Geography

End of Year Revision

The European Union, or EU, describes itself as a family of democratic European countries.
committed to working together for peace and prosperity The organisation oversees co-operation
among its members in diverse areas, including transport and employment. trade, the
environment. The EU now has 28 members with a combined population of more than 500 million
people. It is set to expand even further, with several countries being considered for membership
Millions of jobs could be lost as global manufacturers move to lower-cost EU countries. Britain's
large foreign-owned car industry would shift into the EU and sectors linked to EU membership
such as aerospace would also suffer. Airbus production could move to France and Germany, pro-
EU commentators claim.
By being a Member State of the European Union the United Kingdom is part of the worlds largest
single market an economic zone larger than that of the USA and Japan combined with a total
GDP of around 11 trillion. This single market of 500 million people provides a relatively level
playing for British business to trade in. This enables not just free trade in terms of the absence of
customs duties or tariffs but a common set of rules so that business does not have to comply with
27 different sets of regulations.
A European Commission study of the single market in 2007 found that the EU GDP was raised by
2.2 per cent (233 billion) and 2.75 million jobs were created between the introduction of the
single market in 1992 and 2006. For the UK, that increase in GDP would have been around 25
billion. The Governments Department of Business, Innovation & Skills estimates that EU Member
States trade twice as much with each other as a result of the single market which they estimate
has meant that increased trade within the EU since the 1980s could have been worth around six
per cent higher income per capita in the UK. Exports to other EU countries account for 51 per cent
of the UKs exports of goods and services, worth 200 billion; trade with the US, by contrast,
constitutes 13 per cent of UK exports.
The Business Department in the UK estimates that 3.5 million jobs in Britain are linked, directly or
indirectly, to the UKs trade with other Member States.
The single market has brought an end to many of the non-tariff barriers to trade that used to exist
in Europe. For example, until a ruling of the European Court of Justice in 1987 the rules on the
purity of beer in Germany made it difficult for beer
producers in other Member States to export their product to one of Europes biggest beer
markets. The German beer purity laws were overturned by the Courts decision because they
were a restriction on trade incompatible with EU law. Similarly, the French ban on the import of
British beef was overturned by the Court of Justice because it was contrary to EU rules. Australia
and the US are two countries that continue to ban the import of British beef despite the original
reason for the ban in 1996 (BSE) long having ceased to be a problem but there is no effective
means to challenge those bans.
Critically, being a member of the EU, the UK is part of the procedure for making the rules and
regulations of the single market. Britains seat on the Council of Ministers is essential to enable
the UK to put its case on proposed regulations and to argue for reform of existing rules. Our MEPs
in the European Parliament are also important because most of the decisions of the EU require the
Parliaments involvement. Were the UK to leave the EU but join the European Economic Area
(assuming we were admitted to the EEA), we would be bound by most single market rules but
have no part in the decision-making process.
A key driver of global economic prosperity since the war has been the gradual reduction in tariff
barriers as a result of successive rounds of world trade negotiations. The UK, traditionally an
open, free trade economy, has benefited from the fact that the EU negotiates on behalf of the
worlds largest single market giving us far greater clout in such talks than we would have as an
individual nation.
Another significant benefit to the UK from EU membership is the foreign direct investment (FDI)
we receive that is, investment in our economy from non-UK sources. Companies often locate in
the UK precisely because we are inside the single market for example, Nissans factory in
Sunderland exports to the rest of the EU. FDI has risen considerably across the world since the
1970s. The UK continues to receive a large share of world FDI, despite the global financial crisis.
For example, the UK was the fifth largest recipient after the US, China, France and Hong Kong ($46
billion in the case of the UK) in 2009. In terms of the total stock of FDI, the UK is rated third in the
