The European Union

THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Pros and Cons of being a member country

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 The European Union

Where in the world is the EU?

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 The European Union

27 Member States

Combined
500 population of
EU Member
million States

Percent of world’s
7 population

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 The European Union

500 million
people

27 countries

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*Countries shaded gray are candidates for EU membership
 The European Union

EU Population in the World

1339

500

307

128 142

Population in millions, 2009

EU China Japan Russia United States
 The European Union

Area of the EU compared to the

rest of the world
16 889

9327 9159

4234

365

EU China Japan Russia United States

Surface area, 1 000 km²
 France 544
Spain 506
Sweden 410
Germany 357

Surface area in 1 000 km²

Poland 313
Finland 305
Italy 295
United Kingdom 244
Romania 230
Greece 131
Bulgaria 111
Hungary 93

Portugal 92

Austria 83

Czech Republic 77
Ireland 68

Lithuania 63

Latvia 62
Slovakia 49

Estonia 43
Denmark 43

Netherlands 34
Belgium 30

Slovenia 20

Cyprus 9
Size of the EU countries

Luxemburg 3
Malta 0.3
The European Union
 Germany 82.1

France 64.4
United Kingdom 61.6
Italy 60.1
Spain 45.8
Poland 38.1
Romania 21.5
Netherlands 16.5
Greece 11.3
Belgium 10.8
Portugal 10.6
Czech Republic 10.5
Hungary 10.0
Sweden 9.3
Austria 8.4
Bulgaria 7.6
Denmark
5.5

Slovakia 5.4
countries

Finland 5.3
Ireland 4.5
Lithuania 3.3

Latvia 2.3
Slovenia 2.0
Estonia 1.3
Population of the EU

Population in millions,

0.8
500 million total in 2009

Luxemburg 0.5
Malta 0.4
The European Union
 The European Union

The Birth of the Euro

• The Euro is the shared currency of all EU

member countries.

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 The European Union

Positives of using the Euro

•Because the common market got rid of
tariffs
1. EU members now can buy goods
and services at cheaper prices
2. There is more variety in the goods
and services that are available
3. It’s now easier to travel to other
European countries to find work.
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 The European Union

Positives of using the Euro

4. Because money no longer has to be
exchanged, it is also now easier to travel and
move in Europe.
5.It has created a strong trade bloc that allows
Europe to compete economically with countries like
the U.S. Countries are now economically united
instead of competing individually and against each
other.
6. It allows EU member countries to use the Euro
on shared economic goals such as modernizing
operations and upgrading highways.
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 The European Union

Negatives of using the Euro

• 1. Western countries resent eastern countries.
The west feels that more of the shared money is
spent in the east trying to bring them up.
• 2. Westerners worry about losing jobs to
people in the east. Eastern workers will work for
less money.
• 3. Some European Union countries refuse to use
the Euro.
• 4. Not all European countries can be a member
of the EU.

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 The European Union

Pro of EU membership
•Culturally
–The EU helps to promote a united
European identity.
•EU Day in May
•EU flag-12 stars that represent
the original 12 countries
•EU anthem
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 The European Union

Con of EU membership
• Culturally
– Communication is difficult-each EU
document and conversation has to be
translated into 20 different languages.
– Conflicting cultural values and traditions
• Ex: In Spain bull fighting is the national
sport, however, other EU countries find
this to be cruelty to animals.

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 The European Union

Pro of EU membership
• Politically
– Countries are working together on shared
issues i.e. terrorism, pollution, Syrian refugee
crisis
– Residents from member countries can live and
work anywhere in the EU easily
– They can participate in all EU elections
– Strengthens Europe’s voice in world affairs.
Gives them more power and a larger say in
what happens.
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 The European Union

Cons of EU membership
•Politically
–Some countries want to make
their own decisions.
–The more countries that
become members, the more
problems the EU will have to
face.
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