The European Union

million Member States Combined population of EU Member States Percent of world’s population Percent of global GDP 55 Percent of combined worldwide Official Development Assistance I. INTRODUCTION 1 st 1 st economy in the world

The European Union

The EU symbols The motto: United in diversity The EU anthem: Ode to Joy The euroThe EU flagThe EU day: 9 May

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

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Binding for all the EU's activities 54 articles under 6 titles: Dignity EqualityFreedoms SolidarityCitizen's RightsJustice

Common values United in diversity by common values The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. -Freedom of speech -Freedom of the press -Freedom of religion -Freedom of association -Gender equality -Protection of minorities -Against the death penalty -Protection of the environment

The European Union in brief Member States 28 sovereign and independent states that pooled some of their sovereignty in order to gain strength and unity from their cooperation. The EU institutions take in charge the decision-making power the Member States delegate. The EU is in between a fully federal system (ex. US) and an intergovernmental cooperation system (ex. UN). EU Achievements A single and unified market for goods and services around the EU. Freedom of movement for all EU citizens as part of the Schengen Area. The establishment of the euro zone - a single currency shared by 19 Member States of the EU. Largest supplier of development and humanitarian aid programmes in the world.

Konrad ADENAUER Robert SCHUMAN Winston CHURCHILL Alcide DE GASPERI Jean MONNET The Founders

History of the EU The EU was founded one step at a time The Treaty of Paris [1951]: Established the European Coal and Steel Community. The Treaties of Rome [1957]: Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). The Single European Act (SEA) [1986]: Amended the EEC Treaty and paved the way for completing the single market. The Treaty of the European Union (TEU) – Treaty of Maastricht [1992]: Established the European Union, gave the Parliament more say in decision-making and added new policy areas of cooperation. The Treaty of Amsterdam [1997]: Amended previous treaties. The Treaty of Nice [2001]: Streamlined the EU institutional system ahead of the wave of new Member States in 2004, so that it could continue to work effectively. The Treaty of Lisbon [2007]: Simplified working methods and voting rules, created a President of the European Council and introduced new structures to the EU. The latest treaty also introduced the High Representative and Vice President position, held by Federica Mogherini.

Enlargements : the founding members FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY 1951 Founding Members Belgium France Germany Italy Luxembourg Netherlands

Enlargement I 1973 Denmark Ireland United Kingdom FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargement II 1981 Greece FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargement III 1986 Portugal Spain FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargements IV 1995 Austria Finland Sweden FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargements V 2004 Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargements VI 2007 Bulgaria Romania FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Enlargements VII 2013 Croatia FRANCE BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG ITALY NETHERLAND GERMANY SPAIN PORTUGAL UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND ICELAND NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND DENMARK SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA POLAND HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA BULGARIA GREECE ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BOSNIA-HR SERBIA MONTENEGRO FYROM ALBANIA MALTA CYPRUS TURKEY

Candidate countries and potential candidates Country Area (x 1000 km²) Population (millions) Wealth (gross domestic product per person) Status Albania Accepted, not opened yet The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Accepted, not opened yet Montenegro Accepted, still negotiating Serbia Accepted, still negotiating Turkey Accepted, still negotiating Bosnia and Herzegovina Potential candidate Kosovo under UN Security Resolution : Potential candidate

EU Trade agreements around the world

HOW DOES THE EU WORK?

Who makes the decision? Decision-making at EU level involves various European institutions: The EU Parliament: represents the EU's citizens and is directly elected by them The European Council: consists of the Head of State or Government of the EU Member States The council: represents the governments of the EU Member States The EU Commission: represents the interests of the EU as a whole.

CLOSE UP: The European Parliament Represents the EU's citizens and is directly elected by them Role: Directly elected legislative arm of the EU Members: 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEP) Location: Strasbourg (France), Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg city (Luxembourg) President: Antonio Tajani Seats allocated among the Member States on the basis of their share of the EU population (Germany 96, and Luxembourg and Malta 6. Most MEPs are associated with a national political party in their home country. In the EP, the national parties group into EU-wide political groupings and most MEPs belong to one of these.

CLOSE UP: The European Council Consists of the Head of State or Government of the EU Member States Role: Defines political direction and priorities. Members: heads of state or Government from each Member States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. Location: Brussels (Belgium) President: Donald Tusk It represents the highest level of political cooperation between Member States. At their meetings, the leaders decide by consensus on the overall direction and priorities of the Union. The European Council does not adopt legislation.

