1. WELCOME 

2. Agenda History Comparisons with other world powers The Treaties
The Institutions
Decision Making
The EU's Budget
EU on the web
Final words

3. Historic background 1951 – The European Coal and Steel Community
1957 – The European Economic Community (EEC 6)
1960 – EFTA
1973 – EEC 9
1961 – EEC 10
1986 – EEC 12
1995 – EU 15
2004 – EU 25
2007 – EU 27

4. The European Coal and Steel Community (Paris 1951)4

5. The European Economic Community (EEC) – Rome 1957

6. EFTA Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK; Finland (Associated 1961; full member 1986); Iceland (1970); Liechtenstein (1991) 6

7. 1973: EEC-9 Denmark; Ireland; UK

8. 1981: EEC-10 Greece
1 January 1981
Membership of the EU reaches double figures when Greece joins. It has been eligible to join since its military regime was overthrown and democracy restored in 1974. 8

9. 1986: EEC-12 Spain and Portugal
1 January 1986
Spain and Portugal enter the EU, bringing membership to 12. 9

10. 1995: EU-15 Finland, Sweden and Austria
1 January 1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU. The 15 members now cover almost the whole of western Europe. In October 1990, Germany was unified and therefore former East Germany became part of the EU.. 10

11. 2004: EU-25 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus 11

12. 2007: EU-27 Romania and Bulgaria12

13. EU-27, 28 ,29, 30…… 13

14. Surface: EU-25, Japan, USA and Russia
(million m2) 

15. Population
(in millions)

16. Gross National Product
(billion euros, in 2005)
European Commission, Spring Forecast 2002

17. GNP per Person Year 2007 (EU-27 = 100)
European Commission, Spring Forecast 2002

18. GNP per person
Year (EU-27 = 100)
European Commission

19. The main Treaties The European Coal and Steel Community - Paris 1951
The European Economic Community (EEC) – Rome 1957
The European Atomic Energy Community – Rome 1957
The Maastricht Treaty 1992 –> The European Union (EU)
The Nice Treaty 2001
A new treaty in 2009 ???

20. Proposed Treaty changes
A permanent President of the European Council;
A European "Foreign Minister";
Council: Majority decisions in more areas (vetoes abolished) -> 55% of the Member States, representing 65% of the EU's population, must vote for a proposal for it to be adopted.

21. The Pillars of the EU First pillar: EC Second pillar: EU Third pillar:
The European Union
Customs Union, CAP, Structural policy, Trade policy, Education and Culture, Consumer protection, health, environment, research, social policy, asylum policy, immigration policy, EMU, etc.
Foreign policy, Peacekeeping, Human rights, disarmament, financial aspects of defence, Europe’s long-term security framework
Cooperation between judicial authorities, Police cooperation, fight against drugs, arms trade, xenophobia, terrorism, trafficking in human beings
EU brukar sägas bestå av tre pelare som omges av ett ramverk av gemensamma institutioner och vissa gemensamma grundläggande regler.
Första pelaren Första pelaren, den s.k. gemenskapspelaren, består av den europeiska gemenskapen (EG). Den första pelaren är den grundläggande pelaren inom EU och också den mest centrala. Det centrala inom pelaren är den gemensamma marknaden som har utvecklats genom den inre marknaden och byggts upp på en gemensam tullunion. Den inre marknaden är ett område utan inre gränser med fri rörlighet för varor, personer, tjänster och kapital, de fyra s.k. friheterna. Som en femte frihet räknas också rätten att etablera sig i en annan medlemsstat. I den gemensamma marknaden ryms vidare den gemensamma jordbrukspolitiken, den gemensamma transportpolitiken och regler om konkurrens. Inom den första pelaren har medlemsländerna lämnat över beslutsrätten, vilket innebär att medlemsstaten och dess medborgare måste följa de regler som skapas inom denna pelare som om de vore nationella regler. Andra pelaren Den andra pelaren innehåller EU:s gemensamma utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik, GUSP. Regelverk för GUSP finns i uninonsfördraget. Andra pelaren bygger på överenskommelser mellan olika medlemstater. Varje medlemsstat har alltså kvar sin beslutanderätt på området. Tredje pelaren Inom tredje pelaren samarbetar medlemsstaterna i frågor som gäller rättsväsendet och inre ordning, asyl- och invandringspolitik i förhållande till tredje land samt ett visst polissamarbete. Liksom i andra pelaren bygger den tredje pelaren på överenskommelser mellan medlemsstaterna.
First pillar: EC
Second pillar: EU
Third pillar: EU

