The European Union: Working Together

Europe and the European Union

• The European Union (EU) works to improve peoples lives through cooperation.
• All countries in the EU cooperate over trade; producers generally don't pay taxes on goods moved between member countries.
• Different EU countries collaborate on large, expensive projects, such as building aeroplanes and scientific research.

Farming and Fishing in the EU

• The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aims to provide reasonable food prices and ensure farmers are properly paid.
• Overfishing around Europe has led to dwindling fish stocks.
• The EU has created laws regarding when and where fishing boats can operate and on the nets they can utilize.

Working Conditions and Environment in the EU

• Within the EU, people are generally free to work in any member country without special permission..
• EU regulations also cover work hours, safety, and pay levels.
• Many EU countries face shared pollution problems.
• Laws have been established to protect the environment and reduce pollution levels.

Key Facts about Europe

• The EU has a substantial population exceeding 500 million people.
• EU ports handle significant maritime traffic, with approximately 80,000 ships docking each year.
• The EU is a major global aid donor.
• Europe has an area of ~4000 kilometers from north to south.
• Europe is the second-smallest continent by size.
• Approximately 743 million people live in Europe, making it the third-largest continent by population.
• There are approximately 44 countries in Europe, including England, France, Croatia and part of Russia.
• The majority of England's population lives in cities
• Motorways and railways spread out from London to all parts of the country
• About 50 million people use Heathrow airport (24 km west of London) every year.
• London is a worldwide center for banking and insurance.

Geography and Climate

• The highest mountain in Europe is Mount Elbrus in Russia, part of the Caucasus range (5,642 m/18,510 ft).
• The highest peak in the European Alps is Mont Blanc, situated on the border of Italy and France (4,810 m/15,781 ft high).
• Europe is the only desert-free continent.
• Europe has a remarkably long coastline, measuring approximately 66,000 km.
• Finland is heavily forested, with forests covering 5% of the area
• Most of Western Europe experiences a moist, moderate climate, while Eastern Europe has hot summers and cold winters, especially in the southeast
• Countries near the Mediterranean Sea have hot, dry summers and mild winters.
• Europe features a variety of landscapes, including vast forests and high mountain ranges. Most of Western and Eastern Europes consist of fairly flat, low plains.
• Europe has limited desert areas and abundant farmland.
• Glaciers have created rocky landscapes in parts of Northern Europe, and Southern Europe has land that juts into the Mediterranean Sea.
• The climate in England is called temperate maritime and the climate is mild.

Rivers and Cities

• The European part of Russia is larger than any other country in Europe, with Russia, Ukraine, and France being the three largest countries.
• Moscow is the largest capital city in Europe with over 13 million inhabitants whereas Saint Petersburg is Russia's second largest city with 5.3 million inhabitants.
• Moscow is the largest city located entirely on the European continent.
• The Volga River, the longest in Europe, flows through Russia, measuring 2,294 miles long.
• The longest river in England is the Thames and flows through a large part of southeastern England.

Origins of the European Union

• After World War II (1939-1945), much of Europe needed rebuilding.
• Cooperation was seen as a means to maintain peace.
• In 1957, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands developed a plan to improve farming, industry, and wages, marking the start of the EU.

England

• England is the largest of the four parts of the country called the United Kingdom.
• The English Channel separates England from France.
• London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom
• The Cumbrian Mountains are in the northwest and the Pennines are lower mountains in the north and center of England.
• Most of England is covered with hills, though there are plains in the central and southeastern regions.
• The Lake District is the wettest area and eastern England is the driest.
• The south coast has more sunshine than any other area in England.