Estonia and the European Union

1. Estonia and the European Union NGO Eurohouse Europe Direct Kuressaare inforelay 10A Tallinna str., 93813 Kuressaare Phone and fax: +372 453 9008 E-mail: info@eurohouse.ee

2. Founding of the EU • Goals: • To create political union with common structure • To create forms of the economical cooperation • Founders: • Belgium • The Netherlands • Luxembourg • Italy • France • The Federal Republic of Germany

3. Enlargement • There has been five enlargements in the EU. • Every enlargement brings along changes. EU has always had to adjust its’ policies, financing principles and activities to prepare itself for new members.

4. Enlargement 1952-1973 • Goals: • To set up common market – free movement of the products, services, humans and capital; • Closer integration and enlargement of the European Union; • To hurry up the integration and political cooperation; • To induct new timetable for creating economical and financial union; • Common economical-, commercial- and transport policies.

5. Enlargement 1952-1973 • Joining countries: • Ireland • Denmark • The United Kingdom

6. Enlargement 1974 - 1981 • Goals: • To create European Regional Development Fund; • To even up employment, living and working conditions; • To put in use the European passport; • To create common fishing policy. • Joining countries: • Creek

7. Enlargement 1982 -1986 • Goals: • To reform institutions; • To start integration according to the Common European act. • Joining countries: • Spain • Portugal

8. Enlargement 1987 - 1995 • Goals: • To reform EU structure funds; • To create economical and monetary union in three steps, to put in use common money and to even up economical policies of the EU member countries; • To lose border control between member countries.

9. Enlargement 1987 - 1995 • Joining countries: • Austria • Finland • Sweden

10. Enlargement 1996 - 2004 • Goals: • To make union’s institutions more efficient; • To make decision making process more effective;

11. Joining countries: Estonia Cyprus Poland Slovenia Czech Republic Hungary Malta Latvia Lithuania Slovakia Enlargement 1996 - 2004

12. EU institutions • European Parliament; • Council of the EuropeanUnion; • EuropeanCommission; • European Court; • European Data Protection Supervisor.

13. EU common money • The euro is the currency of twelve European Union countries, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle (namely Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland).

14. EU common money • The euro symbol was designed by the Commission services. The final choice from among several proposed designs was made following a qualitative assessment by the general public conducted by a specialised organisation. • The € is inspired by the Greek epsilon pointing back to the cradle of European civilisation and the first letter of Europe, crossed by two parallel lines to indicate the stability of the euro.

16. The symbols of the EU • The European flag • The European anthem – the melody comes from the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven. When used as the European anthem, it has no words. • Motto of the EU – United in Diversity • Common money euro € • Europe Day, 9 May