22. European Court of Auditors
EU Institutions
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of the
European Union
Court of Justice of the
European Communities
European Court of Auditors

23. EU Institutions European Commission: Council of the European Union:
Headquarter in Brussels. Some departments in Luxembourg, and delegations in all EU Member States and most other parts of the world.
Council of the European Union:
Headquarter in Brussels, but many meetings take place in president country.
European Parliament:
Most plenary sessions in Strasbourg, but also some plenary sessions plus most other meetings in Brussels. Some secretariat functions are located in Luxembourg. 23

24. EU Institutions Court of Justice: Court of Auditors:
The Court of Justice ensures that Community law is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied. It has jurisdiction in disputes involving Member States, EU institutions, businesses and individuals. Headquarter in Luxembourg.
Court of Auditors:
The Court of Auditors checks that all the Union's revenue has been received and all its expenditure incurred in a lawful and regular manner and that financial management of the EU budget has been sound. Headquarter in Luxembourg.
European Ombudsman:
All individuals or entities (institutions or businesses) resident in the Union can apply to the European Ombudsman if they consider that they have been harmed by an act of "maladministration" by an EU institution or body.
His seat is that of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

25. EU Bodies European Economic and Social Committee:
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the views and interests of organised civil society vis-à-vis the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. The Committee has to be consulted on matters relating to economic and social policy; it may also issue opinions on its own initiative on other matters which it considers to be important
Headquarter in Brussels.
Committee of the Regions:
The Committee of the Regions ensures that regional and local identities and prerogatives are respected. It has to be consulted on matters concerning regional policy, the environment and education. It is composed of representatives of regional and local authorities.

26. EU Bodies European Central Bank: European Investment Bank:
Frames and implements European monetary policy; it conducts foreign exchange operations and ensures the smooth operation of payment systems. Headquarter in Frankfurt.
European Investment Bank:
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the European Union's financial institution. It finances investment projects which contribute to the balanced development of the Union. The seat is in Luxembourg

27. The EU Council
adopts regulations, directives and decisions together with Parliament;
adopts the EU's budget;
coordinates the Member States' economic policies.

28. Council meetings for specific policies
The EU Council
The European Council
The Prime Ministers meet at a "summit" (2-4 times a year)
Council meetings for specific policies
All the Member States' Ministers in a specific area
(finance, agriculture,…) meet to make decisions
(several different meetings a month)
Coreper
The Member States' ambassadors meet every week
in the "Committee of the Permanent Representatives"
The Presidency in the Council rotates between Member States twice a year

29. Number of votes in Council
From 1/1/2007
Germany, France, Italy and the UK:
Spain, Poland:
Netherlands:
Romania: 14
Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Czechia: 12
Sweden, Austria, Bulgaria: 10
Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Slovakia, Lithuania: 7
Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Cyprus: 4
Malta:
Total:

30. The President of the Commission: José Manuel Barroso

31. The Commission Link to the photo gallery of the Commissioners:

32. The European Commission
The Commission has four main rights:
propose legislative acts to Parliament and Council;
implement the EU policies;
act as a representative of the EU and negotiate international agreements (in the trade and cooperation areas);
supervise the implementation of the EU law.

