Bricks 2 CH5

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

The European Union

Chapter 5:

The European Union

Section 5.1.: History
Section 5.2.: How is the EU organised?

Section 5.3.: The NW of the EU
Section 5.4.: The southern EU
Section 5.5.: The eastern  EU

Topography Europe

Peaceful Europe?

The European Union (EU)

- Two world wars made the world feel less safe.

--> Some European countries decided to work together

--> European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
(colaboration in a common market)

European coorperation

Economic coorperation

The EU was formed out of this and started with 6 countries. Now it has 27 countries. 

In this union there is free trade. 

How many people live in the European Union?

1. +- 450 million people
2. +- 200 million people
3. +- 750 million people
4. +- 1 billion people

Treaty of Maastricht 1993 (designed 1992)

The European Union was formed
--> To apply countries had to have the following criteria:

1. They have to be a democracy
2. They need to have a working market economy
3. They need to implement any EU-laws. 

What does the European Union want?

1. Safety and economic growth
2. Peace and welfare
3. Welfare and well-being
4. Peace and more money

Put in the correct order:

ECSC

EEC

EU

1952

1957

1993

The government of Europe

• The European commission
• The European Parliament
• Counsil of ministers

Let's start off with:

European Commission 
--> Decides on legislation (Laws) 
--> Has 27 members, a.k.a. European Commissioners 
 (one from each country) 
--> Represents the EU internationally

--> The European Commission is based in Brussels.

And then....

The European Parliament. 
--> MEP's (751) keep an eye out for the European Commission. 
--> They approve and supervise all decisions made by the European Commission. 

--> Voted for by EU-citizens.

Vice president

President

Eerste kamer

Never again war!

Shuman declaration (may 9th 1950) > 1951 ECSC

Treaty of Rome > 1957 European Economic Community (EEC)

In 1967, the EEC became the European Community (EC), to stress that economic cooperation was not the only goal anymore. 

Schengen treaty (1985 / 1995)

Treaty in which was decided that not only products but also people and money could move freely between all member states.

subsidiarity

The principle that matters that can be organised on a national scale more efficiently, should  regulated by a country itself.

Northwest, south and east

- physical geographical characteristics

- human geographical characteristics

- contributing to the EU

- profiting from the EU

Figure 5.15

Northwest: physical

Moderate maritime climate, with cool summers, mild winters and rainfall throughout the year.

Landscape is dominated by relatively flat lowlands, but there are hilly areas and mountain ranges.

Northwest: human

An urbanised area.

Tertiary (services) sector.

The primary (agriculture) sector is small in size, but large in output > capital intensive farms.

HDI and GDP/capita are very high.

Northwest: benefits/contributes

All northwestern EU countries (except for Ireland) are net contributors: they pay more than they receive. 

The two major items on which EU money is spent are agriculture (mainly subsidies for farmers) e.g. in France and regional development.

South: physical

Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm 

and dry, winters are mild and wet. 

More relief, plateaus and mountain ranges.

Near the plate boundary of the Eurasian and African plates, earthquakes and volcanic activity is quite common.

South: human

Less densely populated.

Tertiary sector > tourism 

Secondary sector > e.g. clothing industry, car manufacture

Primary sector > e.g. olives, wine

HDI and GDP/capita are lower

 Romance languages and Catholicism

South: benefits/contributes

European subsidies to stimulate GDP/capita (agriculture).

Subsidies for infrastructural works.

Net receivers: they receive more 

than they pay (exept for Italy).

East: physical

Transition: the maritime climate in the northwestern EU to a continental climate in the most eastern part. 

Continental climates > warm summers and cold winters.

Flat, highlands, important rivers.

East: human

Less urbanised and less densely populated.

Poorest region in the EU. Globally very highly developed (HDI)

Economic development strongly linked to its communist past > vulnerable

East: benefits/contributes

Net receiver. 

Most EU money is spent on agriculture and development of backward regions > cohesion funds.

The more members, the greater the 

chance for peace in Europe, and 

a bigger common market.