The uropean policy and the role of United Kingdom

1. The uropean policyand the role of United Kingdom € Anno scolastico 2008-2009 Prof. Cinzia Tizzi progetto Festa dell’Europa promosso dal comune di Rimini Classe 1 AM

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3. The EU members work together in many areas like trade, agriculture, and foreign policy. Its main aims are: The defense of freedom, democracy and respect of human rights The integration among peoples of Europe The introduction of European identity on the international scene A common citizenship for the peoples of the member states The European Union The EU has been a unique, and a uniquely successful, experiment in regional integration. It seeks to preserve what is best about its members: their separate cultures, languages, traditions, and historical identities – while overcoming what has been worst: nationalism, xenophobia, mutually destructive trade and monetary policies, and (ultimately) their tendency to go to war with one another.

4. The European Institutions The European commission makes proposal for new laws. It consists of 20 members appointed for 5 years. The actual president is Barroso The European Parliament gives its opinions about the proposal and suggests amendments. It is formed by 626 member elected for five years by direct universal Suffrage. It meets in Strasbourg. The council of ministers votes in the new laws after studying the proposals with the representatives of its governments. It is made up of member states’ government ministers for each specific area (agriculture, finance, transport..)

5. Europe: a work in progress XV After the fall of Constantinople the European monarchs want to joint together to defend Europe from the Muslins 1941 “Il manifesto di Ventotene” Spinelli described his federalist Europe 1948 OECE The European Cooperation to share the Marshall Aid in Europe 1950 Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, on 9th May. It was the ideal of a community of equals, after the 2WW expressed by the fathers of Europe Adenauer, De Gasperi, and Monnet. It was the request to overcome the hate and to reach the forgiveness of the past. 1951 Europe in the first community had an economic aim: the two leading countries found an economic agreement on Carbon and Steel (CECA). 1957 Rome treaty is the birth of CEE and EURATOM

6. 1992 The Maastricht treaty transformed the unification of CEE, CECA and EURATOM in EU which was essentially economic was into a European Union with all citizens enjoining a series of political rights. it created the Common Foreign and Security Policy. 1997 The Amsterdam Treaty strengthened political judicial cooperation, the common foreign and security policy, created an employment coordination. It provided further protection and extension of citizen’s rights. The Amsterdam Treaty called into being the High Representative: "Monsieur PESC". 2002 Euro became the Currency 2002 EU signed the Kyoto protocol 2003The European Conference of the governments (CIG) presents the European Constitution

7. The symbols of the EU • The flag adopted in 1986 it is a gold circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. The number represents perfection and completeness. • The European anthem is “Ode to the Joy” by Beethoven ninth Symphony. Adopted in 1972 • Europe Day is on 9th May, which remembered Robert Shuman’s proposal • The slogan in “Unity into diversity” • The uro came into circulation on 1st January 2002 adopted by 12 states €

8. We need more Europe to foster greater ethical values in policy and economy Europeans have a wealth of national and local cultures that distinguish them from one another, but they are united by their common heritage of values that distinguishes them from the rest of the world. We need a policy to underline: • our human rights, to foster a social policy based on the Christian values of solidarity, and respect for every human being between member states and towards the third world. • the free enterprise, as opposed to multinational ones, • a fair sharing of the fruits of economic growth, with a good and efficient welfare • To protect the traditions even of our regional dishes, languages, and arts in general. • To develop the regional food production • To recognise the traditional products with a protected origin.

9. The United Kingdom The British isles is the geographical name that refers to all the islands off the north west coast of European Continent The United Kingdom is the political name of the country which is made up of England Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In every day speech Britain is used to mean UK. The Channel islands of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man have their own legislatures and administration they have close political, economic and cultural relations with Britain and recognised the Queen as the Head of the State. The National flag is called Union Jack. The hymn is called: “God Save the Queen” Listen to it…

