Section3.UnitedKingdom

** 1.History/Background of E.U. Country **


 * [[image:UK_Flag.gif width="194" height="126" link="@http://www.360cities.net/image/big-ben"]]
 * Click on the flag to view Big Ben** || The United Kingdom is about the size of Oregon. The first presence of people in Britain go back to 5000 B.C. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. This country consists of four regions, Whales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. With acts of Union, Wales(1535), Scotland (1707), and Ireland (1801), joined England in political union. British inventors and scientists started the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago.The English Channel separates The United Kingdom from the rest of Europe. The good areas for farming and the rivers make London a center for world trade. The leading energy sources in the area are oil and natural gas. The countries population comes up to 60,776,238 people. About 90% of the people live in cities. The largest city in the UK is London, with 7.6 million residents. Because of all these people, The United Kingdom is the third most populous country in Europe. Most of the people in The Untied Kingdom are Christian. English is the official language of the United Kingdom. Though, in some areas Scottish, Gaelic, and Welsh are spoken. Northern Ireland broke up from the rest of Ireland in 1972 because of ethnic battles. The other part of Ireland is now renamed The Republic of Ireland. The United Kingdom has two different types of government which are Constitutional Monarchy, and Parliamentary Democracy. Instead of a president the United Kingdom elects a prime minister. The current prime minister is Gordon Brown. ||

Click on the flag to view The European Council || There are 27 member states in the E.U.The United Kingdom entered the E.U. in 1973. It entered with other countries, which include Denmark, and Ireland. The E.U. is known as a super national organization. The E.U. was created to end wars between countries. All six founders of the E.U. include the countries of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Because of the E.U., the European Steel and Coal Community began to unite, in 1950. Benefits from the E.U. for E.U. countries include lower prices on products, more choices on what to buy, workers can work in different countries, same currency ( expect the UK still has the British pound), and they created a trade bloc. There are three different body's of the E.U. which include, The European Commission, The Council of the E.U., and the European Parliament. The E.U. motto is "United in Diversity." This motto can mean that European countries that are different because of religion, language, beliefs, tradition, and values can come together to work as a united group. It's good that they actually follow their motto by working together to make countries more together. ||
 * 2. Year of Admission to E.U. History and General Information about the E.U.**
 * [[image:eUFLAG.gif width="346" height="228" link="http://www.360cities.net/image/european-council-strasbourg-france#356.90,-5.20,70.0"]]

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 * 3. How does the E.U. and your country feel about global temperatures/climate change? (//environmental issue)// **
 * || The United Kingdom feels that the problems of global warming and climate change are terrible. The British government gave a report that the problems made by climate change and global warming are urgent and devastating. The E.U. created a climate package setting new emission performance standards for brand new cars. Also an obligation was passed for fossil fuel suppliers to reduce greenhouse gases from the entire fuel productive chain. The UK with the European Union, hope by lowering greenhouse gas they can help solve the climate change problem. Another development has been made to promote clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles. The E.U. has adopted a target to reduce emissions by 8% from around 2008 to 2012. The E.U is an eco-friendly cooperation.

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 * 4. How does the E.U. and your country feel about supporting the war in Afghanistan? //(political issue)// **
 * || The European Union is committed to making Afghanistan a stable, free, secure, and democratic country. One of Afghanistan's largest donors is the E.U. In 2001, the United Kingdom rallied behind the United States in the toppling of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Some think that the Untied Kingdom should not participate in the war in Afghanistan. A charity has said, " UK soldiers in Afghanistan should not carry out humanitarian work as it puts aid staff at risk." Though the British prime minister said to the British soldiers that the British government would try to do, "everything we can to support you with the equipment necessary and the resources you need." At a conference in London, Afghanistan's allies agreed with Afghanistan to start talks with the Taliban, to lay down their arms. __The Afghanistan Compact__ was also launched in a London conference. A strong commitment to promote stability and development in Afghanistan and Pakistan was promised by the E.U.


 * 5. What is the economic background of your country and how does your country feel about supporting the economies of weaker countries in the E.U? //(economic issue)// **

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 * || Even though they have had recent falling because of the recession, the UK has one of the largest economies in the E.U. In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy of the UK very hard. Since the UK has one of the largest economy's in the E.U. they have some extra money to help support the weaker economies of other countries. The UK is very lucky because they have experienced the longest period of expansion that out paced most of Western Europe. Inflation and Unemployment is low, which is good because it makes them even stronger. Most of its trading is within the E.U. Natural resources include: oil, natural gas, iron ore, and salt. Since the United Kingdom has experienced economic problems and has one of the largest economy's in the E.U., they know what it feels like to have your economy get hurt, so they support economies of other countries.