world behind the US and France and ahead of Hong Kong and Germany with $1.125 trillion of FDI
stock in the UK in 2009.[1][2]
Business Benefits
In addition to the benefits from the single market, there are a number of ways that the EU
benefits business more directly.
While it is sometimes controversial the right of free movement for EU citizens (see below) is
valuable for employers as it enables them to recruit from a far wider pool. British employers have
made extensive use of this access to a larger potential workforce in order to tackle some of the
UKs skill shortages.
The Community trade mark and the registration of industrial designs are two ways EU law has
made life less bureaucratic for business and protected intellectual property. EU businesses can
register a trade mark or an industrial design once and have it recognised in all 27 Member States.
EU competition law has been of great importance in opening up previously closed markets to new
entrants, enabling British companies to expand on the continent. It has also enabled market
monopolies to be tackled in a way not seen before in Europe such as the Commissions action
against Microsoft.
Lower telecoms costs (see below) are of great benefit to business as well as to individuals. Energy
costs are a big issue for some business sectors and EU competition rules have helped to keep them
down; the establishment of the EUs single market in energy in 2014 should act as a further brake
on energy prices.
A key benefit from the single market is that businesses only have to deal with one set of rules
rather than 27 different sets of rules when exporting to or operating in more than one EU Member
State. Although harmonisation has caused difficulties in some sectors, the overall benefits have
been considerable.
Personal Benefits
The most obvious benefit to individuals is the freedom to travel, live, work, study and retire
anywhere in the EU (this also applies to other EEA states). No EU citizen needs a visa to visit
another EU country for up to three months. You can stay longer than that provide you register
with the host country, have sufficient means to sustain yourself (or a job or course of study) and
health insurance (the latter may be available by paying into a state insurance scheme). Roughly
1.6 million British citizens live in the EU outside the UK.[1][2] After living in another EU country
for five years you have the same rights as its own citizens.
EU citizens have a vote in local and European Parliament elections wherever they live in the EU.
Working abroad has been facilitated through the mutual recognition of qualifications, enabling
professionals to work in another EU Member State without having to sit further examinations.
Travelling and working abroad in the EU has been facilitated by the introduction of the European
driving licence, with common rules on the requirements of driving tests and minimum standards
of fitness to drive. This has improved road safety and made it easier to drive across international
borders.
Telecommunications were one of the first areas of EU economic activity to be liberalised. National
monopolies were abolished between 1988 and 1998 for fixed line services, leading to a fall in the
price of phone calls, as well as more choice of equipment and providers. Since 2000, the cost of a
10-minute call has fallen by an average of 74 per cent in the EU.
Consumers are now benefiting from the fairer regulation of mobile telecoms, which, since their
introduction were often notorious for high prices, especially when travelling abroad. The 2007 EU
legislation meant a maximum charge of 10p per minute to receive a call when abroad within the
EU, no more than 30p a minute when calling home and the price of texts have fallen from around
25p to around 9p. The EU also agreed with 14 mobile phone manufacturers that there should be a
standard design for chargers from 2011 in order to make life easier for consumers and reduce the
50,000 tonnes of chargers thrown away every year.
The deregulation of air travel across the EU has been one of the most noticeable benefits of the
single market to consumers. The number of airline routes in the EU has dramatically expanded,
low cost carriers have come into the market, enabling people to travel at lower prices and there is
competition on key air routes. Deregulation has been balanced with measures to protect EU
citizens against unfair practices such as the 2005 air passenger rights which provide some
protection for passengers whose flight is cancelled or who are denied boarding and the 2008 law
requiring quoted fares to be all inclusive without extra charges being added when you come to
pay. Package holiday travellers benefit from minimum standards that require companies to
provide truthful information, notify passengers in good time of travelling arrangements and which
protect them from sudden cancellations or prices increases.
