Sie sind auf Seite 1von 8

Cristodor Georgiana Mariana

Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D

Homework

1.5. SKILLS FOCUS: Short Report


Do some research and write a 200-250 word report about any of the Local Governments in the
European Union.
Your report should include the following information:
1. the structure of the local government
2. the responsibilities of the local government
3. the financing of the local government
Feel free to mention any fun facts (e.g. the smallest council, the oldest councilor etc.)!

Celebrating the European Union:


A Half Century of Change and Progress
• Since the creation of the EU half a century ago, Europe has enjoyed the
longest period of peace in its history.
• European political integration is unprecedented in history.
• EU enlargement has helped overcome the division of Europe – contributing to
peace, prosperity, and stability across the continent.
• A single market and a common currency conditions for companies and consumers.
• EU has united the citizens of Europe – while preserving Europe’s diversity.
What is the European Union?
• Shared values: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, and the rule of law.
• Largest economic body in the world.
• World’s most successful model for advancing peace and democracy.
• A unique institution – Member States voluntarily cede national sovereignty in many
areas to carry out common policies and governance.
• Not a super-state to replace existing states, nor just an organization for international
cooperation.
• World’s most open market for goods and commodities from developing countries.
Goals of the EC
• To continue to improve Europe’s economy by
regulating trade and commerce.

• To form a single market for Europe's


economic resources.

• As these goals were accomplished, other


goals were developed:
• Environmental movements
• Regulatory acts
• Human rights concerns.

Principal Objects of the EU


• Establish European Citizenship

• Ensure freedom, security, and justice

• Promote economic and social progress


Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D

• Assert Europe’s role in the world


Basis of the EU
The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new State
replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organizations. Its
Member States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the interests of
the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are
derived from the basic treaties ratified by the Member States.
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D

EU Institutions
European Commission
• 27 Commissioners, representing the European perspective, each responsible for a
specific policy area.
• EU’s executive branch proposes legislation, manages Union’s day-to-day business
and budget, and enforces rules.
• Negotiates trade agreements and manages Europe’s multilateral development
cooperation.
Council of the European Union
• EU’s main decision-making body, comprised of ministers of 27 Member States,
representing Member State’s point of view.
• Decides on foreign policy issues.
• Council presidency rotates among Member States every six months.
EU Institutions
European Parliament
• Voice of European citizens – members elected for
five-year terms.
• With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU budgets.
• Approves EU Commissioners.

European Court of Justice


• Highest EU judicial authority.
• Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied correctly and uniformly.
• Can act as an independent policy maker but unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the
ECJ can only deal with matters covered by the Treaties.
What Does it Take to qualify for Membership in the EU:

1. The candidate country has achieved stability of institutions


guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and
respect for and protection of minorities.

2. The candidate country has the existence of a functioning


market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with
competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.

3. The candidate country has the ability to take on the


obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of
political, economic and monetary union.

European Central Bank

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for Europe's single currency,
the euro.
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D
• The ECB’s main task is to maintain the euro's purchasing power and thus price
stability in the euro area.
• The euro area comprises the 15 European Union countries that have introduced the
euro since 1999.
• The ECB operates independently from Member State governments.
United in Diversity - The €uro
EUROPEAN UNION DEPOSITORIES
• The European Union has a long standing tradition of maintaining European
Documentation Centers (EDCs) throughout the EU member countries, with a total of 275
EDCs world-wide.

• The EU presently supports over fifty depositories in the United States.

• The earliest of these depositories were established with the creation of the ECSC
in the 1950’s.

EU Depositories Holdings

*Depositories and EDCs automatically receive one copy of a


majority of EU produced items free of charge, in the
designated language.

* The only items that are not part of this agreement are the
Technical Reports and the Press Materials issued by the
Commission's Offices located outside of Brussels.

*The public can purchase official EU documents from the Office


for Official Publications (EU-OP). Purchase requests can
be made via the internet.

*There is a large cache of free current information on EU web


page.

OU has been an EU Depository since 1973

The €uro
1951:
• In the aftermath of World War II, the aim was to secure peace among Europe’s
victorious and vanquished nations and bring them together as equals, cooperating within
shared institutions.
• Based on a plan by French Foreign Minister
Robert Schuman.
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D
• Six founding countries – Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands – signed a treaty to run heavy industries (coal and steel)
under common management.
Treaty of Rome
• The six founding countries expanded cooperation to other economic sectors,
creating the European Economic Community (EEC) – or “common market.”
• As a result, people, goods, services, and capital today move freely across the Union.

EU PUBLICATIONS

* The EU publishes on a multitude of topics in a variety of formats.


Statistics, parliamentary reports, current events, debate,
regulations, and news items all fall within the range of EU
publication topics.

*The type of publications includes periodicals, monographs, and


annuals.

*The format of publications is either paper, fiche or electronic,


with Internet being heavily utilized since 2000.

