European Union Structure, Economy, and Membership Criteria

The European Union: Goals and Achievements

The primary objectives of the European Union (EU) are to ensure peace, prosperity, and freedom for its 498 million citizens in a fairer and more secure Union. Key achievements and results include:

• The ability to travel and trade without the hindrance of borders (the Single Market).
• A single European currency, the Euro.
• Increased food security and a cleaner environment.
• Better living conditions in the poorest regions.
• The Union combating crime and terrorism.
• Cheaper phone calls (roaming regulations).
• Millions of opportunities to study abroad.

Key Institutions of the European Union

To make these objectives possible, EU countries have established institutions that lead and adopt legislation. The principal institutions are:

• European Parliament: Represents the citizens of Europe.
• Council of the European Union (EU Council): Represents national governments.
• European Commission: Promotes the common interest of the EU and proposes legislation.

Joining the EU: The Copenhagen Criteria

To enter the European Union, a candidate must be a European state and comply with the requirements specified in what is known as the Copenhagen Criteria. These criteria are divided into three main areas:

1. Political Criteria: Stable political institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities.
2. Economic Criteria: A functioning market economy capable of adapting to the degree of competitiveness existing within the EU.
3. Acquis Communautaire (Comprehensive Community Law): Acceptance of the laws and political objectives of the Union.

Principles and Statistical Frameworks (NUTS)

The Subsidiarity Principle applies, meaning that EU decisions must be taken as close as possible to the citizen.

Because of the great diversity among European states, EUROSTAT (the EU Statistical Office) provides the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS):

• NUTS 1: Refers to major European Community regions.
• NUTS 2: Basic administrative units.
• NUTS 3: Territorial divisions of the lowest hierarchical level.

EU Regional Structure and Economic Landscape

Within the EU, regions also include Outermost Regions (remote areas that depend on European states but are geographically distant) and Transfrontier Regions (regions dependent on different EU member states).

The EU is one of the richest and most developed areas in the world. To assist disadvantaged regions and reduce inequalities, the EU utilizes:

• Structural Funds: Currently including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), and the Cohesion Fund (CF).
• The Cohesion Fund.

The Eurozone and Economic Structure

The Euro Area (or Eurozone) is the whole of the EU states that use the Euro (€) as legal tender. Participating countries include Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. (Note: The UK did not use the Euro.)

Europe is characterized as a post-industrial society. The economy is no longer primarily based on industrial production; instead, the largest share of the current economy corresponds to the services sector—the outsourcing of the economy. This sector generates the most wealth and employment in the EU.

The largest exchanges of goods are conducted with China, the USA, Russia, and Japan.

Population Dynamics and Distribution in the EU

The European territory features an uneven distribution of population. High densities are known along the “diagonal axis” running from the North of the UK down to Southern Italy. Low-density regions are found in the Nordic countries, parts of France, and the Iberian Peninsula.

Demographic challenges include:

• Weak population increase due to an aging structure.
• Low female fertility rates.

The main cause of population growth is immigration, primarily from Eastern Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and South America.