Everything you need to know about the European union

The European UnionDelegation of the European Union to the US

Washington, DC

1. History of the EU

2. European Enlargement

3. How the EU Works

4. The EU on the World Stage

5. The EU-US Relationship

Overview

The History OF THE

EU…

The Original Purpose of the EU

To secure a lasting peace in Europe……By controlling the production of coal and steel

How?

Key Milestones1952: ECSC

Production of coal and steel placed under control of a High Authority

1958: Treaty of RomeCreated the EEC and established the common market

Key Milestones1987Single European ActFirst major revision of the Rome Treaty: Single Market and European Political Cooperation

1989Fall of the Berlin WallReunification of Germany and democratization of Eastern Europe

1993Maastricht TreatyCreation of the European Union, preparation for EMU, introduction of parts of political union

The Treaty of Lisbon

Entered into force December 1, 2009. Amends current treaties without replacing them.

Key improvements:• Democracy and Transparency

• Visibility on the Global Stage

• Rights and Values

• Efficiency

EU by the numbers

28

Over

508millioncombined population

1.6million

Member States

Official languages

24

of global GDP

24%

of GLOBAL EXPORTS

& IMPORTS

15% Square miles total surface area

<1/2 of U.S. surface area

.

23.8%

The EU Today…

52%

World GDP

Official Development Assistance

7.2%World Population

EU Values

• Freedom

• Rule of Law

• Respect for Human Rights

• Democracy

• Equality

European

ENLARGEMENT

Conditions of Membership

Political• Democratic process &

Stability of Institutions

• Human Rights

• Rule of Law

• Respect for and Protection of Minorities

Economic• Market Economy

• Ability to Cope with Competitive Pressures

Conditions of Membership

The Enlargement

Process

Acceptance of application

Accession Negotiations

Accession Treaty and Ratification

From 6 to 28 and growing…

How the EU WORKS

• European Council

• European Commission

• European Parliament

• Council of the European Union

Major EU Institutions

Composition

Heads of state or government from Member States

Functions

Sets the general guidelines for EU policy

European CouncilEU's highest political authority

European CouncilPresident Donald Tusk

European CommissionExecutive branch of the EU

Composition:28 independent commissioners, one from each EU country

FunctionsProposes new legislation

Manages and implements EU’s policies and the budget

Enforces European law

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

European ParliamentVoice of the people

Composition751 MEPs from all Member States

FunctionsDecides on EU legislation together with Council of the EU

Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work

European Parliament PresidentMartin Schulz

Council of the European UnionVoice of the Member States

Composition:One Minister from each Member State, representing the issue at hand (e.g., agriculture for farm issues)

Functions:Adopts EU laws and approves budget together with Parliament

Manages Common Foreign & Security Policy; coordinates economic policies of Member States

European Court of JusticeThe EU's Judicial Authority

Composition:28 independent judges, one from each state

Functions:Rules on how to interpret EU law

Ensures EU countries apply laws uniformly

AND THE EURO

Economic and Monetary

Union

History of the EMU• The Euro is the EU's single

currency, introduced in 1999 as a virtual currency.

• In 2002, 12 of the 15 members at the time adopted it. Today, 19 of the 28 countries use it.

• The euro is the world's second most important international currency after the US dollar, and has become a global reserve currency.

- Coordination of economic policies - Financial and budgetary discipline

Economic, Monetary & Fiscal Policy in the EMU

- Set by the ECB for the euro area

- Set by Member State governmentsFiscal Policy

Monetary Policy

Economic Policy

The European Central Bank

• Ensures price stability

• Controls money supply and decides interest rates

• Works independently from governments

Joining the Euro: Maastricht Criteria• Price stability: low inflation rate

• Budget deficit: below 3 % GDP

• Debt: within 60% GDP

• Interest rates: low long-term rates

• Exchange rate stability: steady rate

within authorized fluctuation margins

The EU on the World StageThe EUON THE WORLD

STAGE

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Common Security and

Defense Policy

Peacekeeping and Crisis

Management

EU and NATO

European Security Strategy

CFSP

European External Action Service

• EU’s foreign ministry and official diplomatic service, formally launched January 1, 2011

• EEAS works in concert with Member State diplomatic services

• EEAS improves EU's coherence and efficiency on international scene

• EUHR Federica Mogherini leads EEAS

Trade and Development• Global trade rules

• Free trade agreements

• Development assistance

• Doha

Democracy and Human Rights

…and fighting:• The Death Penalty• Torture• Human Trafficking

Promoting:

• Election Monitoring

The EU - USRELATIONSHIP

Shared Values• Promoting peace, human

rights and democracy worldwide

• Confronting global challenges, including security and non-proliferation

• Fostering prosperity and opportunity

• Advancing strategic cooperation on energy security, climate change and sustainable development

EU – U.S. Relations

• Trade & Investment• Foreign Affairs• Security & Defense• Energy & Environment• Growth & Jobs

Key Areas of Cooperation

Thank you!

Delegation of the European UnionWashington, DC

www.euintheus.org www.facebook.com/EUintheUSwww.twitter.com/EUintheUS

[email protected]