Types of Publications
• EU publications fall into a number of EU-specific
categories: Green Papers, White Papers,
Bulletins, Communications, Reports,
Memorandum, and Press Releases.

• The main division of these items is between General


Information and Official Documents.

EUROPA
THE SERVER FOR THE EU
Born: 1995
Name: europa.eu.int
Parents: EU-institutions

Characteristic:

Portal to all EU institution and bodies


Mult-lingual (11 official languages)
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D
37 million visitors per month
1.5 million documents consulted daily
1.3 million documents available

Purpose:
– Openness and transparancy
– Give citizens access to information
– Involve as many as possible in the decision making-process

http://www.europa.eu.int/
• “One-stop Shopping”
• Fully searchable
• Divided into six main
areas:
– ABC
– News
– Activities
– Institutions
– Official Documents
– Information Sources

50 Years of EU Integration
Enlargement has:
• Inspired reforms and consolidated common principles of liberty, democracy,
respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and market economy.
• Enhanced the EU’s weight in the world and made it a stronger and more attractive
international partner.

Addressing Global Challenges


• Peace & Security
– Works for global peace and security alongside the United States and multilateral
organizations – including NATO and the United Nations.
– Undertakes humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and has provided military
forces for crisis management around the globe.

• Counterterrorism & Homeland Security


– Taken steps to improve intelligence sharing, enhance law enforcement and judicial
cooperation, curtail terrorist financing.
– Boosts trade and transport security to support the struggle against terrorism.

• Democracy & Human Rights


– Works globally for free elections and open democratic processes.
– Fights racism and intolerance at home and abroad.
– Campaigns globally against capital punishment.
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D
• Development Assistance & Humanitarian Relief
– The EU and its Member States are the world’s largest aid donor, providing 55% of
total official development assistance.
– Provides billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries in
response to crises and natural disasters.

• Trade
– European Commission represents all 27 EU Member States before the World Trade
Organization.
– Supports free trade and open markets, within the rules-based structure of the WTO,
to promote growth and jobs in both industrialized and developing countries.
– The world's most open market for products and commodities from developing
countries – 40% of all EU imports are from developing countries.

• Environmental Protection
– A leader in global efforts to protect the environment, maintaining rigorous and
comprehensive systems at home.
– Plays a key role in developing and implementing international agreements, such as
the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.
– Executing a “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
– Takes the lead in the fight against global warming with the adoption of binding
energy targets (cutting 20% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020).
The European Union and the United States

Partners in Global Leadership


• EU and U.S. work together to develop international standards:
– Fighting terrorism and transnational crime
– Advancing global trade liberalization
– Combating piracy and intellectual property violations
– Spreading benefits of globalization
• EU and its Member States are helping restore peace and stability in Afghanistan.
• EU and U.S. work together in the Middle East Quartet to advance the peace
process.
• When the EU and U.S. agree, others tend to follow.
Shared Values and Responsibilities
• Freedom & Democracy
Support free elections, good governance, human rights, and the rule of law around
the world.

• Security
Cooperate to fight terrorism, limit the spread of nuclear weapons, and work for
global peace.

• Development
Together, EU and U.S. provide 80% of global development assistance and an even
larger share of global humanitarian aid in times of disaster and conflict.
Cristodor Georgiana Mariana
Administratie publica
Anul 2,Semestrul 2,Grupa 2 I.D
A Dynamic
Transatlantic Economy
• EU and U.S. together account for 40% of total global trade (more than $1.5 billion
in transatlantic trade every day).
• The $3 trillion EU-U.S. transatlantic economy employs 14 million workers on both
sides of the Atlantic.
• In 2005, Europe accounted for roughly two-thirds of total global investment flows
into the U.S. – by far the most significant source of foreign investment in the U.S.
economy.

• European companies are the leading foreign investors in the U.S.


– The UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands – top four sources of jobs created
by foreign investment in the United States.

• American companies invest far more in EU countries than in Asia.


– U.S. businesses make 5 times the profit in the Netherlands - alone - as they make in
China.
– In 2005, EU investments in Texas alone surpassed all U.S. investments in China
and Japan, combined.
Future of Transatlantic Relations
• EU and U.S. face common challenges that are global in origin and impact. With
global challenges, come global responsibilities.

• EU and U.S., with our shared values and common interests, are natural partners to
give a lead in four key areas:
– Promote peace, human rights and democracy worldwide.
– Confront global challenges, including security and non-proliferation.
– Foster prosperity and opportunity.
– Advance strategic cooperation on energy security, climate change and sustainable
development.

Education & Research


• EU and U.S. cooperate on science and technology education through:
– Exchange programs
– More than 700 institutional partnerships
– Vocational training
– Scholarship programs
– R&D cooperatives
• EU and U.S. provide joint or dual higher educational degree programs.
• EU funds Centers of Excellence at leading U.S. universities.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen