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| Sunday, 26 June 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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European Union Working for peace and prosperity
The European Union (EU) covers a large part of the continent of Europe, from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean, and from the Atlantic to the Aegean. Its membership has grown over the years, from six to 15 nations, with 10 more new nations becoming members in May 2004. A further two hope to join in 2007. The enlarged EU of 27 countries will have a population of nearly half a billion. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same fundamental values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They seek to promote these values, to build and share prosperity and to exert their collective influence by acting together on the world stage. During the past half a century, the European Union has raised its citizens' standard of living to higher levels. It has created a frontier-free single market and a single currency, the euro. It is a major economic power and the world leader in development aid. The EU began in the 1950s as the 'European Communities'. There were six Member States: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. They were joined by Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986.The EU was enlarged in 1995 to include Austria, Finland and Sweden. The 2004 enlargement brings in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join in 2007. Turkey too is a candidate. Its Member States have set up common institutions. The members delegate some of their sovereignty to the institutions so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.This pooling of sovereignty is also called "European integration". The idea of European integration was first proposed by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in a speech on May 9, 1950. This date, the "birthday" of what is now the EU, is celebrated annually as Europe Day. The rule of law is fundamental to the European Union. All EU decisions and procedures are based on the Treaties, which are agreed by all the EU countries. You must be knowing that Europe is a continent not only with many different traditions and languages, but also with shared values. The EU defends these values. It fosters co-operation among the peoples of Europe, promoting unity while maintaining diversity and ensuring that decisions are taken keeping the citizens closely in mind. With its enlargement in 2004-07, the European Union is grasping a truly historic opportunity - uniting a once-divided continent, and creating a peaceful, stable and democratic Europe. This enlargement will also create a single market of nearly half a billion consumers, with excellent potential for economic growth and increasing prosperity. But peace, democracy, stability and prosperity must not stop at the Union's new borders. That is why the EU will continue forging closer ties with its near neighbours - Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, the Caucasus and Balkan regions, the Middle East and North Africa. By working constructively with all these countries on political as well as economic issues, and by giving them easy access to the enlarged single market, the EU aims to spread prosperity, stability and democratic progress throughout its neighbourhood. *** EU membership and institutions The European Union of 15 countries covers an area roughly one third the size of the United States. Its population is the world's third largest after China and India, and accounts for some 6 per cent of the total world population. It is a major economic power and the world leader in development aid.In order to become a member of the EU, a country must have a stable democracy that guarantees the rule of law, human rights and protection of minorities, and it must have a functioning market economy as well as a civil service capable of applying and managing EU laws. There are five EU institutions, each playing a specific role: * European Parliament (elected by the peoples of the Member States) * Council of the European Union (representing the governments of the Member States) * European Commission (driving force and executive body) * Court of Justice (ensuring compliance with the law) * Court of Auditors (controlling the sound and lawful management of the EU budget) **** Important Facts Euro - a single currency for Europeans The euro is the name of the single European currency that was put into circulation on January 1, 2002. The euro has replaced the old national currencies in 12 European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Having a single currency makes it easier to travel and to compare prices, and it provides a stable environment for European business, stimulating growth and competitiveness. Free to move You can travel, study and work wherever you want in the 15 European Union countries, if you are an EU citizen. The EU is working constantly to give its citizens greater freedom of movement as a fundamental right and to get rid of all discrimination based on nationality. In most of the EU you can travel without carrying a passport and without being stopped for checks at the borders. With very few exceptions, you may buy anything you want anywhere you like and take it all back home with you. Keeping the peace War between EU countries is now unthinkable, thanks to the unity that
has been built up between them over the last 50 years. Given this success,
the EU is now increasingly involved in preserving peace and creating
stability in neighbouring countries.The European Union wants to prevent
conflicts. The EU is the biggest donor of financial assistance to troubled
places in the world. It is active in peacekeeping and it runs many
projects that help to make human rights and democracy succeed in practical
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
It is not a State. It is more than just another international
organisation. Can you guess what this unique institution is? It is the
European Union (EU). The EU is a family of democratic European countries
working together for peace and prosperity. 
