1. Olive Chen, Sana Karim, and Ashley Weston
The European Union
Olive Chen, Sana Karim, and Ashley Weston

2. Background Check

3. Origins: ECSC
European Coal and Steel Community: unify western Europe during Cold War, help economy, and prevent war
Formed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium. Luxembourg, Netherlands
Created common market for coal and steel
Served for economic purposes
Established by the Treaty of Paris 1951

4. Origins: EEC
European Economic Community: aimed to bring about economic integration and a single market among the 6 nations
Formed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium. Luxembourg, Netherlands
Served for economic purposes
Later became the European Community (EC)
Established by the Treaty of Rome

5. Treaty of Maastricht
1993 created the European Union and  established a single currency- the Euro
Set up the EU's current system
Later amended by the Treaty of Nice

6. Leading the EU

7. Government Setup: EU governed by three branches: Executive Judicial
Legislative

8. Executive Branch Chief of Union: President of the European Commission
José Manuel Durão Barroso (Portuguese) 
President of the Council of the EU 
Belgium (July-Dec 2010)
Hungary (Jan-June 2011)

9. Executive Branch ctd. Elections:
1. President of Euro Commission designated by member governments
2. Confirmed by Euro Parliament
3. Commission president creates a "college" of Commission members
4. Parliament confirms for next 5 years   

10. Judicial Branch Court of Justice of the European Communities
 makes sure treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU
resolve "constitutional" issues among the EU institutions 
27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term

11. Legislative Branch There are two legislative bodies:
The Council of the European Union 
27 member-state ministers having 345 votes
the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population
The European Parliament 
736 seats; seats allocated among member states in proportion to population
members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term

12. Enlargement

13. Order of Accession:
Original members: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
1973: Britain, Ireland, Denmark
1981: Greece
1986: Spain, Portugal
1995: Finland, Austria, Sweden
2004:
        -Cyprus                   -Hungary        -Malta            -Slovenia 
        -Czech Republic     -Latvia            -Poland
        -Estonia                  -Lithuania      -Slovakia
2007: Romania, Bulgaria
Current candidates: Croatia, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia, Iceland, Western Balkans 

14. How to Become a Member: Application Council must have unanimous vote
Negotiations
Accession partnerships
Agreement to acquis
Treaty
Treaty of Amsterdam criteria:
stable and functioning democratic regime
market-oriented economy
willingness to accept all EU laws and regulations

15. Enlargement Fatigue Decline in support in enlargement among EU voters
EU governments have lost enthusiasm for further growth
Expansion has been bringing in many former communist countries with weak economies
Original government structure doesn't work for growing number of countries
Should the European Union extend to all of Europe or be selective? 

16. Turkey: Been in negotiations to join EU since 1963
Reasons against accepting membership:
partly in Asia
religious differences
underdevelopment of economy
high population birth growth rate
domestic policies
violate human rights
Should Turkey be admitted into the EU?

17. The Slatest:
The press, much like the European public and its leading politicians, is sharply divided over the question of Turkish EU entry. Many fear that Muslim Turkey would undermine Europe's commitment to secularism. French President Jacques Chirac supports Turkey's bid to join the club, but most of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, does not.
A key requirement for the European Union to begin negotiations over eventual terms for Turkey's entry is the reform of the country's penal code.

18. The EU Now Voted to allow GM foods
Supports Egypt to achieve political and economic reform
Does the EU still serve a valuable purpose?
Is it more effective than single nations?
Should it continue to exist like it does?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of the system?