The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 27 EU countries that together cover much of the continent. Safety and security are paramount. Culture and creativity are at the core of the European project and at the heart of the EUâs cultural policy. Helping communities in disaster-prone areas to better prepare and recover. To deliver new and more effective rights for citizens, the European Pillar of Social Rights enshrines principles and rights in the areas of equal opportunities on the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection. Turkey is a key partner of the EU in essential areas such as migration, counterterrorism, energy, transport, the economy and trade. Work in the European Parliamentâs eighth term ended on 18 April 2019. The Parliamentâs Committee on Budgetary Control monitors how the budget is spent, and each year the Parliament decides whether to approve the Commissionâs handling of the budget for the previous financial year. establish a common consolidated corporate tax base in the EU and a financial transaction tax. information exchange between national law enforcement, customs agencies and border guards; operational cooperation, with the support of EU agencies; training, exchange of best practice, funding, research and innovation. The advisory bodies (the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions) as well as the national parliaments are involved in the process by providing their opinions on the proposals, mainly from the perspective of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. To prevent overfishing, quotas for Member States set limits on how much of each species can be caught. The Commission handles trade negotiations transparently, systematically publishing negotiating texts, reports of negotiating rounds and explanatory documents, and reports regularly to the European Parliament and the Member States. This follows the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. Rethinking productsâ life cycles will help to manage precious resources more sustainably, minimise waste and make Europe more resilient as regards the supply of raw materials. This procedure ensures full accountability and transparency, and when granted, the discharge leads to the formal closure of the accounts for a given year. Every action taken by the EU is founded on treaties that have been approved voluntarily and democratically by all EU countries. Every EU citizen has the right to submit a petition to the European Parliament in one of the official languages of the EU, in the form of a complaint or a request, on an issue that falls within the European Unionâs fields of activity. It tries to make it easier for Europeans to buy and sell things to each other. Following the adoption of an EU action plan in 2012 many legislative steps have been taken to fight tax fraud, evasion and avoidance. The European Union is a unified trade and monetary body of 27 member countries. The European Youth Portal provides information on these and other EU initiatives for young people across Europe, while EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal, also helps connect jobseekers and companies offering a job. Enlargement is the process whereby European countries join the EU. The European Commission, together with the European Investment Bank, launched the Investment Plan for Europe. the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union. Close coordination between tax administrations also helps to prevent companies from exploiting loopholes between different countriesâ systems with the aim of reducing the amount of taxes they pay. While the organisation of healthcare is the responsibility of individual Member States, the EU complements national policies to achieve shared objectives. For example: See also the following pages in Section 2: Economy, finance and the euro; Banking and financial services; Taxation; Budget; and Fraud prevention. The principal objectives of this policy are to: The key initiatives that put the policy into practice are: Cooperation takes place at bilateral level (with individual partners), at regional level (with two or more partners from the east or the south) or across the neighbourhood, depending on the nature of the action. Then the national governments (acting through the Council of the European Union) and the directly elected European Parliament approve the EU budget, usually before the beginning of the year. For example, in 2017, joint customs operations financed by the European Anti-Fraud Office led to the seizure of 75 million cigarettes, as well as tens of thousands of other counterfeit products. The EUâs role is to oversee national tax rules to ensure they are consistent with certain EU policies such as: The governments of all Member States must agree when it comes to making EU decisions on tax issues so that the interests of every EU country are taken into account. The Creative Europe programme aims to strengthen Europeâs cultural and creative sectors and provide funding for around 3 700 cultural organisations, 250 000 artists and cultural professionals, over 7 000 cinemas and 2 800 films, and 4 500 book translations during its 7-year lifespan. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020. Thanks to the abolition of border controls between EU countries, people can travel freely throughout most of the continent. The solutions range from ending âgeo-blockingâ, removing mobile phone roaming charges and addressing the lack of internet access or digital skills, to new portability rules so people can access their online subscriptions for TV, games and music when travelling in the EU in the same way as they do at home. The Ombudsman receives and investigates complaints and helps to identify maladministration in the EU institutions and other bodies. Ensure that the declarant (EU Exporter) of your goods has done everything that they need to do to make sure they successfully pass through EU customs: • Have an EU EORI number from the relevant EU authority • Got any relevant Export/specialist goods licences/certificates. National parliaments receive draft legislative acts at the same time as the European Parliament and the Council. They also contribute to the fight against organised crime and terrorism and make sure European treasures are not smuggled out. