1. The European Union

2. Warm Up Knowing that Europe has been through centuries of wars and conflicts, including two world wars, why would a "Union" of countries make sense?

3. Warm Up Continued Besides peace, what are some other potential benefits of a European Union? Think economics, size of European Countries, and global competition.

4. EU population compared to the rest of the world Population in millions (2015)

5. EU surface area compared to the rest of the world Surface area (x 1000 km²)

6. How rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world? Size of economy: GDP in trillions of euro (2013) Wealth per person: GDP per person (2013)

7. The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countries Member States of the European Union Candidate countries and potential candidates

8. The EU symbols The European flag The European anthem The euro Europe Day, 9 May The motto: United in diversity

9. 24 official languages Български Čeština dansk Deutsch eesti keel Ελληνικά English español français Gaeilge hrvatski Italiano latviešu valoda lietuvių kalba magyar Malti Nederlands polski português Română slovenčina slovenščina suomi svenska

10. How big are the EU countries? Surface area (x 1000 km²)

11. How many people live in the EU? Population in millions (2015) 508 million in total

12. Gender equality The gender pay gap: Women in the EU earn on average 16.4 % less per hour than men.

13. How does the EU spend its money? 2015 EU budget: € 145.3 billion = 1.02 % of gross national income Global Europe: including development aid 6 % Other, administration 6 % Smart and inclusive growth: jobs, competitiveness, regional development 46 % Security and citizenship, justice 2 % Sustainable growth – natural resources: agriculture, environment 40 %

14. Climate change – a global challenge reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % by 2030, compared to 1990 raise the share of renewable energy to 27 % by 2030 (wind, solar, hydro power, biomass) increase energy efficiency by 27 % by 2030 To stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2014 to:

15. Improving health and the environment EU action has helped bring about: cleaner bathing water much less acid rain lead-free petrol easy and safe disposal of old electronic equipment strict rules on food safety from farm to fork more organic and quality farming more effective health warnings on cigarettes registration and control of all chemicals (REACH) Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed

16. The euro – a single currency for Europeans EU countries using the euro EU countries not using the euro Why the euro? No fluctuation risk and foreign exchange cost More choice and stable prices for consumers Closer economic cooperation between EU countries Can be used everywhere in the euro area Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common Notes: no national side

17. Why does the United Kingdom not use the Euro? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37yJBFRrfg Need to know what the Euro Zone is for your test.

18. Beating inflation European Economic and Monetary Union: stable prices Average annual inflation in the 18 EU countries using the euro (2013)

19. The single market: freedom of choice The single market has led to: significant reductions in the price of many products and services, including airfares and phone calls more choice for consumers 2.8 million new jobs Four freedoms of movement: goods services people capital

20. Free to move – Know this for test ‘Schengen’ No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries Controls strengthened at the EU’s external borders More cooperation between police from different EU countries Buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries

21. Cheaper mobile abroad The EU has reduced the cost of phone calls, text messaging and data roaming abroad by over 80 % since 2007 Sending an SMS when abroad Calling from abroad (per minute) Downloading data when abroad Euro cent, excluding VAT

22. Going abroad to learn Erasmus+ Every year, more than 400 000 young people study or pursue personal development in other European countries with the support of the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport.

23. The EU institutions European Parliament Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions Council of Ministers (The Council) European Commission European Investment BankEuropean Central Bank Agencies European Council (summit)

24. How EU laws are made Citizens, interest groups, experts: discuss, consult Commission: makes formal proposal Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly National or local authorities: implement Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation

25. The European Parliament – voice of the people Number of members elected in each country Decides EU laws and budget together with the Council of Ministers Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work Austria - 18 Belgium - 21 Bulgaria - 17 Croatia - 11 Cyprus - 6 Czech Republic - 21 Denmark - 13 Estonia - 6 Finland - 13 France - 74 Germany - 96 Greece - 21 Hungary - 21 Ireland - 11 Italy - 73 Latvia - 8 Lithuania - 11 Luxembourg - 6 Malta - 6 Total - 751 Netherlands - 26 Poland - 51 Portugal - 21 Romania - 32 Slovakia - 13 Slovenia - 8 Spain - 54 Sweden - 20 United Kingdom - 73

