Achievements of the EU

What has the European Union already achieved to improve the quality of life of its citizens?

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Safer and cheaper flights between member states

The guaranteed safer and cheaper flights between member states have contributed to a significant progress in the field of air transport management and have increased competitiveness in this sector.

Student exchange programs

In the past 10 years the European Union has developed various educational programs to promote multicultural education and experience of its students. More than 1,2 million students have already taken part in the ERASMUS program.

Common European market

The common market represents a guarantee for a free movement of people, goods, services and capital. In practice this means that EU citizens can live, work, study and do business in the whole of Europe, as well as take advantage of the numerous possibilities in the market of goods and services, at competitive prices.

Protection of intellectual property

The intellectual property notion presupposes the existence of two core areas: industrial property and copyrights. The attention is focused on preventing the acquisition of ideas, contents and texts produced by others. The EU has in this respect set down various norms and legal arrangements aiming to protect the knowledge of individuals and companies.

Securing peace

Peace in Europe has been for the first time achieved by formation of the alliance among six countries which have signed a treaty on common management of their heavy industries – coal and steel. The international security remains today one of the most important issues for the EU. By the rising growth of threats to peaceful societies the EU has introduced numerous measures to stand up to such challenges.

Regional funds

Unity and solidarity are only two of the many EU goals. One of the most important reasons for the establishment of the funds is the belief of the EU that all citizens should possess equal rights and standards.

Cheaper calls and better telephone connections

The liberalization of the telecommunications market in 1998 and the ongoing developments in the field of technology led to constant lowering of prices within the EU telecom market. This means that calling friends and family across borders and switching from one operator to another is becoming cheaper and cheaper.

Consumer protection

Consumer protection and food security in the EU are two issues which have always gone hand in hand. The chief responsibility of the Directorate general for health and consumers is to provide laws and regulations concerning food safety and consumer protection.

A healthier Europe

The EU is engaged in tackling various public health issues concerning men and women of all generations. The EU has also introduced the European health insurance card, which represents your safety guarantee in case of falling ill when abroad.

Environmental protection

Environmental issues, including the initiatives on environmental safety, are one of the most important points of debate and action within the EU. The EU was, for instance, the key actor pushing for the Kyoto targets on reducing air pollution, which causes global warming. It was also striving to achieve higher goals within the Copenhagen process of fighting against pollution and global warming.

Fight for equal rights and against discrimination

Promotion of equal rights and fight against discrimination are also two among the most important EU challenges. Many directives have been adopted to promote the fight against inequality in member states.

External trade

External trade has always been a major factor of EU success. The external trade has risen in the past years and the EU continues to be an important actor in global trade. Today the EU represents as much as 20% of the global exports and imports, which means it is currently the biggest global trade actor.

Source (http://www.whathaseuropedone.eu/)