10. The Land The main mountainous areas are in Scotland and Wales. The Pennines a range of hills also known as the backbone of England are situated in the centre of England the highest mountains are Ben Nevis 1,343 m and Snowdon 1,085; the longest rivers are the Severn 354 Km and the Thames 246KM the largest lake in the UK is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland 396sq km. most of Britain was covered with forest in ancient times when they were cut off and the land was used for farming. The climate is very changeable, there is a saying that Britain doesn’t have a climate it only has weather. The climate is temperate and mild because UK is warmed by the Gulf stream the average temperature in winter is 5° C and in summer 15°c. rainfall is not evenly distributed the eastern part of the country usually gets less rain than the western due to the prevailing wind. Drought has recently become a serious threat to British rivers and water reservoirs. Fog is not common. London is the capital and it is divided in 33 boroughs (13 of them in Central London) which are run by local councils with significant autonomy. There are two cities in the centre the city of Westminster and the city of London. The Houses of parliament and Buckingham palace the residence of the queen are located in the city of Westminster. The “one square mile” of the city of London simply known as the city is the business and financial heart of the UK. See “London at first sight” and shopping in London with the docu life “London’s Borough Market” and “Hitting Camden Town Market” You can click on:http://maps.google.it/

11. The houses They say that the Englishman’s home is his castle but British houses are the smallest in Europe only an average usable floor space of 76 sq m. Most people live in urban areas: 82% live in a house and only 15% in a flat. In most town there are streets with long rows of houses attached to each other they are called terraced houses. However the most popular type of house is semi-detached which is joined to one other house by a shared wall. The largest houses are detached surrounded by a garden. These houses are generally on two floors. While a bungalow is generally all on ground level, the oldest ones have thatched roofs. Owing your own house is more popular than renting it, so many people use a high percentage of their salary to pay a mortgage. See “houses in Great Britain”

12. The making of the United Kingdom It took centuries to form the UK England had existed as a unified entity since the 10th century Wales was conquered by force and the union began in 1284 but it was not formalised until 1536 with the act of union by King Henry VIII a member of the Welsh Tudor Dynasty. Scotland was never conquered but the king of Scotland inherited the crown of England and Wales in 1603 so he became King James I of England and Wales and King James IV of Scotland. A century later in 1707 the parliaments of England Wales and Scotland were joined. Ireland was united from 1801 up until 1922. in that year after a referendum the independent Republic of Ireland was formed in the South while Northern Ireland became a part of the UK. After a referendum the Scottish and Welsh parliaments were established in 1998. See the documentary on the origin of English language “all’s well that ends well”

13. The monarchy The king or the queen is the Head of the Stateand the Head of the Commonwealth. It is the symbol of unity, stability and tradition. “He or she reigns but does not rule”, that is the monarch has only a nominal power. All institutional acts are decided in “his/her majesty’s Name”, but the decisions are taken by the Prime Minister, the Government or the Parliament. The Queen has to participate in some formal acts: • She summons and dissolves parliament. • She appoints the Prime Minister • She gives the royal assent to the bills • She has the power of veto by convention but she cannot reject a bill • The monarch is expected to be politically neutral and should not make political decisions in fact she/he can act only on the advice of the Prime Minister and cannot make laws, impose taxes, spend public money or act unilaterally. Queen Elisabeth II

14. Education in UK Education is free and compulsory from the age of 5 to 16. there are four stages of education: nursery (age 3.5) primary (5-11) secondary (11-16) and tertiary (16-18). There is a National Curriculum compulsory in all state schools throughout England. There are two levels of formal written national examinations taken at the age of 16 and 18. There are GCSE General certificate of secondary education taken in individual subjects at 16 and the A-levels advanced levels taken at 18. For entrance to university students are expected to have passed at least 5 GCSEs (including a science subject, a foreign language and English) and 3 A-levels. Most English degree courses are 3 or 4 years long. After completing the GCSE some students leave school some go on to a technical college continue at their previous school or in a sixth form college to study for their A-levels. State secondary schools are called Comprehensive Schools. they do not select pupils on ground of ability and they are mixed-sex schools they offer a full range of subjects including sciences foreign languages English maths history geography as well as practical subjects like PE Physical Education carpentry cooking music and drama. Private schools are usually selective with an entrance test and are mainly single-sexed. The most traditional of these are boarding schools and are called Public schools because they were originally founded for the public’s benefit between the 14th and the 16th centuries. These schools are not run by government, the most famous public schools are Eton Harrow and Winchester. All schools state and independent expect pupils to wear a school uniform until they are 16. See “School sweet school”