The European Union in 30 Minutes: A Crash Course for American Graduate Students

This presentation was developed for the VANTAGE Workshop “EU Economic Security and Gender Equality in a Changing World” within the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project VANTAGE (Project No. 101234003). Designed as a concise crash course for American graduate students, it provides an accessible introduction to the European Union, covering the origins and purpose of European integration, EU governance and decision-making, Member States, the Schengen Area, and the relationship between national and EU law. The presentation also offers a comparative overview of the European Union and the United States across selected socioeconomic, institutional, demographic, transportation, and defense indicators. Additional sections address EU overseas territories, European space activities, and examples of countries and territories that have withdrawn from or reconsidered participation in European integration. The material is intended to provide participants with essential contextual knowledge for subsequent discussion and analysis of European economic security and gender equality.