GC1 8. EU in a nutshell - lesson 1

• Global citizenship
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

How many countries are there in the EU?

Name as many countries as you can.

27 countries

Why was the EU founded?

1. wanted to prevent war, so they had to work together.
2. Needed a larger army

When what the EU founded?

1. 1957
2. 1993
3. 1951

When was the EU founded we know it now?

1. 1991
2. 1993
3. 1995

European Coal and Steel Community

steel for weapons and

 energy for factories and transport…

… That's why six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) agreed to unite their coal and steel industries. (1951)

European Economic Community

The six countries got on so well that they decided to go a step further and to set up the European Economic Community (EEC).

The main idea was to create a 'common market'. That means getting rid of all national obstacles to free trade, such as border checks and customs duties, as if Europe were one country.

Not just economics…

Over the years, more and more countries joined the EEC. They started working together in many more areas, for example, 

•to protect the environment and 

•to build better roads and railways across Europe.

What the European Union does today

What the European Union does today

Money (EURO)

Freedom for (young) people (you can study, work or live anywhere in the EU)

Climate action 

Helping each other when needed (with money, ideas, people)