The european union at a glance

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The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countries

Member states of the European Union Candidate and potential candidate countries


Founders

New ideas for lasting peace and prosperity‌

Konrad Adenauer

Alcide De Gasperi

W inston Churchill

Robert Schuman

Jean Monnet


The EU symbols

The European flag

The European anthem

Europe Day, 9 May The motto: United in diversity


hravatski

24 official languages

hravatski


Enlargement: from six to 28 countries

1952

1990

1973

1995

1986

1981

2004

2007

2013


41989

Fall of Berlin Wall – end of Communism EU economic help begins: Phare programme

41992

Criteria set for a country to join the EU: • democracy and rule of law • functioning market economy • ability to implement EU laws

41998

Formal negotiations on enlargement begin

42002

Copenhagen summit agrees enlargement

42004

10 new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

42007

Bulgaria and Romania join the EU

42013

Croatia joins on the 1st of July

© Reuders

The big enlargement: healing the division of Europe


Candidate and potential candidate countries

Wealth

Area

Population (million)

(gross domestic product per person)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

51

3.8

7 300

Montenegro

13

0.6

10 500

100

0.3

29 500

Kosovo under UN Security Resolution 1244

11

2.2

:

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

25

2.1

9 200

Albania

27

3.2

7 300

Serbia

77

7.3

8 400

Turkey

770

73.7

13 600

4 290

508

25 700

(1000 km²)

Iceland

The 28 EU countries together


The treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on law

1958

1952

The treaties of Rome: The European Economic Community The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)

The European Steel and Coal Community

2009

1987

Treaty of Lisbon

2003

Treaty of Nice

The European Single Act: the Single Market

1999

Treaty of Amsterdam

1993

Treaty of European Union – Maastricht


The EU charter of fundamental rights Binding for all the EU's activities 54 articles under 6 titles: 4 Dignity 4 Freedoms 4 Equality 4 Solidarity 4 Citizens' rights 4 Justice


A transparent Union at your service

The website of the European Union europa.eu

One and a half million documents available to the public

Europe Direct contact centre Answers your questions: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

Europe Direct Information Centres 500 EU Info Points across the EU

European Union Documents Access to internal documents upon request

The European Ombudsman

Deals with complaints over EU administration

Emily O’Reilly, the EU ombudsman


EU population in the world Population in millions, 2012

1343 1205

508 314

127

EU

China

India

Japan

143

Russia United States


The area of the EU compared to the rest of the world Surface area, 1 000 km²

16 889

9327

9159

4290 3287 365 EU

China

India

Japan

Russia United States


How rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world?

37 100

26 300 25 200

12 600

10 800 12 000 5 800

5 200

4 200

1 200

EU

China

India

2600

1300

Japan

Russia

United States

Size of economy: 2011 gross domestic product in trillion of euros

EU

China

India

Japan

Russia United States

Wealth per person: 2011 gross domestic product per person


131

43 43 34 30 20 9

Estonia Denmark Netherlands Belgium Slovenia Cyprus Malta

0.3

3

49 Slovakia

Luxemburg

62 56

Latvia

63

Lithuania Croatia

68

83

Austria

Ireland

92

Portugal

77

93

Hungary

Czech Republic

111

Bulgaria

Greece

230

Romania

295

305

244

410 357 313

United Kingdom

Italy

Finland

Poland

Germany

Sweden

Spain

France

506

544

How big are the EU countries?

Surface area in 1000 km²


21.4

4.6

Ireland

3.0 2.0 2.0

1.3 0.9 0.5 0.4

Lithuania Latvia

Slovenia Estonia Cyprus Luxemburg Malta

4.4

5.4

Finland

Croatia

5.4 Slovakia

8.4

Austria

5.6

9.5

Sweden

Denmark

10.0

Hungary

7.3

10.5

Czech Republic

Bulgaria

10.5

11.0

11.3

Portugal

Belgium

Greece

Netherlands

16.7

38.5

Romania

Poland

60.8

Italy 46.2

63.0

United Kingdom

Spain

65.4

France

Germany

81.8

How many people live in the EU?