CLOSE UP: The Council Represents the governments of the EU Member States Role: Deciding on policies and adopting legislation. Members: One minister from each Member States. Location: Brussels (Belgium), and Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) President: The Presidency changes every 6 months between the Member States. From 1 January 2017 until 30 June 2017, Malta is Presiding the Council. Which ministers attend which Council meeting depends on the subject on the agenda. If, for example, the Council is to discuss environment, all the environment Ministers from each Member States will attend.

CLOSE UP: The European Commission Represents the interests of the EU as a whole Role: Executive arm of the EU that proposes laws, policies agreement and promotes the Union. Members: A College of Commissioners, one from each Member States. Location: Brussels (Belgium) President: Jean-Claude Juncker It is the politically independent institution that represents and upholds the interest of the EU as a whole. In many areas, it is the driving force within the EU’s institutional system: it proposes legislation, policies and programmes action and is responsible for implementing the decision of the European Parliament and the Council.

EEAS To make sure the voice of the EU and its people are heard in the world The EEAS – European External Action Service is the European Union's diplomatic service. It helps the EU's foreign affairs chief – the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – carry out the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Head of EEAS: HR/VP Federica Mogherini

SOME FIGURES ABOUT THE EU

EU population compared to the rest of the world Population in millions (2016)

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

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

How many people live in the EU? Population in millions (2016) 510 million in total

GDP per inhabitant: the spread of wealth GDP per inhabitant (2016) Index where the average of the 28 EU countries is 100

Unemployment rates in the EU 2008 crisis EU focus work on employment

EU’s budget

EU’s WORK I.In the economy II.For the environment III.As a global player IV.EU programmes

EU’s WORK I.In the economy II.For the environment III.As a global player IV.EU programmes

EU position in world trade The EU is in prime position when it comes to global trade The openness of EU’s trade regime has meant that it is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. The EU has achieved a strong position by acting together with one voice on the global stage, rather than with 28 separate trade strategies. The EU is the largest economy in the world. Although growth is projected to be slow, the EU remains the largest economy in the world with a GDP per head of € for its 500 million consumers.

The European economy: stronger together 2008: Worldwide financial crisis starts in the United States. Coordinated response from European leaders: Commitment to the euro and to financial stability New crisis management tools and reforms of rules: European Stability Mechanism: fund to help countries in extraordinary economic difficulties New laws for stability of banks Banking Union: EU-wide supervision of banks and a mechanism to close down failing banks Better economic governance: European Semester: annual procedure to coordinate public budgets Euro+ pact, ‘Fiscal compact treaty’: mutual commitments to sound public finances

EU’s WORK I.In the economy II.For the environment III.As a global player IV.EU programmes

The EU and the environment The EU has some of the world's highest environmental standards Environment policy helps green the EU economy, protect nature, and safeguard the health and quality of life of people living in the EU. Europe is working to safeguard these natural resources and halt the decline of endangered species and habitats. The European Union is working on growing sustainably, protecting nature, safeguarding the health of people living in the EU, and fight global challenges (climate change, destruction of some ecosystems, etc.) One of EU’s programme : Natura It is a network of 26,000 protected natural areas, covering almost 20% of the EU's land mass, where sustainable human activities can coexist with rare and vulnerable species and habitats.

EU’s WORK I.In the economy II.For the environment III.As a global player IV.EU programmes

The EU as a global power The EU is a key actor in the international stage Through the EU Global Strategy, launched by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU has become the biggest humanitarian aid provider in the world. Moreover, and under the Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP), the EU has become a security provider in many regions of the world. Here are some examples of civilian or military mission undertaken by the EU in the frame of the CFSP.

EU’s WORK I.In the economy II.For the environment III.As a global player IV.EU programmes

EU programmes The EU provides funding for a broad range of projects and programmes The EU funds a lot of programmes and project covering areas such as regional & urban development, employment & social inclusion, agriculture & rural development, maritime & fisheries policies, research & innovation and humanitarian aid. The best known EU programme is Erasmus+. Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion provides opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train gain experience, and volunteers abroad Another well known programme is Horizon 2020 promoting EU Innovation and Research.

EU CHALLENGES

European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao The EU office increases knowledge and information about EU policies through public diplomacy efforts, dialogue meetings and development of academic exchanges and people-to- people contacts.

Q&A