Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Final Eco Project by Harsh
Final Eco Project by Harsh
Particulars
1. How the EU works
a) Introduction
2. EU law
Pg no:
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b. EU treaties
d. Application of EU law
4. History at a glance
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6. Topics of the EU
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7. EU & India
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9. Conclusion
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10. Bibliography
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11.
INTRODUCTION
The EU is a unique economic and political partnership between 28
European countries that together cover much of the continent.
The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first
steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries
who trade with one another become economically interdependent and so
more likely to avoid conflict. The result was the European Economic
Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic
cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since then, a huge single market has
been created and continues to develop towards its full potential.
The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of
laws that apply in all member states. Within the Schengen Area, passport
controls have been abolished.EU policies aim to ensure the free
movement of people, goods, services, and capital, enact legislation in
justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on
trade,agriculture, fisheries, and regional development.
EU LAW :
1) HOW EU
The Commission also consults interested parties such as nongovernmental organisations, local authorities and representatives of
industry and civil society. Groups of experts give advice on technical
issues. In this way, the Commission ensures that legislative proposals
correspond to the needs of those most concerned and avoids unnecessary
red tape.
Citizens, businesses and organisations can participate in the consultation
procedure via the website Public consultations.
National parliaments can formally express their reservations if they feel
that it would be better to deal with an issue at national rather than EU
level.
Review and adoption
The European Parliament and the Council review proposals by the
Commission and propose amendments. If the Council and the Parliament
cannot agree upon amendments, a second reading takes place.
In the second reading, the Parliament and Council can again propose
amendments. Parliament has the power to block the proposed legislation
if it cannot agree with the Council.
If the two institutions agree on amendments, the proposed legislation can
be adopted. If they cannot agree, a conciliation committee tries to find a
solution. Both the Council and the Parliament can block the legislative
proposal at this final reading.
2) EU Treaties
The European Union is based on the rule of law. This means that every
action taken by the EU is founded on treaties that have been approved
voluntarily and democratically by all EU member countries.
The Treaty of Lisbon increased the number of policy areas where
'Ordinary Legislative Procedure' is used. The European Parliament also
has more power to block a proposal if it disagrees with the Council.
3) Regulations, Directives and other acts
The aims set out in the EU treaties are achieved by several types of legal
act. Some are binding, others are not. Some apply to all EU countries,
others to just a few.
Regulations
A "regulation" is a binding legislative act. It must be applied in its
entirety across the EU. For example, when the EU wanted to protect the
names of agricultural products coming from certain areas such as Parma
ham, the Council adopted a regulation.
Directives
A "directive" is a legislative act that sets out a goal that all EU countries
must achieve. However, it is up to the individual countries to decide how.
This was the case with the working time directive, which stipulates that
too much overtime work is illegal. The directive sets out minimum rest
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THE HISTORY OF EU :
The Founding Fathers of the EU :
The following visionary leaders inspired the creation of the European
Union we live in today. Without their energy and motivation we would
not be living in the sphere of peace and stability that we take for granted.
From resistance fighters to lawyers, the founding fathers were a diverse
group of people who held the same ideals: a peaceful, united and
prosperous Europe. Beyond the founding fathers described below, many
others have worked tirelessly towards and inspired the European project.
This section on the founding fathers is therefore a work in progress.
Konrad Adenauer
Joseph Bech
Johan Beyen
Winston Churchill
Alcide De Gasperi
Walter Hallstein
Sicco Mansholt
Jean Monnet
Robert Schuman
Paul-Henri Spaak
Altiero Spinelli
HISTORY AT A GLANCE :
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1945 - 1959
A peaceful Europe the beginnings of cooperation
The European Union is set up with the aim of ending the frequent and
bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World
War. As of 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community begins to unite
European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting
peace. The six founders are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s are dominated by a cold
war between east and west. Protests in Hungary against the Communist
regime are put down by Soviet tanks in 1956; while the following year,
1957, the Soviet Union takes the lead in the space race, when it launches
the first man-made space satellite, Sputnik 1. Also in 1957, the Treaty of
Rome creates the European Economic Community (EEC), or Common
Market.
1960 - 1969
The Swinging Sixties a period of economic growth
The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture, with groups such as The
Beatles attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear,
helping to stimulate a cultural revolution and widening the generation
gap. It is a good period for the economy, helped by the fact that EU
countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with each other.
They also agree joint control over food production, so that everybody
now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural
produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and many
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Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years, this leads to the
reunification of Germany when both East and West Germany are united
in October 1990.
1990 - 1999
A Europe without frontiers
With the collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe,
Europeans become closer neighbours. In 1993 the Single Market is
completed with the the 'four freedoms' of: movement of goods, services,
people and money. The 1990s is also the decade of two treaties, the
Maastricht Treaty on European Union in 1993 and the Treaty of
Amsterdam in 1999. People are concerned about how to protect the
environment and also how Europeans can act together when it comes to
security and defence matters. In 1995 the EU gains three more new
members, Austria, Finland and Sweden. A small village in Luxembourg
gives its name to the Schengen agreements that gradually allow people
to travel without having their passports checked at the borders. Millions
of young people study in other countries with EU support.
Communication is made easier as more and more people start using
mobile phones and the internet.
