Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Physical exercise is good for health. A Eurobarometer survey published in November 2006 showed that 64% of people in the EU engaged in some sort of physical activity in an average week. Top of the list was Finland, where 83% of those polled said they were involved in physical effort via recreational, sports or leisure-time activities. The Finns were followed by the Dutch, with 79%, and the Lithuanians, with 78%.

In the 1950s, more than 20% of the EU’s population worked in farming and around 40% in industry. Since then, employment in agriculture and industry has fallen while the number of jobs in the services sector has soared. By 2004, more than two thirds of jobs in the 25-nation EU were in the services sector. The figure for agriculture was 5.0% and for industry 27.9%.

The majority of citizens in all EU (58%) countries believe membership is a good thing for their country. Support is at its highest for over a decade. However, the level of support varies across the Union and fluctuates over time. There is no country where opposition is greater than support.

If a country has applied to join the European Union and its application has been officially accepted, it becomes a "candidate country". At present there are four candidate countries — Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Island. 

Research and development (R&D), especially in new technologies, holds the key to future economic growth and jobs. The EU’s aim is to invest more in research to bring its R&D spending in line with that of the United States and Japan. In 2004, Japan spent the equivalent of 3.15% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on R&D and the US 2.67%, compared with the EU average of 1.83%.

To ease congestion on the roads and improve the environment, the EU is encouraging people to travel by public transport and urging transport firms to move freight to trains, barges and ships.

The subjects Europeans choose to study tend to differ according to their gender: more men choose science, computing and engineering, while more women choose the arts, humanities and law.

A clear majority of Europeans (56%) say they can hold a conversation in one foreign language. Of these, some can speak two or even three foreign languages. However, 44% of Europeans know no language other than their mother tongue.

The single market is one of the EU’s greatest achievements. It has broken down economic frontiers in Europe and has increased competition, which has resulted in better quality and lower prices for goods and services. Some of the most dramatic price reductions have been in areas like air travel and communications.

July 21 is Independence Day in Belgium. This national holiday commemorates 21 July 1831, the date on which the first King of the Belgians, Leopold I, pledged allegiance to the Constitution. The capital Brussels will hold festivities throughout the day– parades, stands, music, concerts, pyrotechnic displays – culminating in a big fireworks show launched from the gardens of the Palais des Académies.

Standards of living in Europe have improved significantly over the past decade. EU standards of living are among the highest in the world.

A clear majority of Europeans (56%) say they can hold a conversation in one foreign language. Of these, some can speak two or even three foreign languages. However, 44% of Europeans know no language other than their mother tongue.

The single market is one of the EU’s greatest achievements. It has broken down economic frontiers in Europe and has increased competition, which has resulted in better quality and lower prices for goods and services. Some of the most dramatic price reductions have been in areas like air travel and communications.

Helsinki is the most northerly capital city in the European Union.

Six out of ten Europeans believe mobility is good for European integration.