H OME
November 26, 2001
Volume 1, Issue 1
European Union
Inside this issue:
Europe Countries Unite 1
Europe Countries Unite
Fifteen countries are now The EU researched the me m-
The EU Chooses a Symbol 1
united as the European Union ber countries to find a symbol
(EU). The union was formed to best represent the Euro-
The Euro 1
to enhance political and social pean Union. The research
included people from 18 to
EU and US Fight 2 cooperation, as well as to
75 years. They had eight dif-
Terrorism Together strengthen the economies of
its member nations. Formally ferent symbols from which to
known as the European Co m- choose. According to the se-
EU has a Long History of 2 lection committee, the sym-
Cooperation munity (EC) or European
Economic Community (EEC), bol was chosen “for its stabil-
the EU has made Europe a ity, combination of modern
Countries Apply to Be- 2 look and classic lines, and
come Members of EU powerhouse. Member coun-
tries include: Austria, Be l- Euro dollar symbol because it projected a strong
gium, Denmark, Finland, image.” The symbol for the
What is the EU 3 compared to US $ euro dollar was chosen and
France, Germany, Greece, symbol.
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, called the euro.
Cartoons 3
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
EU Flag Sweden, and the United King-
3
dom.
EU and the World 3
The Euro
On January 1, 1999 eleven referendum was defeated markets have changed over
EU countries voted to and Denmark did not join. and checks and bank cards
change their currency over Greece became the next can be paid in euros. Since
to the euro. Germany, member to adopt the euro January 1, 2001, there has
France, Italy, Spain, the as of January 1, 2001. Both been a limited time to convert
Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and coins and notes into euros.
Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden did not agree to However, the actual date for
Ireland, and Luxembourg convert their currency to total conversion to the euro
were the original countries. the euro. In total, twelve, will be effective on January 1,
On January 1, 2000, Den- out fifteen of EU member 2002.
mark was to join this illus- countries, are currently us-
trious group, however, a ing the euro. The financial
P a g e 2 E u r o p e a n U n i o n
EU and US Fight Terrorism Together
The United States and the around the world in a wide chel of the European Union
European Union have agreed variety of areas. As set out in replied to Colin Powell's
to meet at least four times a our joint statement, we have statement by saying “...The
year to evaluate terrorism agreed to intensify coopera- EU transport ministers will
threats. Europol (European tion among our law enforce- continue to work on innova-
Police Office) and United ment authorities and to facili- tive, more effective air safety
States law enforcement agen- tate the exchange of informa- measures. It is important that,
cies will cooperate with each tion; to tighten up on aviation not only the US, but every
other to fight against world security, our immigration and country takes immediate
terrorism. In the EU-US visa controls and our export measures to ensure security
Ministerial Meeting Press control and non-proliferation of flights to, from and within
Conference on September 20, regimes; to disrupt terrorists’ its territory. EU foreign min-
2001, Secretary of State plans, dry up their sources of isters will examine ...concrete
Colin Powell said, “my col- support and roll up their net- measures that will increase
leagues and I discussed how works; and bring terrorists to the EU capacity to effectively
the European Union and the justice and bring those aiding fight terrorism together with
United States can join forces and abetting them to ac- the US and all the partners.
with other nations from count.” President Louis Mi- EU finance ministers will
urgently address the issue of
financing of terrorism...And
Countries Apply to Become EU justice and interior minis-
ters have met today and
“European
Members of EU agreed on the need for a
Union Steps Up European arrest warrant...EU
The EU is growing, but requirements for member- member states will strengthen
Fight Against slowly and carefully. Trial ship. Many other countries their intelligence capacities
membership started in 1993 such as Cyprus, Malta and and increase their coopera-
Terrorism” for Poland, Hungary, Czech Turkey are submitting their tion in this field…” Eurojust
Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, applications as well. (European Justice Court) and
Romania, Estonia, Latvia, the US are now organizing
Lithuania and Slovenia. judges and prosecutors to
These countries will not be- work on terroris m.
come full members, however,
until they meet all the EU
The EU Has History of Cooperation
Europe suffered an immense with the goal of one market. 1981, and Portugal and Spain
destruction in the many wars Belgium, France, Germany, joined in 1986. In 1992, the
between various countries. Italy, Luxembourg, and the Maastricht Treaty, which
French citizen, Jean Monet’s Netherlands started the EEC. changed the name of the EEC
vision of an united Europe The Merger Treaty of 1965 to the European Union or EU,
was to help prevent wars and divided the EEC into various was signed. On January 1,
conflicts in the future. His tasks, including a Council on 1993 the EU created a com-
plan for a united Europe had Ministries, European Co m- mon market promoting free
at its core a non-violent mission, European Parlia- trade and movement of people
Europe. Monet’s plan for an ment, Court of Justice, and throughout the borders of
united Europe began in European Council. The member countries.
1957, when the Treaty of United Kingdom, Denmark (Continued on page 3)
Rome created the European and Ireland joined the EEC
Economic Community (EEC) in 1973; Greece joined in
P a g e 3 E u r o p e a n U n i o n
What is the EU?
The EU is a treaty based national sovereignty search for political unity,
framework that manages eco- (supreme and independent Europe is constructing its own
nomic and political coopera- political authority) had oc- model for unification, ensuring
tion among fifteen European curred, for example, in trade respect for its richest asset the
countries. The EU may in- and agriculture– the Union historical, culture, and linguis-
crease to twenty countries negotiates directly with the tic diversity of the European
after 2001. According to the United States and other coun- nations.” Only time will tell
EU web site, “The Union is tries. Member states retain whether the European Union
Victor Hugo often compared to the United their sovereignty (supreme will survive.
(1848) States and there are some and independent political au-
similarities. Member coun- thority) powers in such fields
tries have agreed to pool as security and defense, al-
some of their sovereign pow- though since Maastricht, they
“A day will ers (independent powers) for can take joint action in cer-
come when all the sake of unity, just as tain agreed-upon foreign and
nations on our American states did to create security policy areas. Al-
a federal republic. In the though the US federal model
continent will fields where such pooling of continues to inspire the
form a Euro-
pean brother- Topographic Map of Europe
hood...A day The EU Has History
will come when of Cooperation Britain refuses the Euro and keeps
we shall see... (Continued)
the pound.
the United The Europeans went to the
States of polls to elect representatives
America and to the EU Parliament in 1994.
the United Only 36 years after Monet
promoted his vision of a
States of united Europe, his dream
Europe, face to came true.
face, reaching
out for each
other across
the seas.”
EU Flag
The European Union’s ma- However they are working
jor objective is to speak on these difficulties and
with one voice and to speak hope one day to collaborate
as one on all world issues. politically with one power-
Member countries have ful voice.
found this fairly easy on
economic and trade issues.
Political decisions have not
met with unity. EU me m-
EU flag has 12 gold stars ber countries have dis-
on a background of blue, agreed on the Gulf War and
representing the Union of the conflict in the Balkans.
all of Europe.