The European Union: History

1
The European Union History

• Aim To give an overview of the origins and
• subsequent development of the European
• Union, including current issues.

2
The European Union History (cont.)

• 1. How many member states are there in the EU?
•  
• 2. List the EU member states.
•  

3
The European Union History (cont.)

• Origins
•  
• 1945 End of WWII
• 1949 Council of Europe
• NOT an EU institution
•  intergovernmental consultative institution
•  40 member countries
•  focus on human rights, education, culture,
• environment

4
Origins (cont.)

• important objective avoid further European wars
•  tentative plans for political unity
•  economic objectives were means to achieve this

5
Origins (cont.)

• Differences in positions
•  UK links with Commonwealth USA
• Scandinavian countries neutrality (Cold War)
•  Southern Europe E P dictatorships
• G possible link w.Soviet Union
• France and Germany formed alliance
•   -Italy and Benelux countries in support
• -European unity a political issue
•   -UK and Scandinavian countries economic view

6
Origins (cont.)

• 1951 European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
  Treaty of Paris (B, F, D, I, L, NL)
• - Aim to integrate German heavy industries
  into European structure.
• 1957 European Economic Community (EEC)
• Treaty of Rome
• Which countries were the founder members ?

7
Origins (cont.)

• 1960 European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
• UK, A, CH, N, S, DK, P.
• free trade area.
•  
• EEC elements of supranationality in
  decision-making
• EFTA less ambitious, economic not political
  perspective.

8
Development

• 1973 first enlargement
•  Which country/ies joined?
• 1981 second enlargement
•  Which country/ies joined?
•  
• 1995 third enlargement
•  Which country/ies joined?

9
Development (cont.)

• Other Developments
•  
• 1962 Launch of the Common Agricultural Policy
• (CAP)
•  1968 Completion of customs union (no internal
  tariffs, common external tariff)
•  1972 Snake in the tunnel form of exchange
  rate mechanism
• 1970s period of stagnation
• - instability of internat. monetary system
• - oil price increases

10
Other Developments (cont.)

• 1984 establishment of free trade area
• between EC and EFTA
•  
• 1986 Single European Act (SEA)
•   - start of Single European Market (SEM) prog.
• - extends Community competence to
•   - environmental policy
•   - economic and social cohesion
• - research and technology policy
•   - social policy

11
Other Developments (cont.)

• 1992 Treaty on European Union (Maastricht
  Treaty)
• - EC becomes known as EU
• - Completion of SEM (31 December)
• 1999 Launch of single currency (euro)
•   - transition period 1999 - 2002
•  Which countries are participating?

12
Current Issues

• Enlargement
• Agenda 2000 (1997)- programme for next wave of
  enlargement
•  Includes up to ten central and east European
  
• countries (CEECs), Cyprus and Malta.
•  Many more applicant countries than in previous
  
• enlargements
•  Differences between countries greater than ever
  
• before

13
Enlargement (cont.)

• Admissions will be staggered, depending on level
  of development
•  All ten CEECs will be net recipients of EU
  funding
•  Increase in EU population from 372 (EU15) to 477
  m
•  Enlargement necessitates institutional and
  procedural reforms

14
Enlargement (cont.)

• Population (m) GDP per capita ( EU 15)
• Slovenia 2.0 72
• Czech Republic 10.3 60
• Hungary 10.0 52
• Slovakia 5.4 48
• Poland 38.6 39
• Estonia 1.4 38
• Latvia 2.4 29
• Lithuania 3.7 29
• Romania 22.4 27
• Bulgaria 8.2 24
• (Eur. Comm.)

15
Enlargement (cont.)

• Conditions for entry
•  
• Stability of democratic institutions
•  Functioning market economy
•  Ability to comply with the obligations of
  membership (including political, economic and
  monetary union)
•   -Requirement to incorporate acquis
  communautaire into national law
• -Transition periods for each applicant state to
  be discussed in entry negotiations

16
Enlargement (cont.)

•  most applicants satisfy the political criteria
  (1993 Copenhagen summit), except Turkey
•  all applicants functioning market economies,
  except Romania, Bulgaria is close 
• BUT much progress still necessary by all
  applicant countries.

17
Enlargement (cont.)

• EU reforms required
•  
• CAP
•  Institutions
•  Procedures
• Possible outcome
• Big Bang accession of 10/13 in 2005/6?
• ENLARGEMENT IRREVERSIBLE

18
Summary

• Origins of the European Union
• Development of the European Union
• Current Issues Enlargement of the European Union