SOCIAL SCIENCE UNIT 4 - THE EUROPEAN UNION SUMMARY

 

SOCIAL SCIENCE UNIT 4 SUMMARY

1.    THE EUROPEAN UNION

Its aims are to protect and strengthen the rights and interests of its member states and their citizens.

 

1.1           HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

-It was created after World War 2 to create a political and economic union.

-In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed and the European Economic Community (EEC) was created. Its founding members were:

Belgium

The Netherlands

Luxembourg

France

Germany

Italy

-In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty was signed and the EEC became the European Union (EU)

 

1.2           EU SYMBOLS

a-    European anthem: “Ode to joy” based on 9^th symphony by Beethoven

b-    Europe Day: 9^th May, peace and unity

c-     Motto: “united in diversity”

d-    EU flag: blue background, 12 starts arranged in a circle

 

 

1.3           OBJECTIVES OF THE EU

-Promote freedom, security and prosperity

-Respect cultural and linguistic diversity

-Oppose social exclusion and discrimination

-Support environmental protection

-Promote peace and democracy

-Protect diplomacy and the rule of law

-Invest in education and medical, scientific and technological progress

 

2.    INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

INSTITUTION	LOCATION	FUNCTION	POWER
European Parliament	Strasbourg, France	It prepares and passes laws and budgets. It shares powers with the European Council	legislative
Council of EU	Brussels, Belgium	It discusses and approves EU laws and manages security matters.	legislative
European Commission	Brussels, Belgium	It implements EU policies and proposes new laws	executive
European Council	Brussels, Belgium	It defines the EU’s general political direction and its priorities	-
Court of Justice	Luxembourg City	It makes sure member states and EU institutions follow the law	judicial
European Court of Auditors	Luxembourg city	It makes sure EU funds are collected and used correctly	-

 

 

3.    ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES OF THE EU

3.1           THE SINGLE MARKET

The EU has a system of common laws called the four freedoms: the free movement of goods, capital, services and people.

To remain part of the Single Market, member states must:

- make special payments

-follow the same EU laws

a-FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

The EU sets certain specification for goods.

Once goods are imported into the EU and are approved (the follow the EU specifications), the don`t need to pass through other controls when moving to other member states.

 

b-FREE MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL

EU citizens can open bank accounts or purchase real estate in other member states.

 

c- FREE MOVEMENT OF SERVICES

People and businesses provide services in other member states and earn money for it. Other professionals, need the same qualifications across the EU

 

e-    FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE

EU citizens can live, work, travel or study in other member states without a work permit or a visa. There are no border checks between EU member states.

 

3.2           THE CUSTOMS UNION

The EU trades with countries that don´t belong to the EU. These goods have to be checked at the EU border to make sure that they follow the EU specifications. If they are approved by one EU country, they can move along other EU countries without further checks and without paying more taxes.

 

4.    THE EURO

4.1           THE EURO AREA

It is the group of EU countries who use the euro as their currency. There are 19 countries using the euro.

 

Spain started using euros in 2002

The European Central Bank (ECB) which is in Germany, is responsible for maintaining price stability in the euro area.

The euro area has several advantages:

-The economy is more stable and it can grow

-Citizens and businesses don´t need to calculate the exchange rate

-It promotes trade (it attracts non-EU countries)

-It gives the EU a stronger presence in the global economy (it is the second most important currency)

 

4.2           THE EURO

The European Council chose the name in 1995

The euro sign is based on the Greek letter “epsilon”

The two bars across the middle represent economic stability

 

To avoid counterfeit, euro banknotes have watermarks, holograms and security threads.

The euro banknotes are the same in every EU country.

The euro coins have:

- a common side (it shows maps of Europe and 12 starts)

-a different side (showing something distinctive from the country)