EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

What is the European Union (EU)

• 28 Member States
• More than 500 million citizens
• Current candidates for EU membership: Albania, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey
• Economy
• EU has a share of around 14% of the global GDP(PPP)
• In 2020, the combined GDP of E.U is $ 20 trillion
• 19 member states of E.U are part of the Eurozone.
Euro is used as the common currency in the
Eurozone.
• Euro is the 2nd most traded currency in the world.
 EU's main principles
• Common values: respect for human dignity, freedom,
democracy, equality, rule of law, human rights,
pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice,
solidarity

• Aim: to promote peace, the Union's values and the

well-being of its people

• 4 freedoms: free movement of people, goods,

services and capital
The key stages in the EU's history
The 1950s – the Post-war reconstruction
• 1951: foundation of the European Coal and Steel
Community (ECSC):European nations formed the
European Community of Coal and Steel on April 18,
1951(six countries sign a treaty to run their coal and
steel industries under a common management).

• Later, in 1993, it was renamed the European Union.

6 Member States: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands
 Rome Treaties
• 1957: Rome Treaties – birth of the European
Economic Community (EEC) and European
Atomic Energy Community(Euratom)

• Common Assembly of the European Coal and

Steel Community was replaced with European
Parliament on 30 March 1962.
•The 1960s - laying the groundwork
1960: creation of the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) to promote free trade and
economic integration)
• 1961 – The Berlin Wall is built
• The communist government in East Germany builds a
wall across Berlin.
• 1962: launch of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The first common agricultural policy gives
EEC countries joint control over food production.
• 1968: Abolition of custom duties. 6 Member countries
removed customs duties on goods imported from
each other, allowing free cross-border trade for the
first time.
 The 1970s
• 1973: 1st enlargement – Denmark, Ireland and the
United Kingdom join the EEC
 Europe now has 9 Member States
• 1973 – Oil crisis hits Europe
• Following an Arab-Israeli war in October, Middle East
oil-producing nations impose big price increases and
restrict sales to certain European countries. This
creates economic problems throughout the EEC.
• 1979: 1st election of the European Parliament
• European citizens directly elect the members of
the European Parliament for the first time.
 The 1980s – Fall of Communism &
Expansion of EU
• The end of the decade sees the collapse of communist
regimes in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Enlargement to Southern European countries: Greece
(1981), Spain and Portugal (1986)
Europe now has 12 Member States
• 1986: The Single European Act modifying the Treaty of
Rome is signed
• 1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall
• Germany is united after more than 40 years, and its
Eastern half joins the European Communities in
October 1990
 The 1990s: A Europe without frontiers
• The 1990s is also the decade of 2 treaties – the
Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) in
1993 and the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999.
• 1992: Maastricht Treaty -The ‘European Union’ is
officially created by the treaty, which enters into
force on 1 November 1993.
• 1993: The Single European Market -The single
market and its 4 freedoms are established, freedoms
of free movement for people, goods, services and
Capital.,
 A Europe without frontiers…
• 1995: The Schengen Agreement -in 7 countries -
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, travellers can
move without passport . By 2021, 26 countries
are part of the passport-free Schengen area
• New enlargement - Austria, Finland and Sweden
join
Europe now has 15 Member States
• 1 January 1999 – The euro is born- The euro is
introduced in 11 countries for commercial and
financial transactions only.
 First decade of the 21st century:
The biggest enlargement
• 2004: enlargement to Central and Eastern European
countries - 10 new Member States join: Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
Europe now has 25 Member States
• 2007: Bulgaria and Romania join
Europe now has 27 Member States
• 2013: Croatia joins
Europe now has 28 Member States
 The first decade of the 21st Century
• A challenging decade: The global economic crisis
strikes hard in Europe.
• In 2012, the European Union is awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize.
• Immigrants issue: Unrest and wars in various
countries lead many people to flee their homes and
seek refuge in Europe
• Climate change is at the top of the agenda and leaders
agree to reduce harmful emissions.
• Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU in 2013.
But in a referendum (52%) in 2016, the United
Kingdom votes to leave the EU. On 31 January 2020 ,
after 47 years, United Kingdom left the EU
The European institutions
 European Union Decision Making
Bodies
• The 7 important decision-making bodies of the
European Union are listed below.
• European Parliament
• European Council
• European Commission
• Council of the European Union
• Court of Justice of the European Union
• European Central Bank
• European Court of Auditors.
 The European Parliament
• It is the apex body
• It is one of the 3 legislative institutions of the E.U.
• On the basis of proportional representation,
Members of the European Parliament are elected by
European Union citizens every 5 years

• Monitors the budget of the EU (with the Council) and

supervises policies of the EU institutions

• Has 751 members elected

 The European Council
• Political direction for the European Union is given by
the European Council.
• The European Council consists of the elected heads of
the EU countries.
• However, they do not pass EU laws
 The Council of the European
•
Union
It has executive powers like addressing common
foreign and security policy.

• Co-legislates with the European Parliament (amends,

adopts or rejects the Commission’s legislative
proposals)

• Consists of ministers from the 28 Member States

 The European Commission
• European Commission acts as the executive arm of
the European Union. It is responsible for the day to
day functioning of the European Union.

• European Commission is considered as the

guardian of the treaties signed.

• It also has legislative powers like proposing laws for

debate.
 Other EU institutions and bodies
• The Court of Justice of the European Union
• The European Central Bank
• The European Court of Auditors
• The European Economic and Social Committee
(EESC)
• The European Committee of the Regions