British shoppers are now free to shop in any Member State without being charged customs or
excise duties on goods for their personal use when they return home. Consumers have the same
rights when shopping as they do when at home and the European small claims procedure makes it
feasible for people to make a claim for up to 2000 if necessary. Rules are now in place to protect
consumers against car price cartels, which artificially inflated the prices of both cars and car parts
in Europe. For example, cars can be imported from other EU countries to take advantage of lower
prices on the continent.
EU toy standards mean that parents can buy toys marked with CE symbol and be confident that
the toy meets the basic standards of toy safety agreed across the EU. EU food labelling rules
similarly provide consumer protection as they require all ingredients to be listed and potential
allergens identified.
Health & Social Benefits
The EU Health Insurance Card is a free card which enables EU citizens to receive emergency
healthcare on the same terms as the citizens of the EU country they are visiting (often free).
In addition to being able to live where they choose in the EU, pensioners can receive their UK state
pension wherever they live in the EU.
The EU provides social protection for workers in three areas: working time; temporary work; and
parental leave. Most workers have a maximum number of working hours, guaranteed breaks and
protection against being forced to work long hours. Temporary workers are guaranteed the same
basic conditions of work as full-time colleagues (except in respect of occupational social security) if
they have been doing the same job for 12 weeks or more. Workers have a right to take up to
three months parental leave for childcare purposes after the birth or adoption of a child until the
child is a maximum of eight years of age (this is different from maternity rights).
Crime and justice
Crime knows no borders today as globalisation, ease of travel and the internet allow criminal
activity to move around the world. The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) has been very important
in bringing criminals to justice across Member State borders, preventing the long delays and
sometimes politicised extradition processes seen in the recent past. The UK issued 220 EAWs in
2009, of which 80 were successfully executed. The average time taken to extradite a suspect
within the EU who objects to extradition has fallen from around a year before the EAW to 48 days
now. The UKs independent review of extradition law in 2010/11, which looked at the working of
the EAW, found that criticisms of the system were not well-founded.
EU police and borders co-operation hampers the movement of criminals whilst protecting the
movement of law-abiding citizens. This work is focused on cross-border crime, such as drug and
people smuggling and terrorism.
Environmental benefits
Like crime, pollution crosses boundaries and the sea is shared by all coastal nations. It isnt
possible to tackle climate change at national level alone. The EU has been involved in
environmental work almost from the outset, not least because of the economic benefits of
environmental improvement.
EU measures have raised the quality of beaches by tackling bathing water pollution, to deal with
river pollution on the continent and to protect natural habitats. Tourism has benefited from the
clean up of beaches at home and abroad (of the 596 UK beaches tested in 2010, 96.8% met the
EUs mandatory water quality standards).
The EU has taken a leading role in measures to combat climate change. Its members have agreed
to binding targets of a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, a 20 per cent increase
in the use of renewable energy over the same period and a 20 per cent improvement in energy
efficiency all by 2020.
Education
Education is the responsibility of EU Member States but the EU supports cross-border projects
with the aim of raising the standard of education and training in the EU in order to improve
Europes competitiveness.
One of the EUs most popular programmes is the university mobility scheme ERASMUS, which
enables students and staff to study or work at another higher education institution in the EU.
Over 7,000 British students went universities elsewhere in the EU in 2008/09 and 16,000 students
from other EU countries came to the UK in the same year. A similar programme, named after
Leonardo da Vinci, enables people and organisations to pursue vocational training projects across
borders.
Research and development is a growing area of EU activity with substantial sums now spent on
collaborative and cross-border research projects. The UK has been particularly successful in
winning research grants from the EU - 2.3 billion between 2002 and 2006.