Population in millions, 2012 508 million total


Bulgaria

Romania

Croatia

Latvia

Hungary

Poland

Estonia

Lithuania

Greece

Slovakia

Portugal

Czech Republic

Slovenia

Malta

Cyprus

Spain

Italy

EU-28

France

United Kingdom

Finland

Belgium

Germany

Denmark

Sweden

Netherlands

Ireland

Austria

Luxembourg

GDP per inhabitant: the spread of wealth

2012 GDP per inhabitant

Index where the average of the 28 EU-countries is 100


Europe 2020 – Europe's growth strategy

EU leaders agreed in 2010 the overall strategy to get out of the economic crisis by means of: 4Smart growth Better education, more research, greater use of communication technologies 4Sustainable growth A resource - efficient, greener and more competitive economy 4Inclusive growth More and better jobs, investment in skills and training, modernisation of the labour market and welfare systems, spreading the benefits of growth to all parts of the EU 4Good economic governance Better coordination of economic policy


The five targets for the EU in 2020

A greed in the Europe 2020 strategy: 4 Employment

75% of 20-64 year-olds to be employed 4 Research and innovation 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in research 4 Climate change/energy Greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990 20% of energy from renewables 20% increase in energy efficiency 4 Education School drop-out rates below 10% 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third-level education

4 Poverty 20 million fewer people in, or at risk of, poverty and social exclusion


Europe's response to the economic crisis

2008: Worldwide financial crisis starts in the United States Coordinated response from the EU's national governments, the European Central Bank and the European Commission: 4 Commit ment t o t he euro and t o f inancial st abilit y 4 New crisis management t ools and ref orms of rules: European Stability Mechanism: fund to help extraordinary economic difficulties EU-wide financial supervisory authorities, new laws for stability of banks 4 Bet t er economic governance: European Semester: annual procedure to coordinate public budgets Euro+ pact, "Fiscal compact treaty� : mutual commitments to sound public finances


How does the EU spend its money?

2014 EU budget: â‚Ź 142.6 billion = 1.06% of gross national income

Global Europe: including development aid 6% Security and citizenship, justice 2%

Sustainable growth – natural resources: agriculture, environment 42%

Other, administration 6%

Smart and inclusive growth: jobs, competitiveness, regional development 45%


Climate change – a global challenge

To stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2007 to:

reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 (30% if other developed countries do likewise) 4

4

improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020

raise the share of renewable energy to 20% by 2020 (wind, solar, hydro power, biomass) 4


Energy sources in a changing world

Fuel used in EU in 2010, as share of total

Share of fuel imported from outside the EU in 2010

100% 84%

Gas 25%

Oil 35%

62% 53% 39%

Coal 16%

Nuclear 13% Renewables 10%

0% Coal

Oil

Gas

Nuclear Renewables (uranium)

All types of fuel


Research - investing in the knowledge society Spending on research and development in 2010 (% of GDP)

3.4% 3.0%

2.9%

2.0%

1.5%

EU

EU objective 2020

China

Japan

United States


Solidarity in practice: the EU cohesion policy

2007-2013: â‚Ź347 billion invested f or inf rastructure, business, environment and training of workers f or less well-of f regions or citizens

4

Regional fund

4

Social fund

4

Cohesion fund

Convergence objective: regions with GDP per capita under 75% of the EU average. 81.5% of the funds are spent on this objective. Regional competitiveness and employment objective.


The euro – a single currency for Europeans

Can be used everywhere in the euro area

4Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common 4Notes: no national side

EU countries using the euro EU countries not using the euro


Average annual inflation in the 17 EU-countries that used the euro in 2013 2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

Beating inflation

European Economic and Monetary Union: stable prices

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0


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:

© Getty Images

4 goods 4 services 4 people 4 capital


Free to move

“Schengen”: No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries 4

4

Controls strengthened at EU external borders

More cooperation between police from different EU countries 4

You can buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries

© Co rb i s

4


Going abroad to learn

Every year, more than 400 000 young people study or pursue personal development in other European countries with support from EU programmes: 4 Comenius: school education 4 Erasmus: higher education 4 Leonardo da Vinci: vocational training 4 Grundtvig: adult education 4 Youth in Action: voluntary work and

Š Getty Images

non-formal education


Improving health and the environment

Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed EU action has helped bring: 4 4 4 4 4

Much less acid rain Lead-free petrol Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipment Strict rules on food safety from farm to fork

4

More organic and quality farming More effective health warnings on cigarettes

4

Registration and control of all chemicals (REACH)

4

Š Va n Pa ry s M e dia

Cleaner bathing water


An area of freedom, security and justice

4

Charter of Fundamental Rights

4

Joint fight against terrorism

Police and law-enforcers from different countries cooperate 4

Coordinated asylum and immigration policies 4

Civil law cooperation

Š Eu ro p e a n Un i o n Po l i c e M i s si on

4


The EU: an exporter of peace and prosperity

4

World trade rules

Common foreign and security policy 4

Development assistance and humanitarian aid 4

EU runs the peacekeeping operations and the rebuilding of society in war-torn countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina.


