Policies of The European Union

In this post, I would like to make a list of main points from one of the policies of the EU which is focused on Economics.

Economic and social affairs
The purpose that EU was found is base on the economic co-operation.
The main goal of the EU is to develop a effective powerful single market surround Europe.
The single market will make the members of EU more competitiveness and financial prosperity.

Here shows some of the main policies:

Energy liberalisation
A full market opening of all EU gas and electricity markets .
Aim:  more choice and lower price.

Modernisation of the EU’s competition rules
Simplifying the procedures involved
Aim: to develop industrial co-operation across the EU

Single European Sky
Big reductions in airport delays.

Financial services market
To reduce the main cost of business.
To speed up the creation of a single market.

EU budget factor made up by:
1.Common Agricultural Policy;
2.Structural and Cohesion Funds is big part of the budget;
   In order to reduce disparities in prosperity across the Union;
3.The EU’s large development budget;
4.Maintaining the internal market;
5.Administering the Union


Economic and monetary union (Single currency)
1.Basis of the single market : the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital;
2.The single European market:
   good for growth and jobs;
   the world’s largest international free trade area;
   reduced fiscal barriers;
3.It is not about de-regulation but do good to UK business and consumers

Regional support
Two main strands to 'Structural Operations:
  The Structural Funds towards regional development made up 90% of the total monies spent;
 The Cohesion Fund supports members whose capita GDP below 90% of the EU average.

Enlargement
EU started with six member states;
Six times enlarging→current 27 member states;

The Four Nations of UK

The United Kingdom

The UK is made up of the four separate countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and each have their own governments.

Capitals
England-London
Wales-Cardiff
Scotland-Edinburgh
Northern Ireland-Belfast

 Identifying Symbols

△Flags

  


  England
  St George's Cross


 

  Wales
  Dragon of adwallader


           

   Scotland
   St Andrew's Cross

  Northern Ireland
  St Patrick's Cross

△Plant 

     England-Rose     

           

Wales-Leek

Scotland-Thistle

Ireland-Shamrock



△Patron Saint
    England-St George
    Wales-St David
    Scotland-St Andrew
    Ireland-St Patrick



Population
△Population in 2007
    England                51.1 million
    Scotland                 5.1 million
    Wales                     3.0 million
     Ireland                    1.8 million

Clothes

The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century.







Characteristics
The Irish are supposed to be great talker.
The Scots have a reputation for being careful with money.
The Wales are renowned for their singing ability.


Food
△Wales





 Bara Brith (which translates as speckled bread), a wonderful sticky fruitcake smothered in butter or Welsh Cakes, a type of scone cooked on a stove-top griddle.There’s nothing quite like the treat of a Welsh afternoon tea with Bara Brith.

Laverbread, not to be mistaken for bread, but actually seaweed, often fried into crisp patties with eggs, bacon and fresh cockles for a traditional Welsh breakfast.



△Scotland

 

Arbroath Smokie-a wood-smoked haddock still produced in small family smoke-houses in the East coast fishing town of Arbroath.

Bannocks (or Oatcakes)

A barley and oat-flour biscuit baked on a gridle. In modern times bannocks are often eaten with cheese. There are several traditional recipes and many manufacturers in Scotland today.

△Ireland

Champ – a delicious comfort food dish of potatoes mashed with lots of butter, warm milk and chopped spring onions or, as we call them, scallions.

Irish Stew - a hearty casserole traditionally made with meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. The Ulster variety is made with steak pieces instead of lamb – cooked to a peppery slush and often served with thick slices of buttered bread.

KING ARTHUR IS LEGEND

Everything I leart about King Arthur was start with a legend story named King Arthur & Merlin The Magician.

There is also a video version of this story called ‘Merlin’ on BBC TV channel, and it always stay in the most popular dramas top ten list on BBC iplayer web site.

About King Arthur

It is said that King Arthur was lived around 500 (AD), a period of about 50 years. He was such a mythological personage that he commanded the Round Table(Knights) to united the whole British Isles. But no one exactly knows that if King Arthur is a real person or not. When he was born ? Where he came from? We are unable to find the answers.

As a result of the mystery of King Arthur, many legends worked out. The Death of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, Avalon, Knights of the Round Table.

About Merlin the Magician

In Arthurian stories, Merlin was Arthur's best friend. And it was Merlin that who guided Arthur to win the Sword in the Stone, so that Arthur was able to united the British Isles.