Benefits of European Union

The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 countries. Originally formed in 1958 by
six countries (then the EEC), the EU has expanded in terms of size and integration. The aim of the
EU is to promote European harmony through creating a single market, enabling the free
movement of goods, services and people.

Some of the benefits of the European Union include:

Broad political and legal benefits

European harmony - European Union countries are no longer at loggerheads like they were in the
past. With the exception of civil war in Yugoslavia (which wasn't in the EU at the time), Europe has
managed to heal the divisions which were so painfully exposed in the two World Wars in the
Twentieth Century. The EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for helping to promote
peace and international co-operation. Many Eastern European countries are keen to join the EU
because they feel it will help promote economic and political stability.
Legal and human rights. The EU has a strong commitment to human rights, preventing
discrimination and the due process of law. This makes the EU attractive to countries, such as the
Ukraine who wish to share in similar legal and human rights.
Prospect of membership has helped modernise countries, such as Turkey. The Copenhagen
Criteria for EU membership enshrine commitment to human rights, rule of law and market
economy. The prospect of gaining membership of the EU, encourage countries to implement
human rights legislation.
Economic benefits

EU is one of strongest economic areas in the world. With 500 million people, it has 7.3% of the
world's population, but accounts for 23% of nominal global GDP.
Free trade and removal of non-tariff barriers have helped reduce costs and prices for consumers.
Increased trade to the EU creates jobs and higher income. Over 52% of UK exports are to the EU.
Trade within the EU has increased 30% since 1992.
According to one study - over ten years (1993-2003), the Single Market has boosted the EUs GDP
by 877 billion [588 billion]. This represents 5,700 [3,819] of extra income per household.
A paper, Campos, Coricelli, and Moretti (2014) used the synthetic counterfactuals method (SCM)
pioneered by Abadie and Gardeazabal (2003). The red dotted line shows estimated GDP if the
country had not been a member of the EU. This shows that even more prosperous EU countries,
such as the UK have benefited from higher GDP as a result of being in the EU.

Removal of customs barriers mean 60 million customs clearance documents per year no longer
need to be completed, cutting bureaucracy and reducing costs and delivery times
Countries in the EU, are amongst the highest positions in the Human Development Index (HDI)
Poorer counties, such as Ireland, Portugal and Spain have made significant degrees of economic
development since they joined the European Union. A report suggests that over the period of the
1980s and 2004 enlargement, there are substantial positive pay-offs of EU membership, with a
gain in per capita GDP of approximately 12% for poorer countries. (Vox - how poorer countries
benefit from EU)
Social cohesion fund. This has invested in poorer areas of the EU to help reduce regional
disparities. For example, Ireland benefited from the EU social cohesion fund (over 6 billion of
investment in education and infrastructure spending)
EU structural funds to help Eastern European economies develop will benefit the UK in the long
term because as they become more affluent, they will be able to buy more UK exports.
The European Union has attracted greater inward investment from outside the EU. Inward
investment grew from 23 billion [15.4 billion] in 1992 to 159 billion [ 106.5 billion] in 2005.
The UK is the 5th largest source of inward investment in the world, and being a member of the
single market is an important factor in encouraging Japanese firms.
he European Social Fund (ESF)
Labour and free movement of people
Free movement of labour and capital have helped create a more flexible economy. For example,
UK and Ireland have benefited from the immigration of Eastern European workers to fill labour
market shortages in certain areas, such as plumbing, nursing and cleaning.
Far from 'taking jobs', migration has helped increase productive capacity and makes a net
contribution to tax revenues. (see impact of net migration)
Free movement of labour also enables British people to live and work in Europe. Roughly 1.6
million British citizens live in the EU outside the UK (UNCTAD World Investment Report 2010)
EU has enabled people to travel freely across national boundaries making trade and tourism easier
and cheaper. According to the European Commission, more than 15 million EU citizens have
moved to other EU countries to work or to enjoy their retirement.
1.5 million young people have completed part of their studies in another member state with the
help of the Erasmus programme. The possibility to study abroad is considered positive by 84% of
EU citizens. (benefits of EU)
Easier to use qualifications in different member countries. This makes it easier to work abroad
without having to retrain in different national qualifications.
Mutual recognition of safety standards and rules have helped reduce costs for firms. This has
encouraged the development of small and medium business who rely on low cost of exports.
Social charter enshrines protection for workers such as maximum working week, right to collective
bargaining and fair pay for employment.
European Arrest Warrant (EAW) scheme has made it easier to track criminals across the European
continent.
Environmental benefits of the EU
The EU have raised the quality of sea water and beeches, by implementing regulations on water
standards 'Bathing Water Directive'. 92% of tourist locations now meet minimum water quality
standards. (Clean water at Europa.eu)
Tackling global warming. In 2006, the (EU) committed to reducing its global warming emissions by
at least 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2020. The EU has also committed to spending $375 billion a
year to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.
(global warming pdf)
Tackling acid rain. Environmental treaties which have sought to deal with European wide
environmental problems such as acid rain. The EU has set strict restrictions on emissions of
pollutants, such as sulphur, and other causes of acid rain. (BBC Link)
Consumer benefits of the EU
EU competition policy has harmonised regulation of monopoly and cartel power within Europe.
The EU competition policy seeks to avoid abuses of cartels / monopoly / dominant market power
and protect the interest of consumer. There has been successful deregulation of airlines,
electricity and gas markets.
The EU has reduced the price of making mobile phone calls abroad. In 2007 EU legislation set
maximum charges for making and receiving calls. The EU also agreed with 14 mobile phone
manufacturers to create standard design for chargers from 2011 in order to make life easier for
consumers and reduce wastage. In 2014, it is has voted to scrap roaming charges which will
drastically reduce the cost of using a mobile phone abroad. (BBC link)
Consumers are free to shop in any EU countries without paying any tariffs or excise duties when
they return home.
The eu helps people earn enough money and gets treated fairly.
By working together as a group the eu hopes that Europe will be listened to more by other
countries.
Anyone from a member state is a citizen ship is the eu and gets special rights, such as the freedom
to move between counties.
Help Europeans to live in safety, without the threat of war.
Make law that protects people's rights in the member countries.
A lot of immigrants work in the NHS so if England did drop out of the eu the NHS would most
probably collapse.

