[129], The EU's population is highly urbanised, with some 75% of inhabitants living in urban areas as of 2006. Centre for European Policy Studies. [53] The 1948 Hague Congress was a pivotal moment in European federal history, as it led to the creation of the European Movement International and of the College of Europe, where Europe's future leaders would live and study together.[54]. The UFT Welfare Fund provides dental benefits through two programs: the Scheduled Benefit Plan, which provides services through the Welfare Fund panel of dentists or a dentist of your choice; and Dentcare, a no-cost dental … The Lisbon Treaty further strengthened the leadership ambitions. [151] In addition to its legislative functions, the council also exercises executive functions in relations to the Common Foreign and Security Policy. 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[172] Because of the doctrines of direct effect and supremacy, many judgments of the Court of Justice are automatically applicable within the internal legal orders of the member states. In 1990, after the fall of the Eastern Bloc, the former East Germany became part of the Communities as part of a reunified Germany.[68]. In 2020, the first ever European Union Strategy on LGBTIQ equality was approved under Helena Dalli mandate.[271]. They also signed another pact creating the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for co-operation in developing nuclear energy. The population of the UK is roughly 0.9% of the world's population. See Craig and de Búrca, p. 115. The independent European Research Council allocates EU funds to European or national research projects. [ad], The Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, is one of the most powerful positions in the commission, notable for the ability to affect the commercial interests of trans-national corporations. Dec 14, 2020 amazon While the holiday season is packed with cheer and yuletide fun, it also comes with stress, panic, and one too many last-minute shopping trips. Known from the myth in which Zeus seduces her in the guise of a white bull, Europa has also been referred to in relation to the present Union. The EU offers financial assistance to countries within the European Neighbourhood, so long as they meet the strict conditions of government reform, economic reform and other issues surrounding positive transformation. View Report Investor Relations Webcast Dignity Health did pay holidays. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the largest health board in the UK. To prevent the joining states from getting into financial trouble or crisis after entering the monetary union, they were obliged in the Maastricht treaty to fulfil important financial obligations and procedures, especially to show budgetary discipline and a high degree of sustainable economic convergence, as well as to avoid excessive government deficits and limit the government debt to a sustainable level. The European Social Charter is the main body that recognizes the social rights of European citizens. Accordingly, the Union has legislated in areas such as extradition,[185] family law,[186] asylum law,[187] and criminal justice. For more information see, See Article 288 (ex Article 249 TEC) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, on, According to the principle of Direct Effect first invoked in the Court of Justice's decision in. Find information about retirement plans, insurance benefits, paid time off, reviews, and more. [267] The euro area unemployment rate was 8.1%. Jewish population figures may be unreliable. The perceived benefits of becoming a member of the EU act as an incentive for both political and economic reform in states wishing to fulfil the EU's accession criteria, and are considered an important factor contributing to the reform of European formerly Communist countries. The worst forms of child labour. [e] This political philosophy of a supra-national rule over the continent, similar to the example of the ancient Roman Empire, resulted in the early Middle Ages in the concept of a renovatio imperii ("restoration of the empire"),[28] either in the forms of the Reichsidee ("imperial idea")[29] or the religiously inspired Imperium Christianum ("christian empire"). [215][216], In 2016, the average among EU countries was 0.4% and five had met or exceeded the 0.7% target: Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The euro currency became the second largest reserve currency in the world. This process is normally underpinned by an Action Plan, as agreed by both Brussels and the target country. [205] The Western European Union, a military alliance with a mutual defence clause, was disbanded in 2010 as its role had been transferred to the EU. Job and benefit protected leave. After the President, the most prominent Commissioner is the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is ex-officio a Vice-President of the Commission and is also chosen by the European Council. more Language policy", "Special Eurobarometer 243: Europeans and their Languages (Executive Summary)", "Many tongues, one family. Once goods have been admitted into the market they cannot be subjected to customs duties, discriminatory taxes or import quotas, as they travel internally. It shares with the Council of the EU equal legislative powers to amend, approve or reject Commission proposals for most areas of EU legislation. [49] In a radio address in March 1943, with war still raging, Britain's leader Sir Winston Churchill spoke warmly of "restoring the true greatness of Europe" once victory had been achieved, and mused on the post-war creation of a "Council of Europe" which would bring the European nations together to build peace. [233] The euro is the second largest reserve currency as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.[234][235][236]. "[324] Greece was the exception reported by the study, which analysed up to 2008, "to avoid confounding effects from the global financial crisis". ... 2020. EU development action is based on the European Consensus on Development, which was endorsed on 20 December 2005 by EU Member States, the council, the European Parliament and the commission. In 1979, the first direct elections to the European Parliament were held.[64]. Pan-European political thought truly emerged during the 19th century, inspired by the liberal ideas of the French and American Revolutions after the demise of Napoléon's Empire (1804–1815). [215] The 'geographic' instruments provide aid through the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI, €16.9 billion, 2007–2013), which must spend 95% of its budget on official development assistance (ODA), and from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which contains some relevant programmes.