European Union
 The European Union's official flag. |
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 Map of the European Union. |
The European Union (abbreviation: EU) is a confederation of 27 member countries in Europe, started in 1957 as the European Economic Community (EEC). It has created a common economic area with Europe-wide laws allowing people to move and trade in other EU countries almost like it was their own. Seventeen of these countries also share the same money: the euro. 495 million people live in the European Union. When Croatia joins in 2013, the number will go up to 499 million people. This organization is very vital to Europe
The Treaty of Lisbon gave extra additional powers to the EU:s leadership.
EU is working hard to integrate the member countries in each other. That is to say brings them closer together, with common passport union, currency, trading, authorities organization and laws.
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[change] History
After World War II, the countries in Europe wanted to live peacefully together and help one another's economies. Instead of fighting for coal and steel, the first member countries (West) Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg created one European Coal and Steel Community in 1952.
In 1957 in the Italian city of Rome, the member countries signed another treaty and made the European Economic Community. Now it was a community for coal, steel and for trade. Later it changed the name to the European Community.
In 1993, with the Treaty of Maastricht it changed its name to the European Union. Now the member countries work together not only in politics and economy (coal, steel and trade), but also in money, justice (laws), and foreign affairs. With the Schengen Agreement, 22 member countries of the EU opened their borders to each other, so people can now travel from one country to the other without a passport or identity card. Now already 16 member countries have replaced their national currencies with the euro.10 new countries became members of the EU in 2004 and 2 more became members of the EU in 2007. Today there are 27 member countries altogether.
[change] Free movement
A person who has a passport of a European Union country can live and work in any of the other 27 member countries without needing a work permit or visa. For example, a British person can move to Greece to work there, or just to live there, and he or she does not need permission from an authority in Greece.
In the same way, products made in one member country can be sold in any other member country without any special permissions or extra taxes. For this reason, the members agree rules on product safety - they want to know that a product made in another country will be as safe as it would be if it had been made in their own country.
[change] Main institutions
The Union has three political institutions with the executive and legislative power. The Council represents governments, the Parliament represents citizens and the Commission represents the European interest.[1] The Council, Parliament or another party can request legislation from the Commission. The Commission then drafts this and presents it to the Parliament and Council. In most cases both must agree. After it is approved and signed by both chambers it becomes law.[2] The Commission's duty is to ensure it is implemented by dealing with the day-to-day running of the Union.[1]
[change] Council of the European Union
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Main page: Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the main decision-making group. The cabinet ministers of the member countries meet (Ministers for Foreign affairs, for Agriculture, for Justice, etc...) and discuss issues that are important to them.
Each member state takes a turn at being President of the Council for six months. For example, from January 2007 until July 2007, Germany held the presidency. The six months before that, Finland held the presidency. The President of the Council is the organiser and manager, he or she does not have the power to make decisions about the European Union like the President of the United States does for that country.
Member countries with a large population (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.) have more votes than countries with small populations (Luxembourg, Malta, etc.) but a decision cannot be made if enough countries vote against the decision.
Twice a year, the heads of government (Prime Ministers) and/or the heads of state (Presidents) meet to talk about the main issues and make decisions on different issues. This meeting is different and not as formal. It is known as a European Council.
- Note: This is not the same thing as the Council of Europe, which is not part of the European Union.
[change] Motto
United in diversity (or together with many types of people in Simple English), is the motto of the European Union.
The motto in other languages:
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[change] European Commission
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Main page: European Commission
The European Commission runs the day to day running of the EU and writes laws, like a government. Laws written by the Commission are discussed and changed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
The Commission has one President and 27 Commissioners, selected by the European Council. The Commission President is appointed by the European Council with the approval of the European Parliament.[3]
The Commission operates like a cabinet government. There is one Commissioner per member state, though Commissioners are bound to represent the interests of the EU as a whole rather than their home state.
[change] European Parliament
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Main page: European Parliament
- See also: European Union Budget
The Parliament has a total of 785 members (called Members of the European Parliament, or MEP). They are elected in their countries every five years by the citizens of the European Union member countries. The Parliament can approve, reject or change proposed laws. It can also sack the European Commission. In that case, the entire commission would have to give up their jobs.
[change] Member countries
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Main page: European Union member state
In 1951, six countries made the European Coal and Steel Community, a basic version of what the EU is now. These six then went further and in 1957 they made the European Economic Community and the European Coal and Steel Community. The UK and others decided not to join, and then when the UK changed its mind it was stopped from joining by French President Charles de Gaulle. When he was no longer President, the UK and others started to join. Today there are 27 members but the idea that more should join is not seen as a good one by everyone.
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*Greenland joined as part of Denmark, but was given some power to rule itself afterwards. With this power, it decided to leave the EEC.
**East Germany and West Germany became one country in 1990. Since then the whole of Germany is an EU member country.
***Northern Cyprus is officially part of the Cyprus (and the EU) but is not actually controlled by it.
Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Iceland are "candidate countries", they are being considered for membership. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia (including or along side Kosovo) are expected to follow.
[change] Politics
There are many discussions in the EU about how it should develop and change in the future.
The main reasons why European countries came together are political and economic:
- The need to prevent another European war after World War I and World War II.
- The need to have a common economic area.
[change] Other pages
[change] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Institutions: The European Commission". http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index_en.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ↑ "Parliament's powers and procedures". European Parliament. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?language=EN&id=46. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- ↑ "Institutions of the EU: The European Commission". http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index_en.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
- ↑ "Croatia to become EU member 1 July 2013". Croatian Times. May 23, 2011. http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-05-23/19468/Croatia_to_become_EU_member_1_July_2013. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
[change] Other websites
- European Union online portal
- Germany's EU Council Presidency
- 'Your Europe' information website
- Europe of cultures 50 years of artistic creation and cultural life from the 27 countries of the European Union
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