The European Union an introduction Prof Simonetta Gatto

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

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

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

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

EU IDENTITY CARD 28 countries 24 official languages Population: 508, 000 Area: 4 million km 2 Currency: euro in the eurozone European Day: 9 th May European anthem: Ode to Joy – Beethoven

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

THREE MAIN INSTITUTIONS • The European Parliament • The Council of the European Union • The European Commision

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

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

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.

THE CAPITALS Strasbourg Brussels Luxembourg

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

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"