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 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? 23 Languages Google under investigation by the eu Lybia worries EU foreign ministers