UNIT 4. THE EUROPEAN UNION (SOCIAL SCIENCE)

UNIT 4: THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE EUROPEAN UNION

·         EU objectives

-          Political objectives:

Some of the areas that the EU covers are: education, culture, fishing, transport, the environment, agriculture, health, etc

Example of policies are:

o   Do not pay at national borders.

o   To reduce pollution.

o   To promote  democracy and freedom.

o   To fight cybercrime, terrorism and human trafficking.

o   To improve the infrastructure between member states.

-          Economic objectives:

Some of the areas that the EU covers are: trade, the single market, budgets, etc

Example of policies are:

o   To develop small businesses and encourage innovation.

o   To create jobs and promote economic growth.

o   To make it posible for goods, Money and services to move freely between countries.

o   To act together to help memeber states with economic problems.

·         EU symbols and institutions

-          The euro is the currecy of the Eurozone,but there are some European  countries which do not use it (UK, for example).

-          The EU flag has a circle of twelve stars  that represents unity between the  members.

-          The European anthem  is Ode to Joy

The institutions of the EU are:

-          Council of the EU (LEGISLATIVE POWER): It passes laws, approves budgets and signs agreements with non-EU countries.

-          European Parliament (LEGISLATIVE POWER,  its memebers are elected by EU citizens): it debates and passes laws and shares budgeting decisions with the Council of the EU.

-          Court of justice of the EU (it is the highest court in the EU): ensures all members apply the laws.

-          European Council (strategic body of the EU): dicusses about the political direction of the EU but can not make laws.

-          European commision (EXECUTIVE POWER): make proposals for new laws  and spends EU funds.

-          European Court of Auditors (audit agency): invetigates how EU Money is invested and presents audits to the Comission.

THE EURO

The euro was introduced in 2002. The name of euro was chosen in Madrid in 1995 by the European Council. The symbol  was chosen from a competetion. It is based on a Greek letter and the two bars mean stability. Security for a currency is very important and notes are controlled by watermarks and holograms.

Most of the countries of the EU adopt the Euro currency, but there are some countries that don´t do it. The European Central Bank (ECB), in Germany, mantains Price stability for the Eurozone.

·         A single market

-          How does a single market work?

The single market in Europe started in 1986 with a common law about trade. Then, since 1993, people, goods, Money etc could move freely. First, the single market started in 12 countries. Nowadays, there are 28 member states. It has got a lot of advantages and make citizens´ life easier, for example: all products have the same standards and all products meet the same technical specifications.

THE POPULATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Europe is the third most populated continent in the world. There are bout 739 million inhabitants in Europe and 500 million in EU.

·         Ageing population

The birth rate of Europe is low and life expectancy is increasing.  Europe´s population is growing, mainly due to migratory movements, because a lot of immigrants are coming. There are three types of migratory movements: international emigration, internal migration and international immigration.