4. The twenty-first century Europe consisting of
twenty-seven countries with 499.2 million
people, as it is known today involves
multiple characteristics, such as different
languages, customs, cultures, political
power, currencies, social
services, religion, etc…, that have marked
and still do the path of our
European Union to create its own identity

5. Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts, Cart
haginians, Romans, Jews, Visig
Spain’s history and its culture
oths and Muslims have
is a rich mixture of different occupied our country, in
elements set up by different different areas and times of our
invasions and settlements history, from ancient times to
that have taken place over the Reconquest in the Middle
the centuries and have Ages.
influenced, in a significant
way the formation of our
identity.

6. “The Camino de Santiago” has been a stream
of pilgrims since the Middle Ages. It
became a communication
route, integrating and spreading the
culture of the different peoples who made
up Europe.
Along the “Camino de
Santiago” European cultural
elements were introduced in
Spain, including the
Romanesque and Gothic Art.
It had its peak in the
eleventh, twelfth and
thirteenth centuries.

8. Many intellectuals, philosophers and
thinkers, from Rousseau to Marx, and from Kant to
Leibniz, proposed the idea of a European
Community as a long-term desirable political
objective

9. THE RENAISSANCE
AND
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
The Renaissance and the
Enlightenment spread
across Europe ideas of
tolerance, freedom, respec
t for human rights and
democracy on which the
European Union is based.

10. WORLD WAR I
The First World War (1914-1918)
and its dreadful
consequences, marked the
beginning of the cooperation
process and later on the The conflict brought up the will to
integration of the future create an environment in which wars
European Union. would not be possible in the
continent. Thus, it was during this
period that the first initiatives of
private nature arose.
For example, the “Treaty of Locarno”, a set
of eight agreements designed to
strengthen the peace in Europe after the
First World War, were signed by
Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany
and Poland in October 16, 1925.

11. For many people, The First World War was the beginning of the end of European
civilization. Others understood that the resilience capacity of Europe depended
on the adoption of the ideal of a United and Peaceful Europe as a common
project.
In 1923 the Austrian Coudenhove-Kalergi founded thel Pan-Europe Movement
which in 1926 succeeded in gathering some outstanding political figures in the
first Pan-European Congress, in Vienna.
…The European problem will only be solved by the union of the European peoples.
… The main obstacle to the creation The United States of Europea was thousands of years of
rivalry between the two most populated nations in Europe: Germany and France.
Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi
Pan –Europa
1923

12. WORL WAR II
Europe had to wait till the Second
Word War (1939-1945) to become
aware of the suicidal absurdity that
the nationalist rivalry had led the
Continent to. The need of some kind
of European integration that
would, in a new way, re-order the
political map of Europe became
evident.
After the end of the Second Worl
War, the economies of the countries
in Europe were seriously
damaged, and that put an end to the
traditional European hegemony in
the world.
They tried to rebuild Europe as a new unified nation, to
avoid having a new confrontration between the
European States.
The two World Wars had begun as European conflicts
and therefore the continent had been the main
battlefield in both.

13. We would have to search
among the major natural
disasters such as
earthquakes and fires to
find something
Never so much damage had been comparable to the
caused by man. destruction a war can
cause.

14. In the air raids during World War II, the
Cathedral of Cologne in Germany suffered
serious damage, although the structure
remained intact, it was the only building
left standing.
The Cathedral had a lighting system, so, it
dominated the skyline over the city in
ruins.
Amid fierce
fighting, there was a
respect and
consideration for
those symbols that
were common to all
peoples in Europe and
its roots.

15. In 1946, the former British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill made a celebrated speech at the University of
Zurich (Switzerland), which was considered to be as the
first step towards the integration in the postwar period.
“I wish to speak today about the tragedy of Europe. Among the victors there is
only a Babel of voices. Among the vanquished there is nothing but silence and
despair.
…It is to re-create the Europe family or at least, as much of it as we can and
provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and in
freedom.
We must build a type of United States of Europe… In order that this urgent
task could be accomplished, France and Germany must be a partnership.
Winston Churchill
September, 1946

17. In 1948 the “Benelux” was
established, (The Customs
Unions of Belgium, the
Netherlands and
Luxembourg). A common
tariff for goods originating
from outside the three
countries was also
established.
Another significant step was
the establishment of the
Council of Europe in 1949.
…France has acted and the consequences of its action can be
immense.
The first step in creating the
“European Community” was …France has acted for Peace sake.
given by the French Foreign Europe strongly united and highly structured. A Europe where
Minister , Robert Schuman, the standard of living will rise thanks to the clusters of
on May 9, 1950. production and market expansion that will encourage the
lowering of prices.
Declaración de Schuman
May, 9 1950

18. Every action taken by the European Union is based on the “TREATIES”, which have been
adopted voluntarily and democratically by all member countries.
The MainTreaties:
 - Lisbon Treaty - (2009).
 - Treaty of Nice – (2003).
 - Treaty of Amsterdam – (1999).
 - Treaty of Maastricht – (1993).
 - Single European Act - (1986).
 - Brussels Treaty – (1967).
 - Treaties of Rome (ECC and Euratom) – (1957).
 - Treaty of París (Coal and Steel Community – (1951).

