1. The European Union (EU)
SS6CG5 The student will explain the structure of modern European governments.
b. Describe the purpose of the European Union and the relationship between member nations.

2. Vocabulary European Union 2. Euro 3. Tariff
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
5. currency
6. per capita

3. Members of the EU Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

5. What is the purpose of the EU?
Its members can work together for advantages that would be out of their reach if each were working alone.
When more countries work together, they involve more people, more money, and more land area.
This makes smaller countries of the EU more competitive in the world market.

6. Comparing the EU and the U.S.A
United States
Land Area (approximate square miles.)
1,500,000
3,700,000
Population (approximate)
500,000,000
309,000,000
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
$14 trillion
$13.5 trillion
Gross Domestic Product per Capita (person)
$28,213
$43,444

7. Currency “money” Most members of the UN use the Euro.
The Euro is to the EU as the Dollar is to the USA.
What specific advantages do you think members of the EU have by sharing the same currency?

8. Advantages
Trade between the countries become much easier and less expensive.
Citizens do not have to exchange currency to spend money in other EU countries.
Consumers and businesses can compare prices more readily, which stimulates competition.

9. Other Advantages of the EU
Improved trade
Education
Farming
Industry
For example, there are no tariffs between countries in the EU. This make a large free-trade zone.
Citizens can live and work in any other UN nation.

10. Limitations of the EU
The EU does not handle all the government business for the member countries.
Each country makes it own laws, has its own military, and elects its own leaders.
Do you think these points are an advantage or disadvantage?

11. Vocabulary Review
An economic and political grouping of countries in Europe.
B. Total value of the goods and services produced by a country in a given time period
C. A fee imposed by the government on imported goods and services.
D. The common unit of currency used by most EU countries
E. For each person
European Union(EU)
tariff
gross domestic product (GDP
Euro
per capita

12. Questions
What is the purpose of the European Union?