33. The European Commission
Its Directorates General and Services:
Policy areas:
Regional Policy
Employment and Social affairs
Education and Culture
Energy and Transport
Agriculture
Maritime policy
Health and Consumer Protection
Environment
Research
Information Society
Enterprise
The Single Market
Competition
Economic and Financial affairs
Justice and Home affairs
Customs and taxation
External relations:
External relations
Trade
Cooperation aid / EuropeAid
The Office for humanitarian aid
Enlargement
Support services:
The General Secretariat
Personnel and Administration
Budget
Press and communication
Group of political advisors
Legal service
Conference and interpretation service
Translation service
Publications office
Statistical office
Internal audit service
Fraud prevention office

34. The EU's Decision Making
Proposal (regulation, directive etc)
- from the Commission
2. Adoption - by Council and Parliament
3. Implementation - by the Commission

35. Staff in European Institutions (budget 2007)
Permanent posts:
Temporary posts:
TOTAL
European Parliament
4 998
935
5 933
Council
3 461 36
3 497
Commission:
24 812
568
25 380
Court of Justice
1 453
429
1 882
Court of Auditors
696
140
836
European Economic and Social Committee
668 27
695
Committee of the Regions
431 35
466
European Ombudsman 13 44 57
European Data-protection Supervisor 29
Total
36 561
2 214
38 775
Institution 2007   Permanent posts Temporary posts
European Parliament 4 
Council
Commission: - operation
- research and technological development 3 828
— — ITER 60 85
— Publications Office 655 —
— European Anti-fraud Office
— European Personnel Selection Office 120 1
—Office for the Administration and Payment of Individual Entitlements 255 —
—Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, Brussels 459 —
—Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, Luxembourg 179
— Court of Justice Court of Auditors European Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions European Ombudsman European Data-protection Supervisor 29 — Total

36. What is the money spent on?
1. COMPETITIVENESS, knowledge-based economy and COHESION across regions
2. AGRICULTURE and FOOD quality
3. RURAL development, FISHERIES and the ENVIRONMENT
4. Other, including administration
5. DEVELOPMENT and peace in the world
6. HEALTH, consumer rights, SECURITY
EUR billion
The EU's budget represents only 1.03% of EU's total GNP.
Average cost: 71 cents per day per EU citizen.
Headings in committments
Competitiveness and Cohesion for growth and jobs are placed under one heading called ‘sustainable growth’ billion euros will be spent on competitiveness including research, innovation, transport and energy networks and education and training billion will be invested to foster economic growth under the cohesion heading, most of which (37 billion) goes to less prosperous EU regions under the convergence objective to let those regions catch up and to exploit the growth potential of the whole single market.
Managing and preserving natural resources: 40.9 billion will be available for agricultural markets and direct farm aids, to ensure safe, high quality, modern and environmentally friendly agricultural production, corresponding to consumers’ demand, and for the preservation of landscapes. Moreover, 14.1 billion are spent on diversifying rural economies, on environmental protection and on promoting sustainable fishing (a goal that can only be reached through a common European approach).
7.3 billion are available for ‘the EU as a global player’: For the Common Foreign and Security Policy, pre-accession aid for countries joining the EU, the neighbourhood policy (stability, prosperity and rule of law in the EU’s neighbouring countries; avoiding a dividing line between EU- and non-EU countries), and long-term assistance, disaster relief and fight against poverty in developing countries (all objectives that can be pursued more effectively at EU level than at national level).
1.3 billion are dedicated to ‘an area of freedom, security and justice’ (0.7bn) and to ‘Union citizenship’ (0.6bn). This includes funds for managing together external borders and flows of refugees, for fighting terrorism, organised crime and illegal immigration and for cooperation in criminal, judicial matters and the rule of law. Citizenship includes policies of public health and of consumer protection as well as funds for culture, youth, civil society and information. (Sharing information and cooperating on a European level makes policies in security and justice areas much more effective. Alongside the freedoms of movement and Union citizenship, these contribute to ‘completing an area of freedom, security and justice’).
Around 7.3 billion are needed for administration and the management of all the European Union’s activities, covering the staff and building costs of all EU institutions - the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, European Commission and European agencies, European Court of Justice, European Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. Altogether, the institutions have a comparatively small number of around staff.
In addition, the European Commission manages some funds outside the budget, the biggest of which is the European Development Fund ( 2.9 billion Euro for 2008). It consists of development aid from the member states which will be used for promoting economic, social and cultural development, democracy, good governance and respect for human rights and the rule of law. It being separate from the general budget means that it is not financed and managed according to the same rules and procedures as the general EU finances.
Further Info:
EU budget totals around 1.03% of GNI - constantly 2% of 23 of the member state budgets.
National average is above 45% of GNI. Even in growth of public expenditure over the years , the EU budget ranks lower than that of the member states
The largest spending policies remain national; for instance social policy, public services like education or health, and defence and other sovereignty spendings. (Agriculture is the only large spending policy that has been entirely transferred to EU level).
It is important to keep in mind that many of the common goals are achieved through common rules (regulation) and with relatively low expenditure. For instance common action in justice liberty or security issues, the common trade policy, consumer protection policies etc.
In addition to having a comparatively modest budget, the EU is not allowed to borrow to cover any of its expenditure thus remaining debt free. EU institutions cannot finance any other activities than those for which the budget was granted in advance by Council and Parliament. Any surplus which may arise at the end of a year when less than 100% of the approved spending is executed, reduces member states’ payments to the budget of the following year.
Actions only executed at EU level when this adds value compared to action by member state; Common action at the EU level often allows a more effective problem-solving, more efficient use of resources, or bigger projects that benefit all but which a single member state could not afford (e.g.research, infrastructure, energy, space, environment, fisheries, internal security and external relations including development)