Birmingham is located in the centre of an upland plateau surrounded by the rivers Trent. Severn
and Avon. Much of the city lies along the River Rea, a tributary of the River Tame which later joins
the Trent north of Birmingham. The first official mention of Birmingham wos in the Domesday
Book in 1086. At this time Birmingham was one of the poorest and smallest manors in the district.
Less than 250 years later it was one of the richest places in the country The reason for
Birminghams initial growth was the weekly market introduced by Peter de Bermingham in 1166.
The location of the market at a crossing point of the River Rea led to craftsmen locating there
where the water provided power for their machinery. This meant it wos worthwhile ting there
despite being a long way from raw materials and a lack of good roads. The lack of communications
is a reason why Birmingham became famous for making small things that required very little
transport. Birmingham continued to grow steadily until the end of the 18th Century manufacturing
small-scale metal goods. eg. toys and silverware. The traveller Arthur Young described Birmingham
in 1791 as the first manufacturing town in the world The building of the canal network from the
mid-1700s provided Birmingham with much needed1inks to raw materials and markets. By the
middle of the 19th Century Birmingham was at the centre of the country's canal network and, with
53kn of navigable canal, it was often said that the city had more canals than Venice.! Canal trade
continued expanding to its peak in 1898 when 8.5 million tonnes of cargo were carried. In addition
To this the railway network also grew with a link to London completed in 1838 During the 19th
Century Industrial Revolution the staple industries of guns. jewellery, buttons and brass continued
to grow and remained dominant. The Jewellery and Gun Quarters still remain today
diversified and the Cadbury After the boom of the 19 century industry family set up their factory
and model village on the outskirts of The city opened a car factory at In 1906 Austin (later Rover)
in Bournville. followed manufacturing Longbridge and other vehicle and component growth and
prosperity into the 20th Century. This Birminghams taking rapid industrialisation led to a large
population that needed to be housed. As a result Birmingham grew to envelop surrounding
villages such as Moseley, Harborne, Kings Norton, Handsworth and Erdington. industry towards
the end With the decline of the UK car manufacturing of the 20th Century Birmingham suffered
but has made huge efforts to redevelop and reinvent itself.
Birmingham began a market town. The market srew because Birmingham stood on the at the only
good crossing in the district at This later became a and therefore a natural centre where the
trackways came together. This is known Craftsmen d traders naturally began to settle in
Birmingham to be near the market. water supply and a Dry in The area where the city centre is
ocated today is around Therefore it does not get flooded. This is known as a It still had good cess
to water because it was close to the river. The water also provided a source of power. Natural
Resources The site of Birmingham was in a thick forest so there was easy access to wood for
building and fuel Some examples are Handsworth Wood. Bearwood and There were also suitable
areas of heathland for grazing (Gib Heath. Small Heath and sand fertile soils for growing crops. and
iron reserves were located nearby in the This later allowed metal industries to develop.
I. People move to the city from other areas. This is known as often from the countryside. rural
urban migration. 2. More people are being born than dic. The death rate is lower than the
birth rate. population, a city naturally 3. With a growing surrounding expands outwards and so
envelops villages. Why did Birmingham population grow rapidly, Why did Birmingham's the
1800s and early 20th Century? 1. Many jobs were being created in factories (e.g. metal
working) during the Industrial Revolution so people moved to the city. improvements were
made to the watcr 2. Gradually supply and sewers and medicines were developed meaning
people lived longer. 3. By the late 19th Century Birmingham had expanded to take over villages
such as Mosel so these became part of the city and increasing its population.

