The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Countries join the EU to gain economic benefits and help, though they must agree to follow common rules and contribute financially through taxes. The EU began in 1957 with six founding members and has since expanded to include 27 countries, working together through institutions like the European Parliament and European Commission while maintaining cultural diversity.

1. The European Union

2. • The European Union is a group of countries whose
governments work together.
• It's a little like a club. To join you have to agree to follow the
rules and in return you get certain benefits (beneficios).
• Each country has to pay money to be a member. They mostly
pay through taxes (impuestos).
• Countries join the EU because they think the EU will help
them.

3. • What is bigger (has more land) – the United States or the
European Union?

4. The area of the EU compared to the rest
of the world
Surface area, 1 000 km²
16 889
9327 9159
4234
365
3287
EU China India
Japan Russia United States

5. • Which has more people – the United States or the European
Union?

6. EU population in the world
Population in millions, 2011
502
1354
127 143
318
1215
India
EU China Japan Russia United States

7. The EU symbols
The European flag
The European anthem
Europe Day, 9 May
The motto: United in diversity
There are twelve
stars on the EU
flag.

8. The European Union:
500 million people – 27 countries
Government
• The European Parliament is in Strasbourg
• The Council of Ministers and the European Court are in
Luxembourg
Member states of the European Union
Candidate and potential candidate
countries

9. • How many countries are part of the European Union?
• 27 countries
• How many countries use the Euro?
• 17
• What is the biggest member state?
• Land: France (Spain is the second biggest)
• Population: Germany (Spain is the fifth
biggest)
• What is the smallest member state?
• Land: Malta
• Population: Malta
• How many official and working languages are there?
• Twenty-three

10. How big are the EU countries?
Surface area in 1 000 km²
France
Spain
Sweden
Germany
Poland
Finland
Italy
United Kingdom
Romania
Grece
Bulgaria
Hungary
Portugal
Austria
Czech Republic
Ireland
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovakia
Estonia
Denmark
Netherlands
Belgium
Slovenia
Cyprus
Luxemburg
Malta
54
506
410
357
313
305
295
24
230
131
1
939
2
83
7
68
63
62
49
43
43
34
30
20
9
3
0.3

11. How many people live in the EU?
Population in millions, 2011
502 million total
81.7
65.0
62.4
60.6
46.1
38.2
21.4
16.6
1.3
10.9
10.6
10.5
9.9
9.4
8.4
7.5
5.5
5.4
5.3
4.4
3.2
2.2
2.0
1.3
0.8
0.5
0.4
France
Spain
Poland
Netherlands
Belgium
Portugal
Hungary
Sweden
Austria
Denmark
Slovakia
Finland
Italy
United Kingdom
Romania
Grece
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Ireland
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovenia
Estonia
Cyprus
Luxemburg
Malta
Germany

12. • The EU began in 1957 when six countries signed Treaty
of Rome. The six countries were called the European
Economic Community.
• The first six countries were Belgium, France, Italy,
Luxembourg the Netherlands and West Germany.
• The EU was created after World War II. They wanted to stop
wars, make a better world and build community.
• Spain joined the EU in 1986.
• On July 1, 2013, Croatia will join the EU. It will be the twenty-eighth
country to join the EU.

14. • The European Parliament is usually in Strasbourg, but
sometimes in Luxembourg.
• The Council of the European Union (“The Council”) is in
Brussels
• The European Commission is in Brussels too.
The Council represents governments, the Parliament represents
citizens and the Commission represents the European
community.

15. • 1. Economic and social progress.Help people earn
enough money and get treated fairly.
• 2. Speak for the European Union internationallyBy
working as a group the EU hopes that Europe will be
listened to more by other countries.
• 3. European citizenship Anyone from a member
country is a citizen of the EU. Because you are a
citizen of the EU, you have rights.
• 4. Make Europe an area of freedom, security and
justice.Help Europeans to live in safety, without the
fear of war.
• 5. Make and keep EU lawsMaking laws protect
peoples’ rights in the EU countries.

16. • What do you remember? Answer the questions correctly to win
points!
• You have 1 minute to answer the question. Talk to your group and
write your answer on your paper. (One person writes for every
group.)
• When I say “stop,” stop writing. Put your pencil on your desk.
• Timer