The European Union ::
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The European Union (EU) is unique in its structure. It is neither a federation, like the United States, nor is it merely a form of inter-governmental co-operation. The EU is formed of the countries known as the Member States (MS) that pool their individual sovereignty in order to adopt shared governance in certain areas to gain greater cohesion and influence. Member States do not however give up their national sovereignty. Instead the EU institutions have delegated power in specific matters of joint interest, where the EU can exercise democratic authority for the good of all MS.
First European communities and treaties
The European Union is relatively new, established in 1992. Before the EU came a succession of communities and treaties that have brought European countries increasingly closer.
The first community was established by the Treaty that formed the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which was signed in 1951 and entered into force on 23 July 1952. This was an attempt by some of the continental countries of Europe to create an economic and political bond that would mean that those countries that signed the Treaty would never again go to war with each other. The signatories were: Belgium, West Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy and The Netherlands. Decision making powers were given to a supranational body, with Jean Monnet as the first President.
Figure 1 :: Map of the European Union
A few years later the same six countries went further by signing the Treaties of Rome, which were signed in 1957 and entered into force on 1 January 1958. These treaties established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). The six countries then set about removing the trade barriers between them and forming the "common market" under the banner of the European Community (EC).
In 1967 the institutions of the three communities merged. From this point on there was established a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers and a single European Parliament (EP). Originally the members of the EP were chosen by members of the national parliaments, but from 1979 the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been chosen directly by citizens of the Member States (MS).
The growth of the EU
In 1973 three more countries joined the original six, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the years that followed a further six entered into the EC. Greece joined in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986 and Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995.
The EU was further expanded by the introduction of ten new countries in 2004: Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Cyprus. Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join in 2007, while Turkey and Croatia are in negotiations for their introduction.
| Members as of 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Germany | Luxembourg | France | Italy |
| The Netherlands | Denmark | Ireland | United Kingdom | Greece |
| Spain | Portugal | Austria | Finland | Sweden |
| Slovenia | Slovakia | Poland | Malta | Lithuania |
| Latvia | Hungary | Estonia | Czech Republic | Cyprus |
| Candidate countries for entry in 2007 | ||||
| Bulgaria | Romania | Turkey | ||
For more information visit www.europa.eu.int/abc/history/index_en.htm
EU political growth
The Treaty of Maastricht, which was signed in 1992 and entered into force on 1 November 1993, introduced new areas of co-operation between the Member States, for example in the area of defence and in "justice and home affairs". The treaty also created a new structure for the community, which was political as well as economic. This structure was known as the European Union (EU).
Further Treaties have attempted to consolidate and clarify the previous treaties. The Treaty of Amsterdam changed the alphabetical system of the EU treaty into numerical form. The Treaty of Nice, signed in 2001 and entered into force on 1 February 2003, consolidated and merged the EU and EC treaties into one document. As integration has continued, the political power of the EU regarding common policy areas has grown. The range of policies over which the EU now has influence is now very wide, from agriculture to culture, environment, trade, competition and consumer affairs.
As the European Union's relations with the rest of the world become increasingly important, the EU is now developing a common Foreign and Security Policy.
The Euro
On 1 January 2002, the Euro replaced national currencies in twelve of the 15 countries of the EU (Belgium, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy).
[Image source :: EU Médiatheque]
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