament discusses and decides on new EU laws together with the Council. © European Union 2015 - European Parliament Background information: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en

Court of Justice, Luxembourg The Court of Justice The Court of Justice makes sure that all EU countries stick to the laws that they have agreed upon. The Court also checks that these laws respect 'fundamental rights', such as freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. © Wikimedia Commons/sprklg Background information: http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/court-justice/index_en.htm Court of Justice, Luxembourg

Taking care of our money The European Court of Auditors checks if the budget of the European Union has been spent correctly. © Wikimedia Commons/Victor Lopes © Wikimedia Commons/Euseson Background information: European Central Bank: http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/ecb/index_en.htm European Court of Auditors: http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/court-auditors/index_en.htm The European Central Bank is responsible for maintaining price stability in the euro area.

How the EU has grown 1957 It started with six members. 1973 It expanded to 9 countries, this is when the UK joined. 1981 Greece joined, so there were 10 members. 1986 Spain and Portugal joined to make it 12 EU countries. 1995 Three more countries joined making the current 15 members. 2004 Ten more countries joined. Most of them are from Eastern Europe. There are now 25 members. Talks will begin about Turkey joining. 2007 Two other countries are due to join bringing the total to 27

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