25. important world organizations
25. Important world organizations (EU, NATO…)
The European Union (EU) is a group of European states, which accept share power to bring people in one states safety and greater way of living. EU is a unique political and economic community with supranational and intergovernmental decisions. This community has currently 27 members and 496 million habitants.
What countries are the members of the European Union at present?
Among 27 members belong: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Romania, Bulgaria. Now three states Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey are waiting for being a member of EU.
Tell us in brief the history of the EU.
After the Second World War there was tendency to secure the peace in the Europe. The main idea was to join European states and protect people from the war. On 9 May 1950 Robert Shuman, the French Minister of States, had a speech about creating European Coal and Steel Community. ECSC originated from 1951. This institution had to control coal and steel industry in member’s states. Therefore, that it was the first step in the federation of Europe. The founding members of the Community were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and West Germany. In 1957 was found the European Economic Community (EEC) establishing Customs Union, and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for cooperation in nuclear energy. In 1973 Denmark, UK, and Ireland acceded to EU. In 1981, Greece became another member. Spain and Portugal entered EU in 1986. In 1990 after the fall of the iron curtain, East Germany and West Germany joined to form the re-united Germany. The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November 1993. In 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden jointed EU. In 2002 euro notes and coins replaced national currencies in 12 of the member states. In 2004, ten new countries joined the EU (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia). The last expansion was in 2007, when Romania and Bulgaria jointed.
Name the most important institutions of the EU and their tasks.
The government of the EU consists of a number of institutions, primarily the Commission, Council and Parliament. The principle of functioning EU is consigning state’s decisions to European institutions.
The European Commission is responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU. It is currently composed of 27 commissioners, one from each member state. The President of the Commission and all the other commissioners are nominated by the Council. The Commission control budget, finance, and abidance by rights in EU. It also proposal the laws and represent the EU in foreign countries. The European Commission is also called the government of EU.
The Council of the European Union (also known as the Council of Ministers) forms one-half of the EU's legislative branch. It is composed of the national ministers. In addition to its legislative functions, the Council approve the finances and budget. It plays an important rule in the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The European Council is composed of the heads of government and the President of the European Commission. The European Council meets four times a year.
The European Parliament is the other half of the EU's legislative branch. EU citizens directly elect the 785 Members of the European Parliament every five years. Although members of parliament are elected in on a national basis, they sit according to political groups rather than their nationality. The Parliament votes the European ombudsman and propose budget and finance. The Parliament has its official seat in Strasbourg.
Other European institutions are for example: the European Economic Court, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Justice, the Commission of European regions, the European economy and social committee etc.
What advantages and disadvantages does the EU membership have?
Membership in EU has advantages and disadvantages. There are some advantages:
Increasing state’s economy and increasing the standard of living, The EU has a schema to support our small companies. They can take finances from European invest fond. EU offer to companies investment opportunity to be able complete other companies.
Free movement of citizens, services, goods; there are no immigration controls for EU citizens in EU countries. There are no customs barriers for tourists between EU countries and goods are duty-free. Consumer rights are similar in all EU countries.
All Czechs can direct to the European ombudsman and the European Court of Justice, if they were injured by Czech courts.
Common currency - euro makes financial transactions easier. We don’t have to change crowns for foreign money.
Opportunity for students and workers to study and work in other member country; All EU students can enrol in universities in other EU countries, on the same conditions as local students. There are EU grants available for training.
There are some negative thinks about membership in EU:
Transitional arrangements limit the free movement of workers, goods, services, citizens in the EU for some years.
Guarantees apply only in the country where you bought the product
Our government must respect decision of European institutions. We must fulfil their recommends.
The growth prices of supplements and goods, services.
Advantages of membership are available after some years
What has change for you since we became a member of the EU?
A few has been changed. I am a student so I can utilize international student exchanges in EU countries. I can depend on quality products, which come from EU. They are under strict control and offer high quality. When the Czech Republic joins The Shengen system, I can travel without immigrations controls.
Why was NATO established?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is an international military organisation, which was found on 4 April 1949. It has 26 members for example United States, Canada, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and others. The Czech Republic is member since 1999. This organization established a system of collective defence. When the member state is under attack by any external party, the other member states will help him by armed forces and humanitarian help. NATO was established against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But the attack from the Soviet union didn’t come. This alliance was attacked on 11 September 2001 (Terrorist’s attack in New York).
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There are others world organization:
Amnesty International
This organization works to support human rights around the world. It has over a million members in 162 countries. AI tries to help prisons of conscious, who are in prison because of their faith, colour, language or ethnic origin. Organization published their cases and pressure on governments to practise human rights.
World wildlife fund (WWF)
It protects wild animals around the world and the places, where these animals live. WWF save endangered species like panda or rhino, establishes national parks and reservations. It also notices to global threats as pollution and climate change.
International Red Cross
This is a humanitarian organisation, which helps people in crisis. It protects human life and health. RC provides services to people, who are noted by wars, natural disasters, diseases etc. The headquarter is settled in Geneva, but RC operates in 185 countries. In Muslim world exists similar organisation Red Crescent.