Media caption
How the European Parliament works
The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body. It represents the citizens of the EU,
in contrast to the Council of Ministers, which represents the governments.
Elections have been held every five years since 1979 - before that, members were drawn from
national parliaments.
The European Parliament's powers have steadily increased with each change of the EU treaties.
Many laws in member states now stem from the need to implement European legislation.
Members- MEP' s elected every five years by the EU citizens
Votes on and oversees implementation of EU budget
Considers Commission proposals on legislation
Works with the Council on legislative decision
Holds sessions in Brussels and Strasbourg

Jean- Claude Junker is the current head of commission.

Proposed legislation to council and parliament
Manages the implementation of EU legislation
Commissioners appointed on five- yearly basis by the council in agreement with the member
states
Appointments confirmed by parliament to which commission is answerable.

There are 28 members of the EU

The Council of Ministers, typically referred to as just 'the Council', is the EU's main decision-making
and legislative body. In conjunction with the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers forms
the EU's legislature.

The Council of Ministers should not be confused either with the European Council or the Council
of Europe. The former is a distinct EU institution that is discussed under below. The latter is an
international body, completely separate from the EU, set up in 1949 with the aim of promoting
democracy, human rights and the rule of law within its 40 member states.

The Council of Ministers comprises ministers from each member state with responsibility for the
policy area under discussion. As such, the Council of Ministers is not a body that has a fixed
membership - rather it is a legislative concept that is given expression at any given time in one of
nine distinct 'councils'.

The reform of the Council, the body representing the Member States in the Union's institutional
triangle, was at the centre of the debates of the Convention and the Inter-Governmental
Conference (IGC) . The Constitutional Treaty introduces significant changes affecting this
institution.
First of all, the Constitutional Treaty makes a clear distinction between two institutions:

the European Council , which consists of the Heads of State and Government of the Member
States (Articles I-21 and I-22);
the Council of Ministers (referred to as the Council), which consists of representatives of Member
States at ministerial level (Articles I-23 and I-24).
Secondly, the Constitution makes a number of changes to how the Council works.

Thirdly, the Constitutional Treaty requires the European Council to adopt new arrangements for
the Council Presidency, based on a system of equal rotation among the Member States. However,
it follows from an IGC declaration that, at least in the short term, the current system of half-yearly
rotation will be retained.

Finally, the Constitution changes the voting system within the Council to qualified majority voting
(Article I-25). This important subject is covered by the factsheet on the double majority.

The euro is a type of currency which 17 countries in the European Union uses

Member states of the EU

(year of entry)
Austria (1995)
Belgium (1958)
Bulgaria (2007)
Croatia (2013)
Cyprus (2004)
Czech Republic (2004)
Denmark (1973)
Estonia (2004)
Finland (1995)
France (1958)
Germany (1958)
Greece (1981)
Hungary (2004)
Ireland (1973)
Italy (1958)
Latvia (2004)
Lithuania (2004)
Luxembourg (1958)
Malta (2004)
Netherlands (1958)
Poland (2004)
Portugal (1986)
Romania (2007)
Slovakia (2004)
Slovenia (2004)
Spain (1986)
Sweden (1995)
United Kingdom (1973)