Understanding Europe: Geography, Population, and EU Structure
The European Territory
Europe is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. The principal types of relief are:
- Old Mountains: North-west and centre of the continent.
- Plains: Occupy a large area that stretches from west to east, forming the Great European Plains.
- Young Mountains: These can be found in the south.
Most natural landscapes in Europe are temperate, cold, and alpine. Europe consists of many states with different political systems (e.g., parliamentary monarchies, republics, principalities).
Population Dynamics
Key characteristics of Europe’s population include:
- More than 730 million inhabitants.
- High population density.
- Irregular population distribution.
- Stagnant natural increase: In some countries, it is even negative.
- Significant migration: From the second half of the 20th century onwards, Europe began attracting immigrants from Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
- An ageing population.
Formation of the European Union
- Treaty of Rome (1957): Established the European Economic Community (EEC), whose main objectives were the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital.
- Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty, 1992): Created the European Union and established its three pillars: economic, monetary, and security policies.
- Treaty of Lisbon (2007): Established the European Council as a formal EU institution.
Key European Union Institutions
European Parliament
- Composition: Elected by citizens via universal suffrage every five years.
- Functions: Primarily legislative, controlling the work of the European Commission, and approving the EU budget.
- Seat: Strasbourg, France.
European Council
- Composition: Heads of state or government of all member states.
- Functions: Takes decisions about overall EU policy.
- Seat: Brussels, Belgium.
European Commission
- Composition: A President and Commissioners (one for each member state).
- Functions: Implements common EU policies and manages the budget.
- Seat: Brussels, Belgium.
Economic Integration and Policies
The economic policy of the European Union is based on the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), with the euro serving as the single currency for the majority of EU countries.
Key EU Economic Policies
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): Aims for quality agricultural production while respecting the environment, and offers support to farmers.
- Common Fisheries Policy (CFP): Its objective is to protect fishing stocks and the marine environment.
- European Energy Policy: Its main objectives are to promote the responsible use of energy, combat climate change, and invest in renewable energy.
Regional Cohesion Policy
Significant economic disparities exist between regions within the European Union. To reduce these imbalances, the EU implements specific policies:
Structural Funds
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): Provides assistance to less-developed regions.
- European Social Fund (ESF): Aims to improve employment opportunities, particularly for jobless individuals.
Cohesion Fund
The Cohesion Fund targets countries whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is less than 90% of the EU average.
Spain’s Role in the European Union
Spain joined the European Economic Community (EEC), now the EU, in 1986. Spain adopted the euro as its currency in 2002.
Spain’s economic growth was also significantly aided by contributions received from EU funds. Spain is a full member of all EU institutions.
Spain has been instrumental in introducing measures for the creation of European citizenship and improving EU relations with Latin America and North Africa.