The European Union an introduction

1. The European Union an introduction Prof. Simonetta Gatto Istituto Comprensivo di Casella

2. EU – EUROPEAN UNION The EU is a political and economical association with 28 members: • 1957 Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. • 1973 Ireland, Denmark, United Kingdom • 1981 Greece • 1986 Spain, Portugal • 1995 Finland, Sweden, Austria. • 2004 The Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, Cyprus • 2007 Bulgaria, Romania • 2013 Croatia

3. COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES Germany – German France – French Italy – Italian The Netherlands – Dutch Belgium – Belgian Luxembourg – Luxembourgish Ireland – Irish Denmark – Danish The United Kingdom – British Greece – Greek Spain – Spanish Portugal – Portuguese Finland – Finnish Sweden – Swedish Austria – Austrian the Czech Republic - Czech Lithuania – Lithuanian Latvia – Latvian Estonia – Estonian Hungary – Hungarian Poland – Polish Slovenia – Slovenian Slovakia – Slovak/Slovakian Malta – Maltese Cyprus - Cypriot Bulgaria – Bulgarian Romania – Romanian Croatia - Croatian

4. CAPITAL CITIES OF EUROPE Germany – Berlin France – Paris Italy – Rome The Netherlands – Amsterdam Romania – Bucharest (the Hague – seat of Parliament) Belgium – Brussels Luxembourg – Luxembourg Ireland – Dublin Denmark – Copenhagen The United Kingdom – London Greece – Athens Spain – Madrid Portugal – Lisbon Finland – Helsinki Sweden – Stockholm Austria – Vienna the Czech Republic - Prague Lithuania – Vilnius Latvia – Riga Estonia – Tallinn Hungary – Budapest Poland – Warsaw Slovenia – Ljubljana Slovakia – Bratislava Malta – Valletta Cyprus - Nicosia Bulgaria – Sofia Croatia - Zagreb

5. EU IDENTITY CARD 28 countries 24 official languages Population: 508,000,000 Area: 4 million km2 Currency: euro in the eurozone European Day: 9th May European anthem: Ode to Joy – Beethoven

6. The European Flag 12 golden (yellow) stars in a circle on a blue background The stars represent all the people of Europe It is both the flag of the EU and of the Council of Europe Number 12 is a symbol of unity and perfection.

7. EUROZONE 18 countries have the Euro It was established on 1st January 1999 Euro entered into use on 1st January 2002. Issuing authority: European Central Bank (ECB) President of ECB:Mario Draghi The symbol is € It is divided into 100 cents

8. EUROZONE COUNTRIES They are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Kosovo and Montenegro have adopted the Euro unilaterally, but they are not in the Eurozone. Monaco, San Marino, Vatican and Andora use the Euro as their official currency, after an agreement.

9. EUROPEAN ANTHEM "Ode to Joy" Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium, Fire-inspired we tread Thy sanctuary. Thy magic power re-unites All that custom has divided, All men become brothers Under the sway of thy gentle wings. Whoever has created An abiding friendship, Or has won a true and loving wife, Join in our song of praise, Yes, all who can call at least one soul Theirs upon this earth; But any who cannot must creep tearfully Away from our circle. All creatures drink of joy At nature's breast. Just and unjust Alike taste of her gift; She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine, A tried friend to the end. Even the worm can feel contentment, And the cherub stands before God! Gladly, As His heavenly bodies fly On their courses through the heavens, Thus, brothers, you should run your race, As a hero going to conquest. You millions, I embrace you. This kiss is for all the world! Brothers, above the starry canopy There must dwell a loving Father. Do you fall in worship, you millions? World, do you know your creator? Seek him in the heavens; Above the stars must He dwell.

10. ODE TO JOY - BEETHOVEN Written in 1824 It celebrates the brotherhood of men Adopted as European Anthem on 19th January 1972

11. EUROPEAN MOTTO United in diversity French: Unie dans la diversité Italian: Unita nella diversità Spanish: Unida en la diversidad Chosen after a school contest. The winner was a school from Luxemburg. The European Commision has explained: “The motto means that, via the EU, Europeans are united in working together for peace and prosperity, and that the many different cultures, traditions and languages in Europe are a positive asset for the continent.

12. THREE MAIN INSTITUTIONS The European Parliament The Council of the European Union The European Commision

13. The European Parliament Legislative power (making laws) 766 members Elected every five years The President of the Parliament is Martin Schultz. He is German. Meeting place: either Strasbourg or Brussels

14. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Together with the European Parliament, it is the body of the legislative branch. 28 seats (one for each country, 28 at present) Meeting place: Brussels Presidency rotates among the member states of the EU every six months

15. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION The European Commission (EC) is the executive body of the European Union The Commission has got 28 members (one member per state) Currently the President is José Manuel Barroso, from Portugal. Locations are in Brussels and Luxembourg. Working languages are: English, French and German.

16. THE CAPITALS Strasbourg Brussels Luxembourg

17. Common objectives The European Union Treaties state the importance of these values: human dignity freedom democracy equality the rule of law respect for human rights minority rights free market

18. NOBEL PEACE PRICE IN 2012 In 2012 the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.The motivation was: "for over six decades it contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe"