Introduction

• The European Union (launched as the European Economic Community) consists of 25 member countries. (27 countries from 1st January 2007).
• Uniting the EU countries is their commitment to peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
• The EU regards ethnic and cultural diversity as a great asset and it promotes tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.
• In European Countries, standards of living are among the highest in the world.
• The EU has a frontier-free single market and a single currency with the Euro (although the UK still operates in Sterling).
• The flag – with 12 stars signifies perfection, completeness and unity. Its circular formation represents solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe.

Who's Who in the EU?

• The European Commission – initiates legislation and monitors its application and implementation and manages the budget. The Commission is accountable to the European Parliament.
• The European Council - informally called the European summit, is a meeting of the heads of state or government of the European Union, and the President of the European Commission. It sets the general political direction of the EU.
• The Council of Ministers - is the made up of the Ministers from each EU country subject to the portfolio being discussed e.g. Health, Agriculture.
• The European Parliament and Council of Ministers will review Commission proposals for EU laws and can amend and adopt the final legislation. In many cases the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers are co-legislators - sharing decision-making power including the budget.
• Presidency of the EU – is occupied by a member state rather than an individual and rotates among the members every six months (the current holder is Finland).  The member state with the EU Presidency will chair the meetings of both the European Council and the Council of Ministers, as well as the official level meetings that prepare for these Councils. It will have the opportunity to set the agenda for the EU in this six month period, though any decisions must be approved by the normal voting processes.

Membership

• The original European Community included six member states: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
• The UK joined in 1973 along with Denmark and Ireland.
• In 1981 Greece joined with Spain and Portugal following in 1986.
• The reunification of Germany in 1990 brought in East German Lander.
• In 2004 the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia joined.
• Bulgaria and Romania are due to join in 2007.
• Turkey and Croatia are at the early stages of negotiations to become members of the European Union.
• The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been accepted as a candidate country.

Europe in Numbers