1. Europe is our home

2. INTERACTIVE QUIZ

3. The European Union
PROS AND CONS

4. OUR CRACOW, OUR COPENHAGEN
Today twenty-five countries belong to the European Union. More than 450
million Europeans have the right to live in, work in or travel to other EU
countries. Millions of people enjoy friendly contact with their neighbours across
borders. Governments across Europe pass the same laws about employment,
food, transport, health and the environment. The EU is also the largest free
market in the world. A typical European supermarket is full of fresh fruit,
vegetables, cheese and meat which come from all over Europe. Twelve
countries even use the same currency, the euro. In fact, the European Union has
a very big influence over our lives, but most of us don't even notice it. But if we
look at Europe just three generations ago, we start to understand that the story
of the EU is even more surprising. In 1945, Europe had just experienced the
most terrible war in history. Many historians believe that at least forty million
people were killed, although such numbers are very hard to calculate. At the
end of the war millions were homeless and much of Europe was in ruins. In fact,
famine was a bigger problem in 1947 than it was during the war years. Worst of
all, many countries still didn't trust each other. It is perhaps a surprise to learn
that the first politician to suggest 'a United Europe' after the war was Winston
Churchill, the British Prime Minister during the war years. In September 1946,
during a meeting in Switzerland, he said that Europeans should come together
to create a 'United States of Europe'.
However, most people, especially in Britain, thought that Churchill's ideas
were shocking or even absurd. Eight months later a huge conference was
organised in the Netherlands. Eight hundred important European academics and
politicians were invited.
Despite the fine words and emotional speeches, the Netherlands
conference couldn't save Europe — it was already divided in two. But the idea of
'a United Europe' didn't die completely. A French politician, Robert Schuman
believed that the only way that France and Germany could become good
neighbours again was by cooperating economically. In 1951, six countries
agreed to regulate trade, prices and production of coal and steel. The
experiment was a success, and in 1957 the six countries signed the Treaty of
Rome and created the European Economic Community (in 1993, the EEC changed
its name to the European Union). Nine more countries joined the organisation
between 1973 and 1992 and another ten countries became members in 2004.
Perhaps De Madariaga's dream will come true one day after all.

5. Scan the text
“Our Cracow, Our Copenhagen”.
Then answer the questions
 How many countries have the
same currency?
 - Who suggested a “United States
of Europe”?
 - When was the Treaty of Rome
signed?

6. Put the events in the correct order. Then
read the text again and check your answers.
 A major conference is organised.
□
 Churchill suggests “ a United States of
Europe.
□
 Schuman tries to keep the idea of
cooperation alive. □
 The EEC becomes the EU. □
 The EEC is created. □


7. Read the text again. Tick true and cross
false. Then correct the wrong sentences.
 Not all EU countries have introduced the euro.
 Hunger was a big problem in Europe, even two
years after the end of the war.
 Some countries didn't have a good relationship
with each other after the war.
 Churchill's ideas about 'a United Europe' were
very popular.
 The Netherlands conference was a success.
 De Madariaga's vision has become reality.

8. Listen and decide which speakers have negative
opinions about the EU. Then listen again and
match speakers 1-5 with opinions a-e.
 Speaker 1 □ a The EU sometimes seems
to waste money.
 Speaker 2 □ b It makes Europe more
 Speaker 3 □ democratic and peaceful.
c Too many decisions are
 Speaker 4 □ made for us without
 Speaker 5 □ consultation.
d It makes it easier for
young people to travel
and study abroad.
e it makes Europe more
competitive economically