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a Conference on the Future of Europe to give Europeans their say on how their Union is run, and what it delivers on. For businesses, the customs union means that regardless of where goods enter the EU the same rules apply, and once the goods have cleared customs they can circulate freely or be sold anywhere within the EU customs territory. The EU continues to remove hurdles that prevent citizens, governments and businesses from taking full advantage of the internet. The digital single market will also help drive the economy by ensuring the free flow of non-personal data, investing in digital skills and providing better access to online public services. The tax laws of one Member State should not allow people or businesses to escape taxation in another. It also offers access to services such as Your Europe Advice (for personalised legal advice) and SOLVIT (solving problems with public authorities abroad). The EU is a leading humanitarian donor in many crises, including the following. It uses trade defence and market access measures to defend its companies and citizens against unfair competition and unfair trade practices. That is why we must tackle them through cooperation both within the EU and with the rest of the world. Licensed rail companies can now offer their services anywhere in the EU, which enhances competition and connectivity. Similarly, opening up the maritime market has allowed shipping companies to operate in more countries. Europeans share values that are spelled out in the EU treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantee rights to EU citizens (any person who holds the nationality of an EU country is automatically also an EU citizen). Do you employ any EU citizens, in the UK or in the EU, or do you plan to? During the economic and financial crisis, the EU budget proved to be a powerful instrument to support investment. If there is an outbreak of animal disease, the EU has mechanisms in place to act swiftly. It is investing â¬1.46 billion to: Creative Europe also promotes initiatives such as EU prizes for cultural heritage, architecture, literature and music, the European Heritage Label and the European Capitals of Culture. On some occasions, the Council may do this alone. The EU supports research and innovation and the effective deployment of new green transport technologies, for example through new rules promoting clean vehicle technologies. Each year the Council concludes (i.e. These are guaranteed by the European Union where EU law is at stake. The EU's main economic engine is the single market. 2 … If a private individual or a company has suffered damage as a result of action or inaction by an EU institution or its staff they can take action against them in the Court, in one of two ways: If someone considers that the authorities in any country have infringed EU law they can follow the official complaints procedure. making sure goods can move freely from one Member State to another in the EUâs single market. The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political union between 27 European countries. The European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) is the updated doctrine of the EU to improve the effectiveness of the CSDP, including the defence and security of the members states, the protection of civilians, cooperation between the member states' armed forces, management of immigration, crises etc. It checks that the EUâs income has been received correctly, that its expenditure has been incurred in a legal and regular manner and that financial management has been sound. In addition, more than 1 600 European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) officers are now helping Member Statesâ national border guards to patrol in places like Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Spain. The EU has the exclusive power to legislate and conclude international trade agreements under areas covered by its common commercial policy, based on World Trade Organization rules, on behalf of its Member States. Incorrect. The EU physical activity guidelines (2008) and the Council recommendation on promoting health-enhancing physical activity across sectors (2013) show how national policies can encourage activity. The EU focuses on sport as a means to keep people healthy, create communities, nurture social inclusion and promote equal opportunities. To counter these threats, the European Anti-Fraud Office (also known as OLAF) investigates fraud, corruption and other illegal activities involving EU funds, along with serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions, and helps the institutions formulate and implement policies to prevent and detect fraud. investing in innovation and the digital economy; creating training and employment opportunities for young people; continuing the EUâs work on a comprehensive approach to migration and border management; building up the EUâs capacity in security and defence; strengthening the EUâs external action and investing in climate action and environmental protection; strengthening the economic and monetary union. The staff of the Commission are the equivalent of the civil service in a Member State, and are organised into departments, known as directorates-general and services, similar to ministries at national level. Generally it is the European Commission that proposes new laws and the European Parliament and the Council (also called the Council of the European Union) that adopt them. 2.2 What do we produce in the EU? This can sometimes lead to complaints about uneven implementation of the rules in different countries. The EU is working to ensure the financial system remains strong and secure and that the single market offers consumers and businesses the financial products they need. The second reading is a faster process than the first reading, as only differences between the Parliamentâs and the Councilâs positions can be discussed, and various elements are time limited. Your MEPs are your elected representatives in the EU and they represent your interests and those of your city or region in Europe. Trade deals are not an end in themselves; they also project European values and principles around the world, which is why all new trade agreements negotiated by the EU include provisions on sustainable development, notably environmental protection and labour conditions.