The European Union (EU)
SS6CG5 The student will explain the structure
of modern European governments.
b. Describe the purpose of the European Union
and the relationship between member nations.
Vocabulary
1. European Union
2. Euro
3. Tariff
4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
5. currency
6. per capita
Members of the EU
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
What is the purpose of the EU?
• Its members can work together for advantages
that would be out of their reach if each were
working alone.
• When more countries work together, they
involve more people, more money, and more
land area.
• This makes smaller countries of the EU more
competitive in the world market.
Comparing the EU and the U.S.A
EU
United States
Land Area
(approximate
square miles.)
Population
(approximate)
1,500,000
3,700,000
500,000,000
309,000,000
Gross Domestic
Product (GDP)
$14 trillion
$13.5 trillion
Gross Domestic
Product per Capita
(person)
$28,213
$43,444
Currency “money”
• Most members of the UN use the Euro.
• The Euro is to the EU as the Dollar is to the
USA.
• What specific advantages do you think
members of the EU have by sharing the same
currency?
Advantages
• Trade between the countries become much
easier and less expensive.
• Citizens do not have to exchange currency to
spend money in other EU countries.
• Consumers and businesses can compare
prices more readily, which stimulates
competition.
Other Advantages of the EU
•
•
•
•
•
Improved trade
Education
Farming
Industry
For example, there are no tariffs between
countries in the EU. This make a large free-trade
zone.
• Citizens can live and work in any other UN nation.
Limitations of the EU
• The EU does not handle all the government
business for the member countries.
• Each country makes it own laws, has its own
military, and elects its own leaders.
• Do you think these points are an advantage or
disadvantage?
Vocabulary Review
A. An economic and political
1. European
grouping of countries in Europe.
Union(EU)
B. Total value of the goods and
2. tariff
services produced by a country in
3. gross domestic
a given time period
product (GDP
C. A fee imposed by the government
4. Euro
on imported goods and services.
5. per capita
D. The common unit of currency used
by most EU countries
E. For each person
Questions
• What is the purpose of the European Union?