European Union:
One of the most important values of Europe is probably the EU. It is a strong collaboration of all kinds of countries in Europe that help each other and trade with each other. It is very important that EU exists, because it doesn’t just help with economic problems, it also protects us from war. Since the EU was founded, there has been no war between the countries of Europe.
Geographical values:
Another value of Europe, thanks to the EU, is that there are no borders. You can travel much easier between the countries in Europe. However, if you want to go outside Europe or to countries within Europe that are not in the EU there are strict controls. And it is easy to trade within the EU. There are four multi-lateral free trade areas in Europe: EU, EFTA, CEFTA and CISFTA. These organizations have free trade agreements at various levels with most other European countries.
For many years Europe has been a magnet for immigration. It is estimated that there may be as many as 70 million immigrants across the whole of Europe.
Economic values:
In Europe there is wealth. There is good healthcare, education and there are good wages. The euro is the second strongest reserve currency as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar. When people think of Europe, they think of the euro. With a single currency, there are no longer costs involved in changing currencies; this is a fact that benefits tourists and firms that trade within the Euro area. With a common currency it is easier to compare prices in different European countries, because they are all in euros.
Freedom:
In Europe you have a lot of freedom. This is maybe one of the biggest values that Europe has.
Freedom of speech: In Europe people have the right to speak or share their opinion without fearing censorship or punishment.
Sexual freedom: People in Europe are allowed to be with whoever they want to be. Homosexual couples have the right and freedom to express their love and get married.
Family:
The family is one of the domains where the greatest changes have taken place over the last generations. The traditional nuclear European family consisted of a father and a mother with several children but today this is only one option among many. Declining marriage rates, an increased number of divorces, the wide acceptation of co-habitation, the legalization of same-sex marriage and dropping birth rates are reasons why the size of the average household within the European Union has dropped to 2.4 people. 84 percent of the Europeans say that the family is very important, almost twice as many as those who find friends very important, However, there have been some noticeable changes. The acceptance of single mothers has risen sharply since 1990. Throughout Europe, having children is no longer considered a duty towards society but rather one of life’s options. Today’s Europeans continue to value family ahead of friends, work, leisure time, politics and religion as the most important thing in their lives. This should make us stop and think. Despite the increased orientation of life values towards the individual the family is still highly important to most people.
The values of the present
The bases of the EU are important for every citizen of the Union. These are: freedom, democracy, human dignity, equality, respect of human rights and the rule of law. There are some examples for these values:
Respect for human dignity:
Human dignity is inviolable. Nobody may be hurt physically or mentally.
Everyone has the right to life. Nobody may be condemned to death or executed. Torture and degrading punishment are forbidden. Slavery and forced labour are forbidden. Trafficking in human beings is forbidden.
