European Union
By Noah Brummer The European Union is made up of 28 countries in Europe, that have created a standardized economic market. The European Union has created strength and stability throughout the countries who are a part of the Union. The creation of the union was aimed to create free movement for trade, people and services through the countries who are a part of the EU. 19 of the involved countries use a standardized currency: the euro, and the few countries who do not use the euro are legally excused from ever transitioning into its use. The first hints of a Union in Europe can be traced back to the mid-20th century with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community. Those Communities were the first rendition of the European Union. In 1999 the implementation of the monetary union (the union based on the usage of the euro) began the modern era of the European Union. The EU is run by three groups; the EU Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission. The EU Council deals with laws, and the leadership of the EU gets passed around every 6 months. The Parliament makes the final decisions on the laws that the EU Council puts forth. The European Commission puts the laws into action and make sure they are fair. Residents of the European Union can pass freely through the “Schengen Area”. The Schengen Area is made up of 26 members and four non-EU countries have adopted the laws, but Ireland and the United Kingdom have declined to adopt the laws. Currently the European Union is in a bit of an internal struggle. On the 23rd of June 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom vote to leave the European Union, with a vote of 51.9% for leaving. The set date for the UK officially leaving the EU is March 19th, 2019. Currently negotiations are happening between UK representatives and EU representatives about the terms of the so called “divorce”, including what will happen to EU citizens living in the UK and the amount of money the UK will pay the EU upon leaving. With their departure in the future, the UK will leave the free trade market of the EU and begin their own single trading market. Specifics of the deal have yet to be confirmed and negotiations could extend long past the date set in 2019. |
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Wheeler, Alex Hunt & Brian. “Brexit: All You Need to Know about the UK Leaving the EU.” BBC News, BBC, 4 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887.
Wheeler, Alex Hunt & Brian. “Brexit: All You Need to Know about the UK Leaving the EU.” BBC News, BBC, 4 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887.