Information about the EU and the Pacific Northwest

COPENHAGEN EUROPEAN COUNCIL
Membership criteria require that the candidate country must have achieved:
· Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
· The existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union;
· The ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic & monetary union.
MADRID EUROPEAN COUNCIL
Membership criteria also require that the candidate country mush have created the conditions for its integration through the adjustment of its administrative structures, as under lined by the Madrid European Council in December 1995. While it is important that European Community legislation is transposed into national legislation, it is even more important that the legislation is implemented effectively through appropriate administrative and judicial structures. This is a prerequisite of the mutual trust required by the EU membership.
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/pdf/historic_opportunity_2003_en.pdf

The first pillar is the European Communities.
EC
Customs Union and single market
Agricultural policy
Structural policy
Trade policy
New or amended Provisions on:
· EU citizenship
· Education and culture
· Trans-European networks
· Consumer protection
· Health
· Research and environment
· Social policy
· Asylum policy
· External borders
· Immigration policy
The second pillar is common foreign and security policy.
Foreign policy
· Cooperation, common positions and measures
· Peacekeeping
· Human rights
· Democracy
· Aid to non-member countries
Security policy
· Drawing on the WEU: questions concerning the security of the EU
· Disarmament
· Financial aspects of defense
· Long-term: Europe’s security framework

The third Pillar is cooperation in justice in home affairs.
· Cooperation between judicial authorities in civil and criminal law
· Police cooperation
· Combating racism and xenophobia
· Fighting drugs and the arms trade
· Fighting organized crime
· Fighting terrorism
· Criminal act against children, trafficking in human being
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/about/abc/abc_12.html

The “economic and monetary union” is the development of a unitary economy across the member states of European Union with a single currency, single market, and harmonized interest and taxation rates. EU member governments run their economies according to similar principles of economic management. They coordinate their policies in order to deliver steady growth; more jobs and a competitive economy across the EU, one which will at the same time preserve the European social model and protect the environment.

Characteristics for the single market in European Union
Lower prices for the consumer
Greater choice of goods and services
The four freedom of movement are for goods, services, people and capital
http://europa.eu/pol/singl/overview_en.htm

The major cities in the Pacific Northwest region are Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Boise, Victoria and Vancouver. The US and the EU together are responsible for two fifths of the world trade. The EU and the US is the “world’s two largest economies account for a combined total of 57% of world GDP.” (http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/usa/index_en.htm) “The two economies are interdependent to a high degree. Close to a quarter of all EU-US trade consists of transactions within firms based on their investments on either side of the Atlantic. The transatlantic relationship defines the shape of the global economy as a whole as either the EU or the US is also the largest trade and investment partner for almost all other countries.” The EU and the US are part of Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP). The goal is to create stronger bonds economically between the regions. Together they are account for half of the entire worlds GDP.