The European Union

Delegation of the European Union to the US

Washington, DC

Overview

1. History of the EU

2. European Enlargement

3. How the EU Works

4. The EU on the World

Stage

5. The EU-US Relationship

The
History

OF THE

The Original Purpose of the EU

How?

To secure a lasting peace in

Europe
By controlling the
production of coal and
steel

Key Milestones
1952:

ECSC

Production of coal
and steel placed
under control of a
High Authority

1958:

Treaty of

Rome

Created the EEC

and established the
common market

Key Milestones
1987
Single European Act
First major revision of
the Rome Treaty: Single
Market and European
Political Cooperation

1989
Fall of the Berlin
Wall
Reunification of
Germany and
democratization of
Eastern Europe

1993

The Treaty of Lisbon

Entered into force December
1, 2009. Amends current
treaties without replacing
them.

Key
improvements:
Democracy
and
Transparency
Visibility on the Global
Stage
Rights and Values
Efficiency

EU by the numbers
2
4

Over

Official
languages

28

Member
States

15
%

of
GLOBAL EXPORTS
& IMPORTS

508

million
combined population

24
of global
GDP
%

1.6

million
Square miles total surface area
<1/2 of U.S. surface area

The EU Today
7.2%
World Population

23.8
%
World GDP

52%
Official Development Assistance

EU Values
Freedom
Rule of Law
Respect for Human
Rights
Democracy
Equality

European

ENLARGEMENT

Conditions of
Membership
Political

Democratic
process &
Stability of
Institutions
Human Rights
Rule of Law
Respect for and
Protection of

Conditions of
Membership
Economic

Market Economy

Ability to Cope with

Competitive
Pressures

Acceptance of
application

The
Enlarge
ment
Process

Accession
Negotiations
Accession Treaty and
Ratification

From

6 to 28 and
growing

How the

EU WORKS

Major EU
Institutions

European Council

European Commission

European Parliament

Council of the European Union

European Council
EU's highest political authority
Composition
Heads of state or
government from Member
States
Functions
Sets the general guidelines
for EU policy

European Council
President Donald Tusk

European
Commission
Executive branch of the
EU
Composition:
28 independent commissioners,
one from each EU country
Functions
Proposes new legislation
Manages and implements EUs
policies and the budget
Enforces European law
European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker

European
Parliament
Voice of the people
Composition
751 MEPs from all Member States
Functions
Decides on EU legislation
together with Council of the
EU
Democratic supervision of all
the EUs work

European Parliament President

Martin Schulz

Council of the
European
Union
Voice of the Member
States
Composition:
One Minister from each
Member State, representing
the issue at hand (e.g.,
agriculture for farm issues)
Functions:
Adopts EU laws and approves
budget together with
Parliament

European
Court of
Justice
The EU's Judicial
Authority
Composition:
28 independent
judges, one from
each state
Functions:

Economic and
Monetary
Union

AND THE
EURO

History of the
EMU
The Euro is the EU's single
currency, introduced in 1999
as a virtual currency.
In 2002, 12 of the 15
members at the time
adopted it. Today, 19 of the
28 countries use it.
The euro is the world's
second most important
international currency after
the US dollar, and has
become a global reserve
currency.

Economic, Monetary &

Fiscal Policy in the EMU
of economic policies
Economic Policy -- Coordination
Financial and budgetary discipline

Monetary Policy

Fiscal Policy

- Set by the ECB for the euro area

- Set by Member State governments

The European
Central Bank
Ensures price stability
Controls money supply and
decides interest rates
Works independently from
governments

Joining the Euro:

Maastricht Criteria
Price stability: low inflation rate
Budget deficit: below 3 % GDP
Debt: within 60% GDP
Interest rates: low long-term rates
Exchange rate stability: steady rate
within authorized fluctuation margins

The EU

The EU on the World

Stage

ON THE WORLD
STAGE

Common Foreign and Security

Policy

Common
Security and
Defense Policy

CFSP
Peacekeepin
g and Crisis
Managemen
t

Europea
n
Security
Strategy

EU and
NATO

European External
Action Service
EUs foreign ministry and
official diplomatic service,
formally launched January
1, 2011
EEAS works in concert with
Member State diplomatic
services
EEAS improves EU's
coherence and efficiency on
international scene

Trade and
Developmen
t
Global trade rules
Free trade
agreements
Development
assistance
Doha

Democracy
and Human
Rights
Promoting:
Election Monitoring

and fighting:
The Death Penalty
Torture
Human Trafficking

The EU US
RELATIONSHIP

Shared
Values

Promoting peace, human

rights and democracy
worldwide

Confronting global
challenges, including
security and nonproliferation
Fostering prosperity and
opportunity
Advancing strategic
cooperation on energy
security, climate change
and sustainable

EU U.S. Relations

Key Areas of Cooperation

Trade & Investment

Foreign Affairs
Security & Defense
Energy & Environment
Growth & Jobs

Thank you!
Delegation of the European Union
Washington, DC
www.euintheus.org
www.facebook.com/EUintheUS
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delegation-usa-info@eeas.europa.eu