European Union Global Power and Influence

📋 Course Outline

1. Origins and evolution of the European Union
2. The EU's economic power in agriculture and industry
3. Key multinational corporations and global market strategies
4. EU trade relations, free trade agreements, and global integration
5. Monetary unification and financial influence of the euro
6. EU soft power through culture, tourism, and human rights
7. EU infrastructure, energy resources, and transport networks
8. Role of global cities and the European megalopolis in economic and political power
9. Political influence and military capabilities of the EU
10. Challenges to EU global power: economic and demographic trends
11. Security, migration, and internal political divisions
12. Impact of Brexit and non-EU European countries on EU power

📖 1. Origins and evolution of the European Union

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Treaty of Rome : Founding treaty that created the European Economic Community in 1957 and launched the European integration project after the Second World War.
• Political and cultural integration : A deeper form of European union-building that went beyond a common market to bring member states closer politically and culturally, alongside a single currency and largely open borders.
• Global Power : A status of influence based on the EU's economy, political standing, and soft power or cultural influence in the world.

📝 Essential Points