This is a presentation regarding European Union (EU). It includes the most important institutions of EU which are mainly connected with the EU legislation. It is a part of an international workshop of the project "Go For Europe" which deals with the first vote campaign. The project is coordinated by Thessaloniki European Youth Capital 2014 and it is being funded by the European Commission (Youth in Action). www.thessaloniki2014.gr

1. European
Union
How it works
Dr. Peri Kourakli
Thessaloniki –
European Youth Capital 2014
p.kourakli@thessaloniki2014.gr

2. European Coal and Steel Community
(the beginning of EU)
A way to establish balance and peace in Europe just after the WWII
Konrad Adenauer
Alcide De Gasperi
Winston Churchill
Robert Schuman
Jean Monnet

4. The EU symbols
The European flag
The European anthem
Europe Day
9 May
The motto: United in diversity

5. The EU Institutions without the ones
related to money, information or technical issues
Guidance
Decisions
Advice
European
Ombudsman

6. 28 members

7. DG DEVCO
DG Development and Cooperation Europe Aid

8. Decisions
increasingly been
made using
qualifiedmajority voting

9. Justus Lipsius
Building
(Brussels)

10. Elections for
2,5 years
Plenary
751
(the new 2014 EP)
Increasing influence
since the first
elections in 1979
Elections for
5 years

11. EP (Brussels)

12. The European political parties
ALDE
EPP
Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe
85
Greens-EFA
Greens-European Free
Alliance
58
European People’s Party
(Christian Democrats)
274
ECR
S&D
Progressive Alliance
of Socialists &
Democrats
195
European Conservatives
and Reformists
56
Total :
766
(02/2014)
EFD
EUL-NGL
European United
Left - Nordic Green Left
35
Non-attached
members 30
Europe of Freedom
and Democracy
33

13. EP (Strasbourg)

14. How it works (not all EU institutions are listed)
Citizens, interested groups, experts: discuss, consult
Commission: makes formal proposal
Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly
National or local authorities: implement
Commission, Court of Justice and European Ombudsman: monitor
implementation
Court of Auditors: monitor EU Institutions

15. “Go For Europe”
funded by
www.thessaloniki2014.gr
Source:
http://europa.eu/about-eu/index_en.htm