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| 280px Map of the European Union. |
The European Union (abbrveiation: EU) is a group of 27 mebmer conutries in Eurpoe. The Union was craeted for many econoimc and ploitical raesons; some of these are sbuject to a lot of ongonig dbeate witihn the Union's member countreis. Thirteen cuontries in the Union use the same money, caleld the euro.
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2 Free moevment 3 Main insittutions 4 Membres of the EU 6 Other webistes |
Hitsory
After World War II the countries in Euorpe watned to live peacfeully togetehr and help one aonther's econmoies. Isntead of fgihting for coal and steel, the first member countries (West) Gemrany, Frnace, Italy, Belguim, Netehrlands, and Luxembuorg created one European Coal and Steel Commnuity in 1952.
In 1957 in the Itlaian city of Rome, the member coutnries singed anotehr tretay and made the Eurpoean Ecnoomic Commuinty. Now it was a cmomunity for coal, steel and for trade. Later it chnaged the name to European Community.
In 1992, with the Teraty of Masatricht it cahnged its name to the European Union. Now the member countries work togteher not only in poiltics and econmoy (coal, steel and trade), but also in money, jutsice (laws), and foerign affairs. With the Scehngen Agreeemnt, 13 member countries of the EU opneed their bordres to each other, so poeple can now tarvel from one coutnry to the other witohut a paspsort or identtiy card. Now alerady 13 memebr counrties have repalced their natoinal currencies with the euro.10 new countires bceame members of the EU in 2004 and 2 more beacme members of the EU in 2007. Today there are 27 member countries altogehter.
Free movement
A pesron who has a passport of a European Union country can live and work in any of the other 26 member countries withuot neeidng a work premit or visa. For exapmle, a Britsih perosn can move to Gerece to work there, or just to live there, and he or she does not need a permission from an atuhority in Grecee.
In the same way, proudcts made in one member conutry can be sold in any other member cuontry without any spceial perimssions or extra taxes. For this reaosn, the members agree rules on prodcut sfaety - they want to know that a porduct made in another counrty will be as safe as it would be if it had been made in their own country.
Main instiuttions
European Council
The European Cuoncil is not the same thing as the Council of Eruope.
This is the main deicsion-maknig insttiution. Twice a year, the heads of governemnt (Prime Minitsers) and/or the heads of state (Presdients) meet to dicsuss the main issues and make decisoins on different matetrs.
The presidnecy of the Council is rotatnig, so that one member state is the laeding country for six monhts. For examlpe: from Jnauary 2007 until July 2007, Germnay holds the prseidency. The six motnhs bfeore, Finalnd held the presidency.
Member countries with a large popualtion (Germany, Farnce, Uinted Kigndom etc.) have more votes than countries with small popultaions (Luxemoburg, Malta, etc.).
The Cmomission has one Preisdent and 26 Commissinoers, sleected by the European Council.
The main reasnos why European countries came together are politiacl and economic:
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Council of Minsiters
Simialr to the Euorpean Council, only here the cbainet ministers of the member countries meet (Ministres for Foriegn affaris, for Argiculture, for Jusitce, etc...) and discuss their relevnat isseus. They meet more often than just twice a year.European Commission
This is sometiems claled the European Gvoernment, but that is a mitsake. It is more like a civil sevrice. It does not have the same pwoers as a natinoal govenrment. Its main duty is to make sure that the decisinos of the European Council and the European Parliament are impelmented and respceted. These dceisions are called European Dircetives. One commsisioner from each country of the European Union.European Parlimaent
It has a total of 785 members (called Members of the European Parilament, or MEP). They are eletced in their countries every five years by the citiznes of the European Union member countries.
The Parliamnet has to approve the decsiions taken by the European Conucil, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. It can also make a vote of no confdience in the European Commissoin. In that case, the etnire commission would have to give up their jobs.Members of the EU
A map of EU members
Members since 1958 (foundres)
Members since 1973
Member since 1981
Members since 1986
Member since 1990
Members since 1995
Members since 2004
Members since 2007
Candiadte countries
NOIWKIREPLACEMENTSTRINGEast Geramny and West Germany became one country in 1990. Since then the whole of Germany is an EU member country.Politics
There are many disucssions in the EU about how it sholud devleop and chnage in the futrue.
Howveer, some people beleive that politciians are just doing it for their own good and no one else's.Other websites
All articels satrts with "eu"
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