The European Union (EU) The World’s Strongest Supranational Organization

What is it? The European Union (EU) is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity. It is not a State intended to replace existing states, but it does represent a greater compromise of sovereignty (independence) than any other international organization. The EU is unique; its Member States have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.

History of the EU The historical roots of the European Union lie in the Second World War. –Idea of European integration conceived to prevent such killing and destruction from ever happening again –First proposed by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in a speech on May 9, This date, the "birthday" of what is now the EU, is celebrated annually as Europe Day

GROWTH OF THE EU

Admission of Romania and Bulgaria 2007 Major debates about Turkey Croatia and Macedonia are new candidates

CONFIRMATION OF CORE-DOMAIN MODEL

How does it work? There are five EU institutions, each playing a specific role: –European Parliament (one of two legislative bodies in the EU; elected by the peoples of the Member States) –Council of the European Union (EU’s highest Legislative Body; has legislative initiative; is made up of representatives appointed by member states according to a population-based allotment) –European Commission (EU’s executive body; one commissioner per country appointed by each government) –Court of Justice (ensures compliance with the EU laws) –Court of Auditors (manages the EU budget) These are flanked by five other important bodies: –European Economic and Social Committee (expresses the opinions of organized civil society on economic and social issues) –Committee of the Regions (expresses the opinions of regional and local authorities) –European Central Bank (responsible for monetary policy and managing the euro) –European Ombudsman (deals with citizens' complaints about maladministration by any EU institution or body) –European Investment Bank (helps achieve EU objectives by financing investment projects)

The Euro The Single European Act (1986) and the Treaty on European Union (1992) built on this –introduced Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) –laid the foundations for a single currency –name “Euro” was selected in 1995 –in January 1999, the exchange rates of the participating currencies were irrevocably set and Euro area Member States began implementing a common monetary policy –in January 2002, 12 States in the EU introduced the new euro banknotes and coins

The Eurozone Coins and banknotes 1 st used Jan 1, 2002 Cyprus scheduled to join in 2008 Slovakia scheduled to join in 2009 Estonia scheduled to join in 2010 Sweden is technically obliged to join but the EU has made public that they will not enforce this with regard to Sweden Britain and Denmark have a “derogation” releasing them from having to join

Impact of the Eurozone What impact do you think the Eurozone has on cultural diffusion? What impact do you think the Eurozone has on economic development? Why are some countries avoiding joining?

A strong currency!

Why have bills different sizes & colors? What values are reflected in these “artifacts” that are not found in American money?

Costs of staying out Export problems –Access to EU markets is not guaranteed Inflation problems –Europeans nervous about the Euro due to expansion of the EU invest in Swiss Francs, inflating the value of the currency and inhibiting Swiss exports Capital flight –High construction costs, expensive labor, and skill shortages already make investment in Switzerland unattractive –Several multinational corporations, such as Roche, Sulzer and Alusuisse, have frozen planned investment projects in Switzerland –Large Swiss companies, including Nestle, are shifting activities out of Switzerland in fear of discrimination by other nations –Already four out of five employees of the top 15 Swiss companies work in other countries Scientific information lag –EU scientific exchange programs accept Swiss citizens only if they fail to fill such exchanges with persons from EU countries Accumulated bilateral agreements and cooperation may create de-facto incorporation in the EU for Switzerland

The EU in comparative perspective

US dominates entertainment industry in Europe Cultural hegemony?

SUMMARY The European Union is the strongest supranational organization in the world –shared currency & financial management The EU is growing geographically, and its growth suggests a core- domain model –core and domain are borne out by distribution of income The EU does not appeal to all Europeans (at least not yet) –small states in particular seem skeptical Roughly comparable to the US in some ways –population slightly larger than that of the US –somewhat more densely settled than the US –economy is at least as strong as the American economy –other social statistics (e.g. literacy, infant mortality & homicide) are as good or better than the US