European Union

Guide Note

The European Union is an intergovernmental collection of independent, democratic, member states who work as a political and economic community to develop a common market in the region. There are currently 27 member states in the EU and 15 have adopted the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. The EU has also developed a role in foreign policy, abolishing passport control between many member states and representing them before other international organizations. The Eu has also implemented a development policy to increase the agricultural and industrial capacities of member states, and established a legal framework for the protection of human rights and adjudication of cross-border crimes and disputes.

Fast Facts

1. Established: 1993
2. Number of member states: 27
3. Combined population: 500 million
4. 2007 GDP: $16.8 trillion
5. Represents 30% share of the world's gross domestic product
6. The Euro (common currency) used by 15 EU countries

The Mahalo Top 7

1. EUROPA: Gateway to the European Union
2. Wikipedia: European Union
3. CIA.gov: The World Factbook - European Union
4. EurActiv.com: EU Policy News and LinksDossiers  
5. Eurunion.org: Delegation of the European Commission to the USA
6. BBC News: Glossary: EU Jargon | A Timeline of the EU
7. Economist: Blame the secretary (December 13, 2007)

European Union Recent News

• EUobserver.com:
• Times Online: Gordon Brown signs Britain up to EU treaty, finally (December 13, 2007)
• The Telegraph: Timeline: Britain and the EU Reform Treaty (December 13, 2007)
• New York Times: European Court Rejects Microsoft Antitrust Appeal (Sept 17, 2007)
• AFP: EU seeks to split up energy giants (September 19, 2007)
• Financial Times: Use the Microsoft mandate wisely and Microsoft bows to the EU system
• Times Online: Commission’s bold decision will make IT giants tremble
• The Economist: The EU vs Microsoft - A bittersweet win over Microsoft (Sept 17, 2007)
• BBC News: EU Leaders Struggle Over Treaty (2007)
• Guardian Unlimited: Articles on the EU
• BBC News: Inside Europe

European Union Background and Articles

• Guardian Unlimited: Q&A: The EU reform treaty
• EUROPA: History of EU at a Glance
• Wikipedia: History of the European Union
• Historiasglo20.org: History of the European Union and European Citizenship
• Guardian Unlimited: Interactive Guide to EU Enlargement 
• Guardian Unlimited: The EU Constitution: a 10-point Guide (2003)

The European Union Constitution

• CNN: Dutch reject EU Constitution (2005)
• Guardian Unlimited: "France delivers its judgment..." (2005)
• BBC News: What the EU Constitution Says (2004)
• BBC News: Q&A: EU - Myths and Realities of the Constitution (2004)  

The Euro (Currency)

• EUROPA: The Euro
• Wikipedia: Euro and Eurozone 
• BBC News: UK and the Euro
• CBBC Newsround: What is the Euro? 
• Guardian Unlimited: "The euro and you" (UK Focus)
• BBC News: "How Euro are You"

European Union Issues and Controversy

• Wikipedia: Euroscepticism
• BBC News: "Q&A: Turkey's EU Entry Talks" (2006)  
• International Herald Tribune: "As summit nears, U.S. frustrated with Europe" (2007)
• The New York Times: "Waiting for Freedom, Messing It Up" (2007)

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