37. Customs & agricultural duties 16 %
Revenue
Own resources
Customs & agricultural duties 16 %
VAT resources 16 %
Fourth resource (GNI) 67 %
Total budget 2008 = € 120 bn
How to use the slide:
Show to summarise the correct answers to the previous slide – Customs & agricultural duties = 1/6, VAT = 1/6, Fourth resource = 2/3
Useful background info:
Other Revenue
Miscellaneous 1 % (eg Microsoft €500m fine, taxation on EU officials’ salaries)

38. Other incl. administration
Financial framework
Ceilings:
Natural resources
43%
Sustainable growth
44%
Citizenship 1%
Other incl. administration 6%
EU as a global player
How to use the slide:
Show to summarise the correct answers to the previous slide – largest part for agriculture (green) & regional development (blue)
Useful background info:
This slide is taken directly from informaitn given on Europa  covers the financial framework – not just the 2007 budget:

39. 2007-2013: More money for economic progress
Changes in expenditure 2006/2013, %
+ 81%
+ 60 %
+ 52 %
+ 139 %
+ 75 % 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -
2006
2013
Mrd. EUR
Research
Transport and energy
Competitiveness and Innovation
Education /training
Comparison 2006 (last budget of previous financial framework) to 2013
Research: 7th Research Framework Programme
Transport: Trans European Networks (TENs)
Education: Life long learning & Erasmus Mundus
(CIP = Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme)
Sustainable Transport

40. Benefits outweigh costs
Budget balances:
Benefits outweigh costs
These figures are excluding EU administrative expenditure and TO - Note: Belgium and Luxembourg have a negative operating budgetary balance, since this calculation excludes EU administrative expenditure
This graph shows that the so called « net contributors’ » negative balance is comparably small to the overall financial benefits that most member states have.
What also needs to be stressed is the gains even for those contributors with a « negative » balance that are not translated into this graph, such as economic gains through the extended common market, etc.

41. Who manages the EU budget?
The bulk of EU expenditure is managed jointly between the Commission and the Member States (« shared management »)
18%
80% 2%

42. EU on the web KEY SOURCES FOR INFO ON THE EU
The Europa site:
Europe direct:

43. Ypres Belgium 1917