THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union is a group of 28 countries that operate as a cohesive economic and
political block.
19 of these countries use EURO as their official currency. 9 EU members (Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United
Kingdom) do not use the euro.
THE EUROPEAN UNION
The EU grew out of a desire to form a single European political entity to end centuries of
warfare among European countries that culminated with World War II and decimated much
of the continent.
The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that
apply in all member states in matters, where members have agreed to act as one.
Goals
Promote peace, values and the well-being of all citizens of EU.
Offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders
Sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a
highly competitive market economy with full employment and social progress, and
environmental protection
Combat social exclusion and discrimination
Promote scientific and technological progress
Enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity among EU countries
Respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity
Establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is euro.
History
After World War II, European integration wass een as a cure to the excessive
nationalism which had devastated the continent.
In 1946 at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, Winston Churchill went further and
advocated the emergence of a United States of Europe.
In 1952, European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was founded under Treaty of
Paris (1951) by 6 countries called Six (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg
and the Netherlands) to renounce part of their sovereignty by placing their coal and steel
production in a common market, under it.
o European Court of Justice (called "Court of Justice of the European
Communities" until 2009) was also established in 1952 under Paris Treaty.
, European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) is an international
organisation established by the Euratom Treaty (1957) with the original purpose of
creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe, by developing nuclear energy
and distributing it to its member states while selling the surplus to non-member states.
o It has same members as the European Union and is governed by the European
Commission (EC) and Council, operating under the jurisdiction of the European
Court of Justice.
European Economic Community (EEC) was created by the Treaty of Rome (1957).
The Community's initial aim was to bring about economic integration, including a
common market and customs union, among its founding members (Six).
o It ceased to exist by Lisbon Treaty-2007 and its activities were incorporated in
EU.
Merger Treaty (1965, Brussels) in which an agreement was reached to merge the three
communities (ECSC, EAEC, and EEC) under a single set of institutions, creating
the European Communities (ECs).
o The Commission and Council of the EEC were to take over the responsibilities of
its counterparts (ECSC, EAEC) in other organisations.
The ECs initially expanded in 1973 when Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom
became members. Greece joined in 1981, Portugal and Spain following in 1986.
Schengen Agreement (1985) paved the way for the creation of open borders without
passport controls between most member states. It was effective in 1995.
Single European Act (1986): enacted by the European Community that committed its
member countries to a timetable for their economic merger and the establishment of a
single European currency and common foreign and domestic policies.
The Maastricht Treaty-1992 (also called the Treaty on European Union) was signed
on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht,
Netherlands to further European integration. It received a great push with the end of
the Cold War.
o European Communities (ECSC, EAEC, and EEC) incorporated as European
Union.
o European citizenship was created, allowing citizens to reside in and move freely
between Member States.
o A common foreign and security policy was established.
o Closer cooperation between police and the judiciary in criminal matters was
agreed.
o It paved the way for the creation of a single European currency – the euro. It was
the culmination of several decades of debate on increasing economic cooperation
in Europe.
The European Union is a group of 28 countries that operate as a cohesive economic and
political block.
19 of these countries use EURO as their official currency. 9 EU members (Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United
Kingdom) do not use the euro.
THE EUROPEAN UNION
The EU grew out of a desire to form a single European political entity to end centuries of
warfare among European countries that culminated with World War II and decimated much
of the continent.
The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that
apply in all member states in matters, where members have agreed to act as one.
Goals
Promote peace, values and the well-being of all citizens of EU.
Offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders
Sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a
highly competitive market economy with full employment and social progress, and
environmental protection
Combat social exclusion and discrimination
Promote scientific and technological progress
Enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity among EU countries
Respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity
Establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is euro.
History
After World War II, European integration wass een as a cure to the excessive
nationalism which had devastated the continent.
In 1946 at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, Winston Churchill went further and
advocated the emergence of a United States of Europe.
In 1952, European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was founded under Treaty of
Paris (1951) by 6 countries called Six (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg
and the Netherlands) to renounce part of their sovereignty by placing their coal and steel
production in a common market, under it.
o European Court of Justice (called "Court of Justice of the European
Communities" until 2009) was also established in 1952 under Paris Treaty.
, European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) is an international
organisation established by the Euratom Treaty (1957) with the original purpose of
creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe, by developing nuclear energy
and distributing it to its member states while selling the surplus to non-member states.
o It has same members as the European Union and is governed by the European
Commission (EC) and Council, operating under the jurisdiction of the European
Court of Justice.
European Economic Community (EEC) was created by the Treaty of Rome (1957).
The Community's initial aim was to bring about economic integration, including a
common market and customs union, among its founding members (Six).
o It ceased to exist by Lisbon Treaty-2007 and its activities were incorporated in
EU.
Merger Treaty (1965, Brussels) in which an agreement was reached to merge the three
communities (ECSC, EAEC, and EEC) under a single set of institutions, creating
the European Communities (ECs).
o The Commission and Council of the EEC were to take over the responsibilities of
its counterparts (ECSC, EAEC) in other organisations.
The ECs initially expanded in 1973 when Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom
became members. Greece joined in 1981, Portugal and Spain following in 1986.
Schengen Agreement (1985) paved the way for the creation of open borders without
passport controls between most member states. It was effective in 1995.
Single European Act (1986): enacted by the European Community that committed its
member countries to a timetable for their economic merger and the establishment of a
single European currency and common foreign and domestic policies.
The Maastricht Treaty-1992 (also called the Treaty on European Union) was signed
on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht,
Netherlands to further European integration. It received a great push with the end of
the Cold War.
o European Communities (ECSC, EAEC, and EEC) incorporated as European
Union.
o European citizenship was created, allowing citizens to reside in and move freely
between Member States.
o A common foreign and security policy was established.
o Closer cooperation between police and the judiciary in criminal matters was
agreed.
o It paved the way for the creation of a single European currency – the euro. It was
the culmination of several decades of debate on increasing economic cooperation
in Europe.
