What does it mean to be an European? What does Europe mean to you?

What does it mean to be an European?What does Europe meanto you? Lesson about EuropeHow do you know Europe? OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

After the II World War STABILITY PEACE PROSPERITY OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Winston Churchill, University of Zurich, 19th September 1946 • "There is a remedy which ... would in a few years make all Europe ... free and ... happy. It is to re-create the European family, or as much of it as we can, and to provide it with a structure under which it can do well in peace, in safety and in freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe. (…) In order to do this it’s urgent a reconciliation between France and Germany" OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Ten historic steps • 1951: The European Coal and Steel Community is established by the six founding members • 1957: The Treaty of Rome establishes a common market • 1973: The Community expands to nine member states and develops its common policies • 1979: The first direct elections to the European Parliament • 1981: The first Mediterranean enlargement • 1993: Completion of the single market • 1993: The Treaty of Maastricht establishes the European Union • 1995: The EU expands to 15 members • 2002: Euro notes and coins are introduced • 2004: Ten more countries join the Union OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

The European Unionis open to any European country that fulfils the democratic, political and economic criteria for membership • Following several enlargements, the Eropean Union has increased from 6 to 27 members. Several other countries are candidates to join. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

The Council of the European Union • The European Parliament • The European Commission OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

The Council of the European Union, which represents the member states, is the EU’s main decision-taking body. When it meets at Heads of State or Government level, it becomes the European Council whose role is to provide the EU with political impetus on key issues. • The European Parliament, which represents the people, shares legislative and budgetary power with the Council of the European Union. • The European Commission, which represents the common interest of the EU, is the main executive body. It has the right to propose legislation and ensures that EU policies are properly implemented. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

There are strong values which the European Union tries to preserve: • Justice • Freedom • Education • Social affairs • Security • Health • … OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

The Single Market is one of the European Union’s greatest achievements • Restrictions between member countries on trade and free competition have gradually been eliminated, with the result that standards of living have increased. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

EURO • ´The EURO is the single currency of the European Union. • Three countries from the first fifteen (Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom) did not participate in this monetary union. • The new member countries are getting ready to enter the euro area as soon as they fulfil the necessary criteria. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

To make European Economy more competitive • Priority on growth and jobs • The Union is supporting the reform programmes of member countries by making it easier to exchange ‘best practice’. • The EU Structural Funds will spend more on training, innovation and research, in the 2007–13 budget period. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Anna Siarkiewicz21, Polish University student “I think the fact that I'm European makes me feel different, special and free. As an European citizen I feel a huge diversity of cultures and some kind of unity at the same time. The best feeling ever :) I think being a European means liberty of choice.” OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Thanks to the European Union, citizens of member countries can travel, live and work anywhere in Europe. • In daily life, the EU encourages and funds programmes to bring citizens closer together, particularly in the fields of education and culture. • A feeling of belonging to the European Union will develop only gradually, through its tangible achievements and successes. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Quite Safe! • The opening of internal borders between EU member states is a very tangible benefit for ordinary people, allowing them to travel freely without being subject to border controls. • The EU countries cooperate in the area of policing and justice so as to make Europe safer and more secure. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

The EU has more influence on the world stage when it speaks with a single voice in international affairs. Trade negotiations are a good example of this. • In the area of defence, each country remains sovereign, whether a member of NATO or neutral. However, the EU member states are developing military cooperation for peacekeeping missions. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

European integration will continue … • A new treaty, the Lisbon Treaty, has been signed by the EU leaders. If ratified by all member states, it is expected to provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and citizens’ demands. OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

Victor Hugo, 1849. • “There will be a time when all the countries of the continent will be together in a superior unity and in fraternity without loosing their own glorious identity. There will be a time when there won’t be any battle fields besides the markets open to ideas. There will be a time when the shootings and the bombs will give place to the votes.” OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

19509 MayRobert Schuman, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, makes an important speech putting forward proposals based on the ideas of Jean Monnet. • Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries. With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims. • – Robert Schuman, extract from 9 May declaration • 1950 OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

President of the European CommissionJosé Manuel Durão Barroso • Barroso: European Union is 'empire' This is his view on Europe And you? What does Europe mean to you? OECD-Schooling for Tomorrow - Isabel Serra

What does it mean to be an European? What does Europe mean to you?