Basic facts on the European Union

The EU means many things to many people. For some it has been at the core of efforts to help maintain peace over the past 50 years in a continent which in the past has been riven by rivalry and suspicion. Others, however, talk of its political impotency.

For many the EU is primarily about the single market and the opportunities and benefits this presents to business, students, pensioners and holidaymakers.

The European Union – previously known as the European Economic Community (EEC) – is an institutional framework for the construction of a united Europe. It was created after World War II to unite the nations of Europe economically so another war among them would be unthinkable. Twenty seven countries are members of the European Union, and more than 400 million people share the common institutions and policies that have brought an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity in Western Europe.

The European Union’s mission is to organize relations between the Member States and between their peoples in a coherent manner and on the basis of solidarity. The main objectives are:

- to promote economic and social progress (the single market was established in 1993; the single currency was launched in 1999);

- to assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene (through European humanitarian aid to non-EU countries, common foreign and security policy, action in international crises; common positions within international organizations);

- to introduce European citizenship (which does not replace national citizenship but complements it and confers a number of civil and politic rights on European citizens);

- to develop an area of freedom, security and justice (linked to the operation of the internal market and more particularly the freedom of movement of persons);

- to maintain and build an established EU law(all the legislation adopted by the European institutions, together with the founding treaties).

Task 2. Work in groups of 3 or 4.Read the information given below. Discuss in groups the possible functions of different EU bodies. Match column A with column B. Share your opinion with the other group mates. You may ask your teacher for help or consultation.

A	Name of the organ	B	Function
	The European Commission	a)	Interprets the EU law.
	The Council	b)	Represents local and regional authorities
	The European Parliament	c)	Proposes policies and legislation, is responsible for administration
	The Court of Justice	d)	Monitors the EU’s financial activities
	The Court of Auditors	e)	Acts as the EU’s public forum, debating issues of public importance.
	The Economic and Social Committee	f)	Enacts legislation throughout the European territory and directs intergovernmental cooperation.
	The Committee of the Regions	g)	Represents the business people and acts as a consultative organ.

READING 3.

You should keep in mind that there are three different international organizations which have two basic words in their names ‘Europe’ and ‘Council’. They are: the Council of Europe, the Council of European Union and the European Council. These organizations have shared the same European flag and anthem since the 1980s as they all work for the European integration. But still they perform different functions and have different structure. In order not to get confused you will read the texts about these organizations.

Task 1. Get divided into three groups. Each group will read one of the three texts and fill in the necessary information into the chart that follows.

№	characteristics of the Council	information from the text
	official name
	other/ informal names
	seat
	membership
	head
	functions
	main institutions and their short characteristics
	other important information

Task 2. Share the information you will learn with the other group mates. So, you will get a clear picture of the activity of the three Councils.

TEXT 1

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