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Center for International Studies

Discover the European Union

K-12 Program



The European Union (EU) is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity. The EU was designed to operate much like the United States of Europe. Its Member States have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty 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 conceived to prevent such killing and destruction that had happened during the world wars. It was first proposed by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in a speech on 9 May 1950. This date, the "birthday" of what is now the EU, is celebrated annually as Europe Day.

There are five EU institutions, each playing a specific role:
  1. European Parliament (elected by the peoples of the Member States)
  2. Council of the European Union (representing the governments of the Member States)
  3. European Commission (driving force and executive body)
  4. Court of Justice (ensuring compliance with the law)
  5. Court of Auditors (controlling sound and lawful management of the EU budget)

These are flanked by five other important bodies:
  1. European Economic and Social Committee (expresses the opinions of organized civil society on economic and social issues)
  2. Committee of the Regions (expresses the opinions of regional and local authorities)
  3. European Central Bank (responsible for monetary policy and managing the euro)
  4. European Ombudsman (deals with citizens' complaints about maladministration by any EU institution or body)
  5. European Investment Bank (helps achieve EU objectives by financing investment projects)


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. Initially, the EU consisted of just six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. In 2004 the biggest ever enlargement took place with 10 new countries joining.

Europe is a continent 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 preserving diversity and ensuring that decisions are taken as close as possible to the citizens.

In the increasingly interdependent world of the 21st century, it will be even more necessary for every European citizen to co-operate with people from other countries in a spirit of curiosity, tolerance and solidarity.
source: http://europa.eu.int/ (European Union Website)

The European Union Website gives all the information ever needed concerning the EU:
http://europa.eu.int/

Other General Information sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union
http://www.eurunion.org/
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/gov_eu.html

Map of the European Union:
http://www.eurunion.org/infores/teaching/Young/traveling.htm

Activities

  1. Have students choose a section, or smaller topic, concerning the EU and research it. Research should include; topic overview, future of the topic, current issues, and a presentation. Some topics may include: The Euro, Environmental Issues, Enlargement, and The Consistution.
  2. Utilize the Monetary Curriculum materials page to explore more about the Euro. Design and teach the banknotes and coins of the euro, and have students practice exchanging monies. Also, go over which countries in the EU are members of the Euro and which are not, and why and why not these countries are members.
  3. Have students compare and contrast the European Union and the United States. What are the differences, similarities? Is the EU trying to become a United States of Europe?
  4. Have each student in the class choose an EU member country and research that country. Find out the history of the country and why they became a member of the European Union.