1. Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities
The
EUROPEAN
UNION
EUROPEAN
UNION
Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities

2. STANDARDS:
SS6E8 Analyze the benefits of and barriers to voluntary trade in Europe.
d. Describe the purpose of the European Union and the relationship between member nations.
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3. TEACHER INFO: CLOZE Notes
The next pages are handouts for the students to use for note-taking during the presentation. (Print front to back to save paper and ink.)
Check the answers as a class after the presentation.
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4. European Union CLOZE Notes 1
Benefits
Together
Purpose
History
The EU’s strict environmental standards have helped some countries improve their environment.
Citizens are allowed to move freely among member countries’ in order to find better jobs.
Wealthy countries are sharing wealth with poorer countries.
Not having tariffs has led to improved trade and higher standards of living among members.
The EU has built a strong relationship among its member nations.
This helps make small countries more competitive in the world market.
The EU believes that when countries work together they are a more powerful force in the world because they involve:
The European Union members work together for advantages that would be out of their reach if each were working alone.
Even though the EU’s original purpose was to encourage free trade within Europe, it now has several other important interests:
Goods produced in Europe can move freely, without tariffs, to other European nations, which leads to huge cost savings to consumers and businesses.
Today, the EU is a powerful trade bloc that makes up 1/5th of the world’s trade.
The European Union was originally established to set up free trade among member countries.
In 2016, the EU has grown to 27 members.
The result was a deal signed by 6 countries in 1957.
After WWII ended, France and Germany came up with a plan to ensure the countries would never go to war with each other again.
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between many European countries.
and more land areas.
more people,
more money,
Promoting social issues like protecting human rights and preserving the environment
Ensuring the safety and security of its members
Creating a stable, peaceful relationship between countries
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European Union CLOZE Notes 1

5. European Union CLOZE Notes 2
Brexit
Government
Euro
The UK will continue to abide by EU treaties and laws, but not take part in any decision-making, while it negotiates a withdrawal agreement and the terms of its relationship with the now 27 nation bloc.
Brexit supporters also wanted the UK to take back full control of its borders and to reduce the number of people coming into the country to live and/or work.
They believed the UK was being held back by the EU, which they said imposed too many rules on business and charged billions of pounds a year in membership fees for little in return.
The people who voted “leave” say they want the UK to be less influenced by other countries and to have its own laws rather than having to go by the rules of the EU.
In June 2016, the people in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
Not every country has been happy with this…
In recent years, the European Parliament’s powers have increased.
The European Parliament CANNOT pass laws.
Elections have been held every 5 years since 1979.
It does not represent the countries’ governments, but rather the citizens of the EU.
There is, however, a European Parliament, which is the only directly elected EU body.
Each country still makes its own laws, has a military, and elects its leaders.
It acts as a confederation.
The European Union does NOT handle all the government business for the members.
For example, French francs and German marks have been replaced by the euro.
19 member countries have chosen to give up their own currency and exchange it for euros.
Countries who use the euro do not have to worry about exchanging currency.
A common currency makes trade easier, more efficient, and less expensive.
The EU’s most important economic accomplishment is the establishment of a single currency called the euro.
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European Union CLOZE Notes 2

6. European Union CLOZE Notes 3
Non-Members
WHY?
There are several other countries that are NOT EU members, including Turkey, Switzerland, Iceland, & Russia.
Russia prefers to be an independent world leader over its own resources and economy.
The EU has strict limits on the fishing industry, and Iceland does not want the EU’s control on its most important economic activity.
Switzerland has one of the world’s highest standards of living and prefers its economy to not be regulated under the EU.
Turkey’s culture, stability, and location to the Middle East causes some EU members to not want Turkey to join.
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European Union CLOZE Notes 3

7. The
EUROPEAN
UNION
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8. History
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between many European countries.
After WWII ended, France and Germany came up with a plan to ensure the countries would never go to war with each other again.
The result was a deal signed by 6 countries in 1957.
In 2016, the EU has grown to 27 members.
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9. *The UK withdrew from the EU in 2016.
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10. The European Union flag was designed by Arsene Heitz and Paul Levy in 1955.
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11. Purpose
The European Union was originally established to set up free trade among member countries.
Today, the EU is a powerful trade bloc that makes up 1/5th of the world’s trade.
Goods produced in Europe can move freely, without tariffs, to other European nations, which leads to huge cost savings to consumers and businesses.
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12. Purpose
Even though the EU’s original purpose was to encourage free trade within Europe, it now has several other important interests:
Creating a stable, peaceful relationship between countries
Ensuring the safety and security of its members
Promoting social issues like protecting human rights and preserving the environment
The European Union members work together for advantages that would be out of their reach if each were working alone.
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13. Together
The EU believes that when countries work together they are a more powerful force in the world because they involve:
more money,
more people,
and more land areas.
This helps make small countries more competitive in the world market.
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14. The US is much larger than separate European countries.
When the EU countries combine, they have more people and a larger economy, and they can compete in a global economy.
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15. Benefits
The EU has built a strong relationship among its member nations.
Not having tariffs has led to improved trade and higher standards of living among members.
Wealthy countries are sharing wealth with poorer countries.
Citizens are allowed to move freely among member countries’ in order to find better jobs.
The EU’s strict environmental standards have helped some countries improve their environment.
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18. Euro
The EU’s most important economic accomplishment is the establishment of a single currency called the euro.
A common currency makes trade easier, more efficient, and less expensive.
Countries who use the euro do not have to worry about exchanging currency.
19 member countries have chosen to give up their own currency and exchange it for euros.
For example, French francs and German marks have been replaced by the euro.
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19. © Brain Wrinkles

