Name: Date: Hour

Name: Date: Hour:

Unit 5: Europe Unit

European Union Webquest

Name: Date: Hour:

Overall Directions: On the European Union’s official website, locate the section titled “About the European Union” http://europa.eu/about-eu/index_en.htm. Use this as your “home page” to help you answer the following questions. 80 points total

Basic Information

Click on “Basic Information” http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/index_en.htm to answer the following.

1. The European Union is a unique ______and ______partnership between ______European countries. It has delivered half a century of ______, ______, and ______, helped raise ______standards, launched a single European ______. Thanks to the ______of ______controls between EU ______, people can ______freely throughout most of the continent. It has also become much easier to ______and ______abroad in Europe. 1 pt

2. What are the core values of the EU that are within the Treaty of Lisbon (2009) and the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights? 1 pt

3. A ______is the EU’s main economic engine enabling most ______, ______, ______, and ______to move freely. 1 pt

The EU symbols (left hand side)

4. Describe the EU flag – what do the stars in a circle symbolize? 1 pt

5. When is Europe Day? Why was this day chosen (what is its significance)? 2 pts

6. What is the EU motto? Do you think this is an appropriate motto – why or why not? 3 pts

Money and the EU (left hand side)

7. How does the EU gain revenue/income? 1 pt

8. What does the EU budget pay for? 1 pt

9. What are the benefits of the euro? 1 pt

10. Click on “euro.” What is the euro? How many countries in the EU use the euro? 2 pts

11. Click on “banknotes and coins.” Describe the notes (bills). Describe the coins. 2 pts

12. Who manages the euro? 1 pt

13. How have the European Central Bank and the Commission been dealing with the economic crisis since 2008? 1 pt

Decision-Making in the EU (left hand side) – How EU decisions are made

14. What is a codecision? What does this mean? 2 pts

15. How are EU decisions made? 1 pt

Facts and Figures

Click on “Facts and Figures” http://europa.eu/about-eu/facts-figures/index_en.htm to answer the following.

Living in the EU (left hand side)

16. Which two EU nations’ are the largest in surface area size? Which two are the smallest? 4 pts

17. Which two EU nations’ have the largest population? Which two have the smallest? 4 pts

18. Which EU nation has the highest GDP per capita? Which EU nation has the lowest GDP per capita? 2 pts

19. Which EU nation has the highest support for EU membership? Which EU nation has the lowest support for EU membership? 2 pts

The Economy (left hand side)

20. What is the EU GDP in euros? 1 pt

21. With just ______% of the world’s population, the EU's trade with the rest of the world accounts for around ______% of global exports and imports. The EU is the world’s biggest ______and the second-biggest ______. 1 pt

22. Around ______of EU countries’ ______trade is done with other ______countries. The ______is the EU’s most important ______partner, followed by ______. In 2005, the EU accounted for ______% of world exports and ______% of imports. 1 pt

23. Between 1998 and 2009, which sector(s) of the workforce lost workers and which sector(s) gained? 2pts

24. What is the overall unemployment rate in the EU? 1 pt

25. What country has the highest unemployment rate? What country has the lowest unemployment rate? 2 pts

EU Administration (left hand side)

26. How many official languages does the EU have? 1 pt

27. Where is the European Commission mainly located? 1 pt

Countries

Click on “Countries” http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htm to answer the following.

28. List the 27 member countries. 2 pts

29. What is the one acceding country (will enter the EU on July 1, 2013?)? 1 pt

30. What are the 5 candidate countries? 5 pts

31. What are the 3 potential candidate countries? 3 pts

Joining the EU (left hand side)

32. What are the three conditions for membership (or the Copenhagen criteria) that a country must satisfy to apply for the EU? 3 pts

Institutions and Bodies

Click on “Institutions and Bodies” http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/index_en.htm to answer the following.

33. What is the European Council? Who is the President? 2 pts

34. What are the three main institutions involved in EU legislation? 3 pts

35. What does the European Parliament do? 1 pt

36. What does the Council of the European Union do? 1 pt

37. What does the European Commission do? 1 pt

38. What is the Court of Justice? 1 pt

39. What is the Court of Auditors? 1 pt

40. Click on the “European Central Bank.” What are the two main purposes of the ECB? 2 pts

History

Click on “History” http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/index_en.htm to answer the following.

1945-1959

41. Why was the European Union set up? 1 pt

42. In 1950, the European Union of today found its roots in the ECSC. What did this stand for? Why was it created? 2 pts

43. In 1957, what did the Treaty of Rome create? 1 pt

1980-1989

44. What happened in Germany during this decade? 1 pt

1990-1999

45. Describe the four freedoms offered to a “single market.” 1 pt

2000-2009

46. What happened in September of 2008? 1 pt

2010-today

47. Describe the new decade. 1 pt

Policies and Activities

Click on “Policies and Activities” http://europa.eu/policies-activities/index_en.htm to answer the following.

48. Under “Policy Areas,” click on “Climate Action.” Under “One Goal, Lots of Action” What are the three ambitious targets for 2020? 3 pts