The summaries and reflections on the topics that we will discuss throughout the semester are designed to insure that you have reviewed the PowerPoint presentations carefully and thought about the important points and critical issues.
All of the summaries and reflections will have the same format and include two sections:
Part 1 – a simple list of important points and critical issues that we have covered in each of the subject or geographic areas, much like the table of contents of a book, an outline of a book chapter, or a list of key statements from each of the sections covered in one or more PowerPoint slides of each presentation, and
Part 2 – your reflection or comments on each topic, or one or more selected elements of each topic. The first part clearly represents a brief overview of each topic. The second part is designed to show that you have seriously thought about some of the important points and critical issues and to demonstrate your thoughtful reactions or creative ideas.
For your commentary or reflection on Europe (Part 2), please focus on one important aspect of Europe: the major drives/motivations for the creation of the European Union, its history and current status, the challenges for keeping it functioning effectively, and its possible future.
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht Treaty—whose main architects were Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand—came into force on November 1, 1993. Most of the countries in Europe are members of the Europe Union. More countries have applied to join. On February 1, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union.
The European Union is a much looser, more recent and much more complex federation than the United States of America. Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area. Within the Schengen Area, all the states have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement signed in Schengen, Luxembourg. Of the four EU members that are not part of the Schengen Area, three—Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania—are legally obliged to join the area in the future, while the other one—Ireland—maintains an opt- out. The four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, are not members of the EU, but have signed agreements in association with the Schengen Agreement. Three European microstates that are not members of the European Union but which are enclaves or semi-enclave within an EU member state—Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City—are de facto part of the Schengen Area. A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002 and is composed of 20 EU member states which use the euro currency.
Part 1 (simple list of important points and critical issues) should be about 1-2 page long (single
space). Part 2 (your commentary or reflection) should be about 2-3 pages (double space and 12-point size).
Please submit your completed assignment as a WORD or pdf document through the Blackboard by clicking “Assignments” and then following the on-screen instructions.
This assignment is due November 15, 2023.
