Case Study
Polticial Consequences of Globalization –
International Cooperation and Development
European Union
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Quiz
1.
Refer to the map of Europe on page 3. How do you define the boundary of
Europe?
Suggested Answer: Boundary of Europe
East: Ural Mountains (in Russia, a geographical boundary between Europe and Asia)
South: Mediterranean Sea
West: East coast of North Atlantic
North: North Pole
2.
How do you define Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central Europe?
Which part of Europe do you think do the countries below belong to?
Ireland, Czech, Luxemburg, Portgual, Spain, Greece, Balkan countries, Britain,
Norway, Poland, Hungary, France, Switzerland, Holland, Slovakia, Belgium,
Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Austria
Suggested Answer:
Countries in Western Europe include: Ireland, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium,
Luxemburg
Countries in Southern Europe include: Portugal, Span, Italy, Greece and Balkan
countries
Countries in Eastern Europe include: Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary, etc.
Countries in Northern Europe include: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, etc.
Countries in Central Europe include: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.
Note: There is no consensus on the scope of Eastern Europe and Central Europe.
European Union
Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Teacher may pay attention to the updateness of the map of Europe
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
3.
Which organisation does the flag, pictured below, represent? What do the golden
stars that form a circle symbolise? What do the twelve golden stars represent?
Reference website:
Suggested Answer: The picture above shows the flag of the European Union (EU). It
was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1986.
The circle in the centre is formed by two golden stars, representing the unity of
the European people. The number of stars is fixed at 12.
12 is the traditional symbol of unity, perfection and completeness.
4. When is Europe Date?
9th May
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Please refer to the following website for the origin of Europe Day.
Teachers’ Reference Materials: Europe Day originated on 9 May 1950. French
Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented a declaration to countries in Europe,
proposing the creation of an organized Europe, so that peace among European
countries could be maintained. The plan was called ‘Schuman Plan’. This plan is
considered to be the origin of the European Union. 9 May has become Europe Day,
and the European Flag and the European Anthem have become symbols of European
unity. On Europe Day there are many celebrations for the promotion of interactions
and friendship among peoples in the European Union.
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
What is the European Union?
Answer the questions below with information from
the website:
1. Which are the six foundation nations of the European Union (EU)?
Suggested Answer: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg and Holland.
2. Since its formation in the early 1950s, EU has been continuously expanding its
membership. New members joined EU at four stages.
Years in which new members joined EU
3.
Countries joining EU
1973
Denmark, Ireland and Britain
1981
Greece
1986
Spain and Portugal
1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden
Now how many countries are applying to join EU?
Suggested Answer: refer to the webstie of EU for the most updated information
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Euro
1.
What is Euro?
Suggested Answer: The single currency of EU member states.
2.
Here is the Euro logo. Describe it and guess what it means.
Suggested answer: The logo looks like the English letter E, with two parallel lines in
the middle. The sign comes from the fifth letter ε of the Greek alphabet. Greece is the
origin of European civilization. Furthermore, E is the first letter in the word ‘Europe’.
The two parallel lines in the middle symbolize the stability of the currency.
Quiz
When were Euro coins and notes first came into circulation?
1 January 2002
Which EU member states have not yet joined the Euro area?
Britain, Denmark, Sweden and the ten new Member States that joined the EU on 1
May 2004 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,
Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia) have not yet joined the Euro area.
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Reference Materials
The following website provides information on Euro, including its categories, design
and features:
<http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/euro/notes_and_coins/notes_coins_mai
n_en.htm>
3.
If you travel in European countries where the Euro is in circulation, what
advantage would shopping with Euro bring you?
Suggested Answer: You need not bring different currencies and so you
save the trouble of making exchanges. It’s easier to compare the prices of goods.
Source A
‘Integration’ means ‘the joining of many small parts together to form a larger and
complete entity’. In the process of forming the European Union, member states
gradually transfer rights they formerly own (e.g. tariff, trade policies, issuing of
currency notes and coins) to the EU, which takes up the work of making common
policies. These common policies have binding power over member states.
1.
Why do some European countries want to integrate with each other? What are
the advantages and disadvantages of joining the EU?
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Political Impact of Globalization – International Cooperation and Development
Source B
People in the member states of the EU enjoy rights such as freedom of travel, of work
and residence within the Union. Their certificates or diplomas from universities are
recognized by EU member states. However, for certain professions, an EU member
state can design their own apprenticeship and training programmes as qualification
requirements for people from other member states.
2.
If you were born in Macao before the handover of its sovereignty to China and
you have a valid Portugese passport, can you reside permanently in any of the
EU member states?
Suggested Answer: Yes.
3.
If you were born in Hong Kong before the handover of its sovereignty to China
and have a valid British National (Overseas) passport, can you reside
permanently in any of the EU member states?
Suggested Answer: No. Because British National (Overseas) passports are travel
documents. Holders of BNO passports cannot reside permanently in Britain, and
therefore not in other EU member states either.
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The European Union’s relation with Hong Kong and the World
Relation with Hong Kong
Since China resumed its sovereignty over Hong Kong in July 1997, relation between
the European Union (EU) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) has been mainly based on the ‘One Country Two Systems’ principle, which
is the basis for Hong Kong’s continuous autonomy. EU’s aim is to maintain Hong
Kong’s status as a door to China’s trade and commerce, so that Hong Kong can
continue to promote free market in Asia and be EU’s important partner in the World
Trade Organisation.
Since 1999, the EU’s European Commission has written three annual reports on Hong
Kong’s development after the handover. In May 1999 the EU signed with Hong Kong
a Customs Co-operation Agreement, which allows the exchange of information on
offences against customs laws. In April 2001 the EU granted HKSAR passport
holders visa-free access to its member states. In November 2001, the EU initialled a
Readmission Agreement.
Relation with the World
In 2005, the population of the 25 members states of the European Union totals about
457 million people, i.e. about .7% of world population. EU has an area of 400 million
sq.km, about two-fifths the size of the USA. EU may appear relatively small
compared to other regions of the world. However, its influence in the world economy
cannot be ignored.
The EU accounts for approximately a fifth of global imports and exports.
It is
therefore a major trading power with an important role to play on the world stage.
Trade between EU countries accounts for two thirds of all EU trade. It accounts for
over half of all trade in each of the 25 countries.
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EU is also gradually playing a more important role in the international arena. It’s
responsibility to the international community, especially its aid to developing
countries, have become stronger. The aid it provides include financial assistance,
technological aid, trade preference, and food and medicine.
Group Discussion
You and your group have been appointed EU Promotion Ambassadors. Your task is to
promote the idea of European integration. To reflect the idea of European integration,
there is already the European Flag, the European Anthem, Europe Day, and the Euro.
What would your group design in order to further promote EU?