19.  TREATY OF PARIS
The “Treaty of París” was signed in 1951. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
was established.
 TREATY OF ROME
On March 25, 1957 two treaties were signed in Rome:
-European Economic Community (EEC). They were signed by:
-European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
Germany, Belgium, France, Italy,
Luxemburg and the Netherlands.

20. In 1973 three new
countries joined the
Treaty:
The “oil crisis” in 1973
put an end to a
United
period of spectacular
Kingdom, Denmark and
economic growth
Ireland.
which the European
countries had
enjoyed for many
years.

21. In 1979 the European
Monetary System was
In 1975, the European launched, they also create
Council, where the the ECU (European Currency
Heads of State and Unit) direct predecessor of
Govemment the euro.
gathered, was
established.

22.  The so-called “Schengen Agreement” was
signed by the three Benelux
countries, France and West Germany. Most
of the countries of the European Union
signed the agreement some years later.
 Thus began an ambitious initiative to
guarantee free movement of people and
the gradual removal of borders between
Community states.

23. Spain signed the “Treaty of Accession to
the European Community on June EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
12th, 1985 at the Royal Palace of Madrid
and came into force on January 1
st, 1986.
After this adhesion, there came a period of
economic prosperity for Spain, in
which, the highest growth rate
throughout the Community was
achieved for five consecutive years.
This was the most comprehensive and
systematic process of
liberation, openness and rationalization
of the Spanish ecoomy after the
National Economic Stabilization Plan in
1959.
This addition of new values took place
without giving up our traditional
idiosyncrasies.

24.  After the fall of the military dictatorship
goverments in Greece, Portugal and
Spain, these countries became new
members of the EEC.
 Greece in 1981.
 Spain and Portugal in 1986.
 The Single European Act signed in
1986, came into effect on January 1
st, 1987. This was the first step in the
implementation of the founding treaties
of the European Communities.

25. The fourth enlargement of the
European Community came into effect
on February 1 st, 1995, with the
accession of the following countries:
Austria, Finland and Sweeden.
The “Europe of the Fifteen”
was born.

26. The EURO
The “Euro” was introduced on January 1 st, 1999,
and it is the official currency in seventeen of the twenty
seven member States of the European Union.
The Treaty of the European Union (TEU)
which is in force since 1993 provided
for the creation of an Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU) and
the introduction of the single currency .
To participate in the EMU all member
States must request it and fulfill a
set of conditions of entry.
I was introduced gradually.

27. In May 2004 eight new
countries joined the
European Union:
Czech Republic Two more
Slovakia countries joined
Slovenia European Union
Estonia in January, 2007:
Hungary
Latvia Bulgaria
Lithuania Rumania
Poland
Cyprus
Malta

28.  On October 29 th, 2004, the 25 Europe
Member countries sign a Treaty
establishing a “European Constitution”.
 A Treaty cannot enter into force until it has
been ratified by each of the Member
States.
This is the major ongoing challenge
of the European Union.

29. European Parliament..
European Council.
Council of the European Union.
European Commission.
The Court of Justice of the European Union.
European Central Bank.
The Court of Auditors.
Europ. Economic and Social Committee.
Committee of Regions.
The European Ombudsman.

30. Citizenship is a legal and political status by which citizens acquire certain rights and duties as
an individual in respect of a political community, as well as the power to act in the collective
life of a State.
The Treaty on the European Union (The Maastricht Treaty), established the European
Citizenship .
Article 17.-
“Citizenships of the Union is hereby established. Every person
holding the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of
the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to and
will not replace national citizenship”

31. EUROPEAN FLAG
The twelve stars in a circle represent the
ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony
among the people of Europe.

32. THE EUROPEAN
ANTHEM
The melody used to
symbolize the European
Union is adapted from the
final movement of the Ninth
Symphony, composed by
Ludwig van Beethoven.

33. The values upon which the European Union is based, were presented for the first time on
May 9, 1950, in a speech by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman.
That is why a celebration is held on the ninth of May,
as a key date in the European Union.
The official motto of European Union is:
“UNITED IN DIVERSITY”.

35. In order that the European identity can be developed within the framework
of the European Union the following will be essential:
 A constitution of the European Union must be designed in a concise and comprehensible way
and shoud be presented for acceptance to all citizens of the European Union.
 A continuous training for citizens of the Union.
 Common Economic policies, monetary, social and environmental.
 A policy of education and culture that encourages a European Union Identity and a European
member state Identity.
 To promote multilingualism.
 A declaration of the political reasons the European Union aims to do.

36. The values that sustain the EUROPEAN
UNION are:
FREEDOM, PEACE, HUMAN
DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE
To secure and to develop those values further, Europe needs a pollitical
morally convincing setup and a supportive policy that would strengthen
the European common sense, that will make the European Unity
worthy of credibility and of which we can be proud of.
When this has been achieved, there will also be a stronger
EUROPEAN IDENTITY.

37. EUROPEAN WORKSHOP
“MORE THAN NEIGHBOURS”
Senior Learners Group:
 Mª Isabel Cainzos Teijido
 Mª Teresa Cela Milia
 Isabel Granullaque Dapena
 Mª Jesús Iglesias Blanco
 Alberto Langtry Grandal Coordinator:
 Rafael López Miranda Pilar Millor Arias
 José M. Malde Varela Ferrol Campus
 José Martínez Filgueira
 Pilar Rico Sainz de la Maza “Senior” University
 José M. Vales Ramos A Coruña- Ferrol
2011-2012