4.C MY COUNTRY AND WORLD COMMUNITY:

THE EUROPEAN UNION

I will know

- about the European Union and its symbols

- the EU member states and European integration

- what is a marker of integration

- about analysis of integrative markers

- what it means to debate

I will be able

- to speak on the topic the EU and use your own vocabulary

-to speak about the EU integration

- to determine key phrases

- to determine markers of integration

- to participate in debates

1. EU FACTSHEET

You have learned about the biggest international organization in the world, the UNO. Do you know anything about the largest European international organization?

• What is it?

• Where are the headquarters of this organization situated?

• How long has it existed?

• How many countries are the members of this organization?

Task1: Study the entry the EU basic info:

The European Union (EU) is an economic union of 27 member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU is not a sovereign state in itself, and therefore in strict terms is not a political union. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by six countries in 1958. In the intervening years the EU has grown in size by the accession of new member states, and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993. The last amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.

Source: http://europa.eu/about-eu

 Task 2: Let’s think about the European Union as an international organisation: about its bodies, its history, purposes and members. Use your ideas about the EU and fill in the mind map. Work in pairs, noting down everything, your know, about the EU.

Task 3: Watch video “EU Overview” address

Study the EU fact-sheet. Have you included anything from below in your mind map?

Add some ideas and facts in your mind map, if necessary?

The eu Fact-sheet

THE MAIN AIMS OF THE EU: 1. Economic and social progress - prosperity 2. Develop an area of freedom, security and justice 3. Assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene the EU flag What are the results so far? Frontier-free travel and trade, the euro (the single European currency), safer food and a greener environment, better living standards in poorer regions, joint action on crime and terror, cheaper phone calls, millions of opportunities to study abroad and much more besides.

The EU is an economic and political partnership between 27 democratic countries. The EU is recognisable by several symbols, the most well-known being the circle of yellow stars on a blue background. The 12 stars in a circle symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. The European flag is the symbol not only of the European Union but also of Europe's unity and identity in a wider sense. The European anthem The melody used to symbolise the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Europe Day The ideas behind the European Union were first put forward on 9 May 1950 by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. This is why 9 May is celebrated as a key date for the EU. The EU motto - "United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union. It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages. The European Commission is mainly based in Brussels and Luxembourg. It also has offices throughout the EU, and offices (known as “delegations”) outside the EU. Agencies have been set up in many EU countries to deal with specific technical, scientific or managerial tasks. The European Parliament holds its Committee meetings in Brussels and its plenary sessions in Brussels and Strasbourg. Administration is located in Luxembourg.. Source: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/index_en.htm What are the key words, phrases signifying the European Union for you, write them down:_______________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________

Task 4: The European Union is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. Fill in Table 1 and call the EU member-states using ISO codes, the date in the table shows, when the country entered the EU:

Table 1: EU member states

Date	Country code	Country	Language	? Can you call the languages of the EU countries? L earn more about the EU member states’ languages and about multiculturalism policy in the Supplement, Text “EU countries’ languages”. Task 4.1. Watch video “What is the EU”, you will see the flags of the EU states and the buildings of the EU main bodies. address Key for Table 1 is in the Supplement.
1952	B F D I NL
1973	DK IRL GB
1981	GR
1986	P E
1995	A FIN S
2004	CY CZ EST HU LV LT M PL SK SL
2007	BG RO

 Task 5: 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
1	The European Commission	a)	Interprets the EU law.
2	The Council	b)	Represents local and regional authorities
3	The European Parliament	c)	Proposes policies and legislation, is responsible for administration
4	The Court of Justice	d)	Monitors the EU’s financial activities
5	The Court of Auditors	e)	Acts as the EU’s public forum, debating issues of public importance.
6	The Economic and Social Committee	f)	Enacts legislation throughout the European territory and directs intergovernmental cooperation.
7	The Committee of the Regions	g)	Represents the business people and acts as a consultative organ.

R ead additional info about the EU structures in the Supplement, text “Councils in Europe”.

Task 6. Use the mind map, that you have made in Task 2 and improved while doing task 3, tell present the EU mind-map to your group-mates.