20. EU Members 2016 Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
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21. Government
The European Union does NOT handle all the government business for the members.
It acts as a confederation.
Each country still makes its own laws, has a military, and elects its leaders.
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22. Government
There is, however, a European Parliament, which is the only directly elected EU body.
It does not represent the countries’ governments, but rather the citizens of the EU.
Elections have been held every 5 years since 1979.
The European Parliament CANNOT pass laws.
In recent years, the European Parliament’s powers have increased.
Not every country has been happy with this…
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23. European Union Parliament Building in Strasbourg, France
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24. European Union Parliament Building in Strasbourg, France
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25. Brexit
In June 2016, the people in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
The people who voted “leave” say they want the UK to be less influenced by other countries and to have its own laws rather than having to go by the rules of the EU.
They believed the UK was being held back by the EU, which they said imposed too many rules on business and charged billions of pounds a year in membership fees for little in return.
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26. The UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, supported remaining part of the EU. When the country voted to leave, he decided to step down as the country’s leader.
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27. Brexit
Brexit supporters also wanted the UK to take back full control of its borders and to reduce the number of people coming into the country to live and/or work.
The UK will continue to abide by EU treaties and laws, but not take part in any decision-making, while it negotiates a withdrawal agreement and the terms of its relationship with the now 27 nation bloc.
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28. Non-Members
There are several other countries that are NOT EU members, including Turkey, Switzerland, Iceland, & Russia.
WHY?
Turkey’s culture, stability, & location to the Middle East causes some EU members to not want Turkey to join.
Switzerland has one of the world’s highest standards of living & prefers its economy to not be regulated under the EU.
The EU has strict limits on the fishing industry, & Iceland does not want the EU’s control on its most important economic activity.
Russia prefers to be an independent world leader over its own resources and economy.
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29. EUROPEAN UNION Free trade within Europe (members only)
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POSITIVES
NEGATIVES
Free trade within Europe (members only)
No tariffs make cost of goods cheaper for consumers & businesses
Common currency (euro) makes trade easier and more efficient
Smaller countries are more competitive in the world market
Can travel/work freely between members
Environmental standards have improved countries’ environment
Members must follow certain “rules” set by EU
Wealthier countries pay more than poorer countries
Open borders can cause problems

30. European Union Membership
Directions: Choose different colors for each date on the Map Key. Using your key, label and color the countries on the map according to when they joined the European Union.
1957
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
1973
Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark
Portugal, Spain, Greece
1995
Sweden, Finland, Austria
2004
Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta
Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia
2016
Draw a red X over the country that left the EU.
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31. EU Membership KEY
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Directions: Create an advertisement that persuades European countries (non-EU members) to join the European Union. The sign should include a catchy title, at least 3 benefits of joining the EU, and an eye-catching illustration.
Join the EU Today!

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Directions: Create an advertisement that persuades European countries (non-EU members) to NOT join the European Union. The sign should include a catchy title, at least 3 disadvantages of joining the EU, and an eye-catching illustration.
Do NOT Join the EU!

34. Extra! Extra! Write a catchy headline for the article.
Directions: Write a news article that describes an important event from the European Union’s history. Add a catchy headline (top box) and an action shot (snapshot box).
Date:
When article could’ve been printed
Cost $
Write a catchy headline for the article.
Article By:
Your Name
Draw a picture of the EU news event
Write a realistic news article about one important event in the history of the European Union
Include Picture Caption
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35. Extra! Extra!
Directions: Write a news article that describes an important event from the European Union’s history. Add a catchy headline (top box) and an action shot (snapshot box).
Date: $
Article By:
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36. Comprehension Check European Union
8. Name a European country (besides UK) that is not part of the EU. Why not?
Wanted to follow UK’s own laws, rather than the ones set by EU; too many business rules; membership fees were too high & not getting enough in return; wanted UK to take back full control of its borders
7. What are some reasons for the UK voting to leave the EU in 2016?
Members must follow certain “rules” set by EU, wealthier countries pay more than poorer countries, open borders can cause problems
6. What is a disadvantage to joining the EU?
Protection of the environment, people can find work in many other countries, free trade, higher standards of living, single currency, etc.
5. Name at least three benefits to joining the EU: 27
4. Today, how many members are part of the European Union?
Euro
3. What is the common currency of the European Union?
European Union
2. What organization encourages trade between European countries?
To avoid fighting a war with one another in the future
1. After WWII, why did France and Germany want to make a plan together?
Russia prefers to be an independent world leader over its own resources and economy.
The EU has strict limits on the fishing industry, & Iceland does not want the EU’s control on its most important economic activity.
Switzerland has one of the world’s highest standards of living & prefers its economy to not be regulated under the EU.
Turkey -- culture, stability, & location to the Middle East
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Comprehension Check
European Union

37. Tweet All About It Tweet All About It
Name:
Name:
Tweet All
About It
Tweet All
About It
Write a tweet about today’s lesson. Keep it short and to the point, but include enough information to prove that you understand the European Union. Write a hashtag about the most important point.
Write a tweet about today’s lesson. Keep it short and to the point, but include enough information to prove that you understand the European Union. Write a hashtag about the most important point.
#____________
#____________
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