Purpose Functions

7/24/2019 Purpose Functions

1/11

PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONSOF THE

EUROPEAN UNION


2/11

What is the main purpose of the European Union?

The fundamental purposes of

the European Union are topromote greater social, political

and economic harmony among

the nations of Western Europe.


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The EU reasons that nations whose

economies are interdependent are less likel

to en!a!e in con"lict# These !oals are

p$rs$ed thro$!h the $ni"ication o" E$ropean

markets $nder a sin!le c$rrenc% the E$ro%

and thro$!h sets o" le!al standards to whichall prospecti&e and mem'er nations% are

held# S$pranational instit$tions work with

national !o&ernments to !o&ern theimplementation o" these standards and help

the EU to act as a $ni"ied 'od on the world

sta!e#


4/11

Calls "or the $ni"ication o" E$rope 'e!an in

the ()*+s and ,-+s as a reaction to the &iolentdis$nit demonstrated ' the .orld .ars# As

the continent re'$ilt its ind$stries% the

ad&anta!es o" poolin! nat$ral reso$rces and

stren!thenin! 'onds 'ecame attracti&e to

national leaders% whose co$ntries/ post0

imperialism economies relied hea&il $pon

trade with one another# Th$s% the primarconcept o" E$ropean $ni"ication was

predicated on peace and prosperit#


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The modern E$ropean Union traces its ori!ins

to economic coalitions "ormed 'etween

1el!i$m% France% .est 2erman% Ital%3$4em'o$r! and the Netherlands d$rin! the

()-+s# F$ll market $nit% howe&er% did not

come into "orce $ntil 5++5 with the introd$ctiono" the E$ro# As E$ropean prosperit !rew% so

did the am'itions o" the EU# The EU now lists

amon! its !oal the promotion o" h$man ri!hts%

mo'ilit o" its citi6ens 'etween mem'er nations

and the de&elopment o" a more transparent and

democratic !o&ernment#


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What is the function of the European Union? (EU)

The o&erall "$nction o" the E$ropean Union is to

create and implement laws and re!$lations that

inte!rate the mem'er states o" the EU# The co$ntrieso" the EU are s$pposed to ha&e $ni"orm laws and

policies concernin! a &ariet o" thin!s 7like

immi!ration% la'or% wei!hts and meas$res 00 all sorts

o" thin!s8# The "$nction o" the EU !o&ernment is todecide how this inte!ration sho$ld 'e done and to

carr it o$t#


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For e4ample% (9 mem'ers o" the EU $se the

E$ro as their c$rrenc# One o" the "$nctions o"

a part o" the EU !o&ernment was to de&ise the

c$rrenc 00 to decide what it wo$ld 'e called%

what it wo$ld look like% etc# Another part o"

the EU !o&ernment tries to !et co$ntries $sin!the E$ro to enact "iscal policies that will keep

the E$ro sta'le# The tr% in other words% to

pre&ent "iascos like what happened in 2reecethis past ear and the tr to remed them i"

the happen#


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:The E$ropean Union,s primar p$rpose was meant

to 'e more economic than political# Its scheme o" law

and re!$lation is meant to create% in some was% acohesi&e economic entit o" its co$ntries% so that

!oods can "low "reel across the 'orders o" its

mem'er nations% witho$t tari""s% with the ease o" one

c$rrenc% and the creation o" one enlar!ed la'or pool%which sho$ld at least theoreticall create a more

e""icient distri'$tion and $se o" la'or# There is a

poolin! o" "inancial reso$rces% so that mem'er nations

can 'e ;'ailed o$t; or lent mone "or in&estment% andat least theoreticall% mem'er nations are more likel

to cooperate than compete#


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There are political implications to this

$nion% o" co$rse# For e4ample% mem'er

nations are e4pected to con"orm with the

Union,s e4pectations in areas s$ch as h$man

ri!hts and the en&ironment% and the Union

can e4act a hea& political cost on its

mem'ers as a condition o" !i&in! aid% as it

did in 2reece% insistin! on se&ere c$t'acks

and an a$sterit '$d!et% which had

tremendo$s political costs "or 2reek

leadership#


10/11

There can 'e political "allo$t e&en "or

co$ntries that are not part o" the E$ropean

Union# Ukraine% "or instance% which is

di&ided on whether or not to seek

admission to the $nion% is presentlen!a!ed in almost a ci&il war 'etween

those in the west who want to 'e part o"

the Union and those in the east whowo$ld pre"er to ali!n themsel&es with

R$ssian interests#


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This is a !reat e4periment% reall% in

cooperation amon!st nations% who wish to'e economicall $ni"ied% cedin! as little

political and national power as possi'le%

and it will 'e interestin! to see how this$n"olds# .ill the E$ropean Union come

to resem'le the United States% or will it

de&ol&e into its pre&io$s collection o"separate economic entities

Purpose Functions

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