2000 2009
Further expansion
The euro is the new currency for many Europeans. 11 September 2001
becomes synonymous with the 'War on Terror' after hijacked airliners are
flown into buildings in New York and Washington. EU countries begin to
work much more closely together to fight crime. The political divisions
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between east and west Europe are finally declared healed when no fewer
than 10 new countries join the EU in 2004, followed by two more in
2007. A financial crisis hits the global economy in September 2008,
leading to closer economic cooperation between EU countries. All EU
countries ratify the Treaty of Lisbon before entering into force on 1
December 2009. It provides the EU with modern institutions and more
efficient working methods.
2010 today
A decade of opportunities and challenges
The new decade starts with a severe economic crisis, but also with the
hope that investments in new green and climate-friendly technologies and
closer European cooperation will bring lasting growth and welfare.
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body. No other part of the world has such an organisation whose mission
is to bring countries together to pursue shared interests and values.
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the world and the EUs commitment to taking the lead in supporting
victims.
Since 2010, the European Commission has built up a more robust and
effective European mechanism for disaster response both within and
outside the EU. EU humanitarian aid and civil protection are now
integrated in a single organisation, greatly improving their efficiency and
the extent to which each complements the another.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism operates hand in hand with EU
funding for humanitarian aid when addressing the needs arising from a
conflict or disaster. When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013,
for instance, the Commission and EU countries pooled financial and inkind resources to provide humanitarian aid to the people affected.
Human rights
Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect
for human rights these values are embedded in the EU treaties. Now
they have been reinforced by the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
EU countries and prospective EU members must respect human rights.
Through its human rights policy the EU
defends civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
seeks to promote the rights of women, children, minorities, and
displaced persons
opposes the death penalty, torture, human trafficking and
discrimination
demonstrates its commitment to defending the universal and
indivisible nature of human rights by working in full and active
partnership with partner countries, international organisations,
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Environment
The EU has some of the world's highest environmental standards,
developed over decades. Environment policy helps protect Europes
natural capital, encourages business to green the EU economy, and
safeguards the health and wellbeing of people living in the EU.
Research & innovation
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Innovation has been placed at the heart of the EU's strategy to create
growth and jobs.
EU countries are encouraged to invest 3% of their GDP in R&D by 2020
(1% public funding, 2% private-sector investment) - this is expected to
create 3.7 million jobs and increase the EU's annual GDP by nearly 800
billion.
Space
Many aspects of our society - from telecommunications to television,
weather forecasting to global financial systems rely on space systems or
space-based technologies.
However, the sheer scale of space projects makes it impossible for most
countries to attempt them alone. So European countries have pooled their
technological and financial resources to run space policy through the
European Commission in cooperation with the European Space Agency
(an intergovernmental agency run by 20 European countries).
European space policy has 3 mains strands:
the Copernicus Earth observation system and the Galileo/EGNOS
satellite navigation systems
space exploration
helping European companies get involved and thrive in the
space industry.
EU transport policy
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EU transport policy deals with issues that affect all EU countries - road
and air traffic congestion, oil dependency and greenhouse gas emissions.
It provides funding to bring transport infrastructure up to the same
standard EU-wide. Another concern is enabling Europe's transport sector
to compete on the fast-developing global market.
Major challenges facing the EU's transport sector
As our societies become ever more mobile, EU policy seeks to help our
transport systems meet the major challenges facing them:
Congestion affects both road and air traffic. It costs Europe around
1% of annual GDP. Moreover, freight and passenger transport alike
are set to increase.
Oil dependency despite improvements in energy efficiency,
transport still depends on oil for 96% of its energy needs. Oil will
become scarcer in future decades, sourced increasingly from
unstable parts of the world. By 2050, it is projected to reach more
than double the 2005 price level.
Greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the EU must cut transport
emissions by 60% - compared with 1990 levels - if we are to limit
global warming to an increase of just 2C.
Infrastructure is uneven across the EU. For example, few eastern
EU countries have purpose-built high-speed railway lines.
Moreover, their conventional railway lines are often in poor
condition.
Competition the EUs transport sector faces growing competition
from fast-developing transport markets in other regions.
Employment and social affairs
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Taxation
National governments are responsible for raising taxes and setting tax
rates. The amount of tax you pay is therefore decided by your national
government, not the EU.
The EU's role is to oversee governments' national tax rules and decisions
on tax rates (on company profits, personal income, savings and capital
gains), to ensure that:
they are consistent with the EU's goals of job creation
they do not impede the free flow of goods, services and capital
around the EU
they do not give businesses in one country an unfair advantage
over competitors in another
they do not discriminate against consumers, workers or businesses
from other EU countries.
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The EU and India are committed to further increase their trade flows in
both goods and services as well as bilateral investment and access to
public procurement through the Free Trade Agreement negotiations that
were launched in 2007.
Substantial progress has been made so far, and key areas that need to be
further discussed include improved market access for some goods and
services, government procurement and geographical indications, and
sustainable development.
Trade picture
India is an important trade partner for the EU and an emerging global
economic power. The country combines a sizable and growing market of
more than 1 billion people.
The value of EU-India trade grew from 28.6 billion in 2003 to 72.7
billion in 2013.
EU investment stock in India grew substantially reaching 41.8 billion in
2012.
Trade in commercial services quadrupled in the past decade, increasing
from 5.2billion in 2002 to 22.7 billion in 2012.
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The Future
The EU-India partnership is tapping into the vast potential for further
development.The relationship promises to benefit both sides
on a range of important issues long into the future.
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Partners in development
The EU is a long-standing and trusted partner
in Indias development effort, helping to tackle
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CONCLUSION :
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BIBLIOGRAPHY :
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
Book referred
EU Trade Strategies : Regionalism and Globalism
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