EUROPEAN UNION: A UNITED AND RENEWED EUROPE
The European Union represents 28 countries that have come together on the basis of common human and democratic values to achieve stability, peace and prosperity. The EU is home to more than 470 million citizens of different nationalities, beliefs and traditions. Over the 50 years of its existence, the EU has become a powerful and influential force that plays a leading role in global politics, economics, and culture. It is the only economic, social and humanitarian space where borders and unnecessary conventions have been abandoned for the free movement of people, products, capital, and the unrestricted exchange of information, cultural and scientific achievements. It is primarily young people who strive for unity for the sake of the future. The EU's educational and humanitarian programs for EU and non-EU countries contribute to the consolidation of the younger generation, the exchange of knowledge, experience, and scientific achievements. Find comprehensive information on EU programs and life in a united Europe at the European Union Information Centers in Ukraine!
THE EUROPEAN UNION - A COMMON CHOICE
The history of the European Union dates back to May 9, 1950, when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed in the famous Schuman Declaration that France, Germany and other European countries pool their resources in the coal and steel industries.
The following year, the countries of the so-called “Six” - Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - signed a treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in 1957, the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community. In 1973, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland joined the EEC, in 1981 - Greece, in 1986 - Spain and Portugal, and in 1995 - Austria, Finland and Sweden. The year 2004 was a landmark in the history of the European Union, when 10 countries joined: Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia. Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, and in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU.
EU: KEY FACTS
Administrative structure: 28 nation-states.
Administrative center: Brussels (since February 1992)
Anthem: Ode to Joy (Beethoven's 9th Symphony)
President of the European Commission: Jose Manuel Barroso (since 2004)
Population: 497 million people (2007)
Territory: 4 324 782 km2
Official languages: 23 languages (Bulgarian, English, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Estonian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Highlander, Swedish, and Vietnamese).
Currency: Euro (in fifteen of the twenty-eight EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, France, and Cyprus and Malta).
UKRAINE - EU: COOPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
The European Union is Ukraine's largest trading partner and donor. At the EU-Ukraine Summit on September 9, 2008, Ukraine and the European Union noted close cooperation in the framework of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan.
Significant progress was made in negotiations on the Association Agreement, which will become a new legal framework for EU-Ukraine relations. Its goal is to bring Ukraine closer to the EU and strengthen ties in the political, economic, cultural, and security spheres.
The Association Agreement will focus on a free trade area. Work is underway to simplify the visa regime and a dialogue has been launched on the introduction of a long-term visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine. The EU is successfully implementing assistance and cooperation programs in Ukraine in various fields.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The European Commission is currently implementing a number of assistance programs in Ukraine, including:
Tempus (Trans-European Mobility Program for University Studies) is an educational program that supports the modernization of higher education and creates a space for cooperation in the countries surrounding the EU.
http://delukr.ec.europa.eu/page31528.html
Erasmus Mundus- is a program of cooperation and mobility in higher education aimed at developing the European Union as a global center of excellence in the educational process.
http://www.delucr.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus_uk.html
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights - the program provides financial support for activities aimed at promoting democracy and human rights around the world.
http://www.delukr.ec.europa.eu/page1138.html
The Cross-border Cooperation Program is one of the priorities of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument. The aim of the program is to strengthen cooperation between EU member states and partner countries located near the external borders of the European Union.
http://www.delukr.ec.europa.eu./page1143.html
Twinning - is an initiative of the European Commission launched to assist beneficiary countries in building modern and efficient central and local authorities, whose structure, human resources and management capacity would allow them to implement European legislation (acquis communautaire) at the level of standards adopted in EU member states.
http://www.twinning.com.ua/
ТАІЕХ (Technical Assistant information Exchange] - is an instrument of external assistance provided by the European Commission for the exchange of information in order to build institutional capacity necessary for the adaptation of national legislation to European norms.
http://taiex.ec.europa.eu/
UKRAINE - THE EU: ON THE WAY TO RAPPROCHEMENT
The first Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Ukraine and the EU was signed in 1994 and entered into force in 1998. It became the basis for the EU-Ukraine Action Plan adopted in February 2005, which is designed to facilitate Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU. Negotiations are currently underway on an Association Agreement, which will include a free trade area between the EU and Ukraine.