1. European Union

2. The EU… not always as big as it is today!
WWI and WWII - a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became convinced that the only way to establish a lasting peace was to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries who trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict.
French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed integration of the coal and steel industries of Western Europe.
six countries founded the European Coal and Steel Community:
Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands

3. Over time, more and more countries decided to join the European Coal and Steel Community, and treaties were signed.
In 1957, the European Union was founded.
It reached its current size of 28 member countries with the accession Croatia on July 1, 2013.

4. A Few Facts Brussels, Belgium less than one-half the size of the U.S.
Brussels, Belgium is the capital
Headquarters are located in Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg (France), and Strasbourg (France)
The EU will continue to grow as an increasing number of countries express interest in membership.
These countries can be divided into candidate countries and potential candidate countries.
Candidate countries are in the process of integrating EU legislation into national law, while potential candidate countries do not yet fulfill the requirements for EU membership.
Brussels, Belgium

5. Joining the EU
Becoming a member of the EU is a complex procedure which does not happen overnight. Once an applicant country meets the conditions for membership, it must implement EU rules and regulations in all areas.
Any country that satisfies the conditions for membership can apply. These conditions are known as the ‘Copenhagen criteria’:
1) a free-market economy,
2) a stable democracy and the rule of law, and
3) the acceptance of all EU legislation, including of the euro.

7. 24 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Bulgarian French Maltese Croatian German Polish
Czech
Greek
Portuguese
Danish
Hungarian
Romanian
Dutch
Irish
Slovak
English
Italian
Slovene
Estonian
Latvian
Spanish
Finnish
Lithuanian
Swedish

8. Three Pillars - major areas of cooperation -
The European Union
European Community domain (focus is economic issues such as trade, jobs, money, etc. )
Common foreign and security policy
Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
The European Union has three major areas of cooperation—known as the three pillars.
The major focus of the first pillar is economic issues such as trade, jobs, money, etc., but some non-economic domestic issues are also acted upon in a cooperative fashion.
The second pillar focuses on developing common policies for dealing with non-EU members, and for expanding security cooperation against outside threats—including foreign terrorists.
The third pillar is about increased police cooperation. For instance, someone committing a crime in one country can’t expect to cross the border into a different EU country and get away with it. Also, police departments across Europe often share information about criminals and their activities.
The Treaties

9. The Court of Justice – upholding the law –
28 independent judges, one from each EU country 4Rules on how to interpret EU law 4Ensures EU laws are used in the same way in all EU countries 4Decides EU laws and budget together with Council of Ministers 4Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work
The third pillar also includes common EU courts that decide cases dealing only with EU laws and regulations, but not the laws of individual countries.

10. Other EU Headquarters in France
Luxembourg, France
Strasbourg, France

11. The euro – a single currency for Europeans
Can be used everywhere in the euro area
4coins: one side with national symbols; one side common
4notes/bills: no national side
Question: Can you name something dealing with the European economy that has happened since the EU was formed?
Answer: A common currency—the euro.
EU countries using the euro
EU countries not using the euro

12. back (country specific)
front
French coins
back (country specific)

13. “Schengen”
an area shared by 26 European countries that have abolished passport or any other type of border control in-between their internal borders
allows free movement within these 26 EU countries
No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries; freedom to move.
Controls strengthened at EU external borders.
More cooperation between police from different EU countries.
You can buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries.
chengen-fact-sheet.html
At first, someone might think that the EU has made life more complicated and increased the number of regulations, but it has also simplified many things and offered individuals more freedom in certain areas.
© Corbis

14. The EU symbols The European anthem The European flag Europe Day, May 9
Consider these images. What does the future of Europe have in store? Do you think the European Union will ever become something like the United States of Europe? Why or why not?
Divide students into small groups and have them discuss the above questions. Also have them compare the functions of the EU and the US,
Have groups create a Venn diagram showing the EU and the US as the major circle. They should list functions unique to each, and note similarities in the intersecting area.
Report back to the class, creating a large Venn diagram on the board or screen for all to see.
Europe Day, May 9
The motto: United in Diversity 

15. EU Symbols The European Flag The European Anthem Europe Day
The 12 stars in a circle symbolize the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. Blue represents the sky of the Western world, the stars are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol of unity; the number of stars is fixed.
The European Anthem
"Ode to Joy" - The melody used to symbolize the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Von Beethoven.
Europe Day
The ideas behind the European Union were first put forward on May 9, 1950 by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. This is why May 9 is celebrated as a key date for the EU.
The EU Motto
"United in Diversity" is the motto of the European Union. It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.

16. Remember…
The member countries of the European Union share a common currency (the euro) and a common government.