Interview

The European Union By: Jose Acuna Walner Chains

Comentarios del artículo By: Elisenda Chains Acuña ( ecadenas ) ⋅ July 4, 2008 ⋅ Comments Article

Mr. Jose A. Walner Chains

The European Union (EU) comprises 27 democratic countries working together to improve the lives of its citizens. In just half a century of existence the EU has brought peace and prosperity to Europe.

The EU was founded after the Second World War with the intention of bringing peace, stability and prosperity to Europe. In 1951 Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed a treaty to manage º n eat their steel and coal industries. Thus none can individually make weapons of war to turn against the other, as in the past. Then in 1957 another treaty signed in the industry creating the â € º nâ € œmercado point, the idea is for people, goods and services to move freely across borders.

Half a century of European integration has shown that the EU as a whole exceeds the sum of its members: its economic, social, technological, commercial and political is much higher than they would have if its member states to act individually. The fact act in concert with the à º nica voice of the European Union adds value beyond dispute.

EU Member States and accession date: 1952 Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the UK. 1981 Greece. 1986 Spain and Portugal. 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden. 2004 Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Czech Republic. 2007 Bulgaria and Romania

Some of the important results obtained are the ability to travel and trade unhindered by borders, the Euro (the currency à º nica Europe), safer food and a greener environment, better living conditions in the poorest regions , a joint fight against crime and terrorism, phone calls and cheap airline tickets, millions of opportunities to study extranjeroâ € | and much more.

Countries remain independent sovereign nations but they pool their sovereignty to be stronger, which in practice is that the member states delegate some of their decision-making powers in the common institutions created by them to make decisions democratically at European level on specific issues joint interest.

The three main institutions responsible for decision making are:

The European Parliament representing EU citizens and are directly elected by them, shares legislative and budgetary powers with the Council of the European Union.

The Council of the European Union, which represents the individual member states, is the main decision making body of the Union. When ° ne area at Heads of State or Government, becomes the European Council whose role is to provide the EU with political impetus on key issues.

The European Commission, representing the interests of the Union as a whole, is the main executive body. You have the right to propose legislation and ensures that EU policies are properly implemented.

There are also other institutions like the Court of Justice of the European Communities, which is the final instance in disputes on European law. The European Court of Auditors checks the financing of the activities of the Union. The European Ombudsman investigates complaints from citizens about maladministration by institutions and agencies of the EU. The European Investment Bank finances investment in economic development projects within and outside the EU, and helps small businesses via the European Investment Fund. The European Central Bank is responsible for European monetary policy, among others.

The powers and responsibilities of EU institutions and the rules and procedures to be followed are set out in the treaties establishing the EU. The Treaties are agreed by the presidents and prime ministers of all EU countries, and are subsequently ratified by their parliaments.

The European Parliament

THE European Parliament consists of 785 deputies are directly elected by citizens every 5 years, all EU citizens have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of where in the EU in which they live. So Parliament expresses the democratic will of the 500 million EU citizens and represent their interests in dialogue with other EU institutions.

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) do not sit in national blocks, but in European political groups. These represent all views on political issues and European integration, from the most federalist to the openly Eurosceptic. The number of seats per country varies according to the number of inhabitants, for example Germany has 99 deputies, Spain 54, Portugal 24 and the least is is Malta with 5. Meetings of Parliament known as â € € œplenosâ take place in Strasbourg, France and sometimes in Brussels, Belgium European Parliament works in all 23 official EU languages.

Its main task is to approve EU legislation from proposals submitted by the European Commission. Parliament shares this responsibility with the Council of the European Union. Parliament and Council also share the responsibility for approving the annual EU budget, which amounts to 120 000 million. In accordance with the multiannual financial framework for 2007-2013, the total budget for this period amounts to 864 400 million.

 What does the European Union?

The European Union acts on a wide range of areas-economic, social, regulatory and financial, in which its action is in the interest of the Member States. These include:

* Solidarity policies (also known as cohesion policies) in regional, agricultural and social and
* Innovation policies, which introduce advanced technologies in fields such as environmental protection, research and development (R & D) and energy.

The Union funds these policies through the annual budget of over EUR 120 000 million, paid in large part by the Member States. This amount represents a small proportion of the collective wealth of the EU (1.24%, a maximum combined gross national product of all Member States).

The amount allocated to regional activities in the budget for 2007-2013 is aimed at primary objectives include:

* Convergence. This is to help less developed countries and regions to quickly reach the EU average by improving conditions for growth and employment. This requires investment in physical and human capital, innovation policies, knowledge society, adaptation to change, environment and administrative efficiency.
* Regional competitiveness and employment. The aim is to increase competitiveness, employment levels and the attractiveness of regions other than the least developed. To do this, is to anticipate economic and social change and promote innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, accessibility, adaptability and the development of inclusive labor markets.

The Future of Europe and America

In the future, the European Union will welcome new members (Turkey and Croatia are candidates), but in the meantime, its leaders must listen carefully to the views publicly and decide where to draw the geographical, political and cultural.

The European Union is a pact between sovereign nations have resolved to share a destination point ° n and to pool an increasing share of their sovereignty. It relates to the deepest aspirations of Europeans: peace, economic and physical wellbeing, security, participatory democracy, justice and solidarity. The pact is being strengthened throughout the continent: 500 million people have chosen to live under the rule of rule of law and in conformity with secular values-centered human being and dignity.

The current technological revolution is radically transforming life in the industrialized world in which Europe is. The key is to understand that this creates new challenges that transcend traditional boundaries. Sustainable development, population trends, the dynamism of the economy, social solidarity and ethical response to advances in life sciences are issues that can no longer be effectively addressed at national level. Also, looking to future generations.

Analyzing the European Union, Â Could be the same with the Americas?, To have all these benefits have been achieved. Do you think that could be given in a few years between Latin American countries? Ã ", as we start with the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), could be the start to make a union between Canada, USA and Mexico, where all countries favored leaving nothing but a not-all can pass, Ringtones you think, send your e-tabascojoven@hotmail.com opinion.

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