The EU – a major trading power

% of global exports, goods, 2012

% of global exports, services, 2012

EU 15%

EU 25% United States 11%

Others 55%

Others 42%

Japan 5% China 14%

United States 18% India China 5% 6%

Japan 4%


The EU is the biggest provider of development aid in the world The EU provides over half of all development aid € 110

€ 70 € 60

EU

Japan

United States

Official development assistance per citizen, 2011


Three key players

The European Parliament - voice of the people Martin Schulz, President of of the European Parliament

The European Council and the Council - voice of the Member States Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council

The European Commission - promoting the common interest JosĂŠ Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission


The EU institutions

European Council (summit)

European Parliament

Court of Justice

Court of Auditors

European Investment Bank

Council of Ministers (The Council)

European Commission

Economic and Social Committee

Committee of the Regions

Agencies

European Central Bank


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


The European elections 2014


The European Parliament – voice of the people

4 Decides EU laws and budget together with Council of Ministers 4 Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work Number of members elected in each country (July 2013) Austria

19

Estonia

6

Belgium

22

Finland

13

Bulgaria

18

France

74

Croatia

12

Germany

99

Cyprus

6

Greece

Italy

73

Portugal

22

9

Romania

33

12

Slovakia

13

Luxembourg

6

Slovenia

8

22

Malta

6

Spain

54

20

Latvia

Lithuania

Czech Republic

22

Hungary

22

Netherlands

26

Sweden

Denmark

13

Ireland

12

Poland

51

United Kingdom 72 Total

* This figure will be reduced to 751 at the 2014 elections.

766

*


The European political parties

Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (July 2013)

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe 85

European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) 275

Greens/European Free Alliance 58

Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats 196

European United Left - Nordic Green Left 34

European Conservatives and Reformists 55

Total : 766

Europe of Freedom and Democracy 35 Non-attached members 28


Council of Ministers – voice of the member states

4One minister from each EU country 4Presidency: rotates every six months 4Decides EU laws and budget together

with Parliament 4Manages the common foreign and security policy


Council of Ministers – number of votes per country

Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom

29

Spain and Poland

27

Romania

14

Netherlands

13

Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal

12

Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden

10

Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland

7

Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia

4

Malta

3

Total:

352

“Qualified majority” needed for many decisions: 260 votes and a majority of member states From 2014: 55% of the Member States with 65% of the population


Summit at the European Council

Summit of heads of state and government of all EU countries 4Held at least 4 times a year 4 Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies 4 President: Herman Van Rompuy


A high representative for foreign affairs and security

Catherine Ashton Double hat: chairs the Foreign A f f airs Council meetings + Vice-president of the European Commission Manages the common f oreign and security policy

Head of European External A ction Service


The European Commission – promoting the common interest

28 independent members, one from each EU country 4Proposes new legislation 4Executive organ 4Guardian of the treaties 4Represents the EU on the international stage


The Court of Justice – upholding the law

28 independent judges, one from each EU country 4Rules on how to interpret EU law 4Ensures EU countries apply EU laws in the

same way


The European Court of Auditors: getting value for your money

28 independent members

4Checks that EU funds are used properly 4Can audit any person or organisation dealing with EU funds


The European Central Bank: managing the euro

4Ensures price stability 4Controls money supply and decides interest rates

4Works independently from governments

Mario Draghi President of the Central Bank


The European Economic and Social Committee: voice of civil society

353 members 4Represents trade unions, employers, farmers, consumers etc 4Advises on new EU laws and policies 4Promotes the involvement of civil society in EU matters


The Committee of the Regions: voice of local government

353 members 4Represents cities, regions 4Advises on new EU laws and policies 4Promotes the involvement of local government in EU matters


Civil servants working for the EU Commission employs about 23 000 permanent civil servants and 11 000 temporary or contract workers Other EU institutions: about 10 000 employed 4Permanent civil servants 4Selected by open competitions

4Come from all EU countries 4Salaries decided by law 4EU administration costs â‚Ź15 per EU citizen per year 4EU staff will be reduced by 5% between 2013-17


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