US European Command
Area of Responsibility
Overview
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Area of Responsibility
Art
Economic Systems
Political Systems
US Interests
Area of Responsibility
• Geography
– 1/5th of the planet
– 51 countries on two continents
(includes Israel for political, not
geographic, reasons
– Total population of over 1
billion
Area of Responsibility
• Languages
– European Union has 23 official
languages
– European Union has goal of citizen
fluency in two
other languages
other than native
language
Art
• Fine Arts
– Sculpture
– Pottery
– Painting
– Drawing
Art
• Performing Arts
– Music
– Drama
– Dance
Beethoven
La Scala Opera House
Art
• Evolution of European Fine Art
– Dates to 800-400 BCE
– Revival of fine art, including architecture during the
Italian Renaissance
• Re-established art based on classical Greek principles
• Modern art era began in early nineteenth century
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Art Nouveau
Cubism
Expressionism
Surrealism
Pop-Art
Economic Systems
• Types
– Market economy
• True capitalism
– Planned or command economy
• Socialism
– Mixed economy
• Most “capitalist” countries
are actually mixed
Economic Systems
• European Union (EU)
– 27 current members
– 9 candidate countries
• Common currency—The Euro
– 16 member nations have adopted
– Not condition of membership
– Allows for coordinated economic
reaction
– Eliminates cost of monetary exchange
– Over 60% of EU citizens use the euro
daily
Political Systems
• Unification
– United Nations (UN)
• 3 of 5 permanent security council
members: France, UK, and Russia
– North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Began in response to communism but now has many
former Soviet Bloc nations as members
– The EU
• Initially economic in focus but has taken on a
significant political role
• Unlike UN & NATO, is a Europe-only organization
US Interests
• National Security and International Relations
– Impact of OIF on US/European relations
– Bush unpopular in Europe but Obama well received
– Close relationship of USEUCOM
with European nations supporting OEF
– EU cooperation with UN sanctions
against Iran’s nuclear ambitions
– US/Russian relations growing tense
• Weapons treaties
• Human rights
• Gas and oil supplies
US Interests
• Economic Relations
– EU and US economies
• Highly interdependent
• Account for about half of
global economy
– Transatlantic Economic Council
(TEC)
• Only high-level forum for discussion
of economic issues
– Impact of global financial crisis
Summary
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Area of Responsibility
Art
Economic Systems
Political Systems
US Interests