26. The European political parties Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (July 2015) Total: 751

27. Council of Ministers – voice of the Member States One minister from each EU country Presidency: rotates every six months Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament Manages the common foreign and security policy

28. Council of Ministers – how they vote Most decisions in the Council are taken by ‘double majority’. A decision must have the support of at least: 55 % of Member States (16 countries) Member States that represent 65 % of the EU’s population

29. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Binding for all the EU's activities 54 articles under 6 titles: FreedomsEquality SolidarityCitizens’ rightsJustice Dignity

30. Enlargement: from six to 28 countries

31. The big enlargement: uniting east and west Fall of Berlin Wall – end of Communism EU economic help begins: Phare programme Criteria set for a country to join the EU: democracy and rule of law functioning market economy ability to implement EU laws Formal negotiations on enlargement begin Copenhagen summit agrees to a big enlargement of 10 new countries Ten new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia 1989 1992 1998 2002 2004 2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the EU 2013 Croatia joins on 1 July

32. Candidate countries and potential candidates Country Area (x 1000 km²) Population (millions) Wealth (gross domestic product per person) Bosnia and Herzegovina 513.87 600 Montenegro140.610 900 Kosovo under UN Security Resolution 1244 111.8: The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 252.19 100 Albania282.97 500 Serbia777.29 100 Turkey78376.713 800 The 28 EU countries together 4 272507.425 700

33. Ten priorities for Europe In 2015, the European Commission of President Jean-Claude Juncker focuses on: 1.The investment plan: a new boost for jobs, growth and investment 2.A connected digital single market 3.A resilient energy union with a forward-looking climate change policy 4.A deeper and fairer internal market with stronger industries 5.A deeper and fairer economic and monetary union 6.A reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the United States 7.An area of justice and fundamental rights based on mutual trust 8.A new policy on migration 9.Europe as a stronger global actor 10.A European Union of democratic change

34. Activity In 2016 the European Union is looking to expand. Its members have decided to hear the case of six potential candidate countries. At the end of deliberations it will allow two of the six countries into the European Union. Groups: European Union Expansion Committee: Made up of a representative from the UK, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Greece. Representatives from Serbia Representatives from Turkey Representatives from Albania Representatives from Bosnia & Herzegovina Representatives from Montenegro Representatives from Macedonia

35. Instructions for Candidate Countries With your group, research your country and formulate an argument for why your country should be included in the European Union. Write two paragraphs explaining why your country should be included in the European Union. Emphasize your country’s strengths while acknowledging your country’s weaknesses and how you plan on addressing them. One group member will then read the final draft of your proposal to the Expansion Committee. You have 20 minutes for research/writing your paragraphs. Presentations should be no more than 2 minutes. After the presentation you will have 15 minutes for answering your reflection questions. While the Expansion Committee is making its decision your group must answer the reflection questions. You will be graded on how compelling an argument your group as a whole makes, and on your post-presentation reflections. If your group’s country is chosen at the end then your group will receive 10 points extra credit points on this assignment.

36. Instructions for Committee Answer the pre-presentation questions. Listen diligently to all the groups presentations while taking notes. After the presentations, deliberate and come up with a decision of which two countries you will allow into the European Union. Your decision must be written and in paragraph form. You must explain why you chose the two countries you did, and why you didn’t chose the other four countries. You will have 20 minutes for your pre-presentation questions and 15 minutes for your deliberation and writing your decision. Your group will be graded on its pre-presentation questions and on the justification of its decision in its written response.

37. Candidate Reflection Questions Answer in complete sentences After giving your presentation and hearing the other groups present, what do you think your group did well? What could your group have done better? If you were the committee which two countries would you allow in? After participating in a mock EU decision, do you think the actual European Union has the potential and capability of making important decisions for a continent of over half a billion people?

38. Committee Pre-Presentation Questions Use the following as guidelines for your decision. Also keep in mind the interests of your specific country when deciding who is allowed into the European Union. Six Core Values: Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights, Justice Stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; A functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces in the EU; The ability to take on and implement effectively the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union. Do you think Expansion Committee Members are going to be completely impartial when it comes to choosing who should be allowed into the EU, or are their decisions going to be based on what benefits their home country the most? What criteria do you think will matter most to your specific country when deciding who should be allowed in? Are certain alliances going to form within the committee? What countries represented are more similar to each other? Which two countries do you think the committee will choose?