US European Command Area of Responsibility

• Area of Responsibility• Art• Economic Systems• Political Systems• US Interests

Overview

• Geography– 1/5th of the planet– 51 countries on two continents

(includes Israel for political, not geographic, reasons

– Total population of over 1 billion

Area of Responsibility

• Languages– European Union has 23 official

languages– European Union has goal of citizen

fluency in two other languages other than native language

Area of Responsibility

• Fine Arts– Sculpture– Pottery– Painting – Drawing

Art

• Performing Arts– Music– Drama– Dance

Art

La Scala Opera House

Beethoven

• Evolution of European Fine Art– Dates to 800-400 BCE– Revival of fine art, including architecture during the

Italian Renaissance• Re-established art based on classical Greek principles

• Modern art era began in early nineteenth century– Art Nouveau– Cubism– Expressionism– Surrealism– Pop-Art

Art

• Types– Market economy

• True capitalism

– Planned or command economy• Socialism

– Mixed economy• Most “capitalist” countries

are actually mixed

Economic Systems

• European Union (EU)– 27 current members– 9 candidate countries

• Common currency—The Euro– 16 member nations have adopted– Not condition of membership– Allows for coordinated economic

reaction– Eliminates cost of monetary exchange– Over 60% of EU citizens use the euro

daily

Economic Systems

• Unification– United Nations (UN)

• 3 of 5 permanent security council members: France, UK, and Russia

– North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)• Began in response to communism but now has many

former Soviet Bloc nations as members

– The EU• Initially economic in focus but has taken on a

significant political role• Unlike UN & NATO, is a Europe-only organization

Political Systems

• National Security and International Relations– Impact of OIF on US/European relations– Bush unpopular in Europe but Obama well received– Close relationship of USEUCOM

with European nations supporting OEF– EU cooperation with UN sanctions

against Iran’s nuclear ambitions– US/Russian relations growing tense

• Weapons treaties• Human rights• Gas and oil supplies

US Interests

• Economic Relations– EU and US economies

• Highly interdependent • Account for about half of

global economy

– Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC)

• Only high-level forum for discussion of economic issues

– Impact of global financial crisis

US Interests

• Area of Responsibility• Art• Economic Systems• Political Systems• US Interests

Summary