The European Union

Eunice Jed M. Estera

I. The History of European Union

Konrad Adenaur, Joseph Bech, Johan Beyen, Winston Churchill, Alcide De

Gasperi, Walter Hallstein, Sicco Mansholt, Jean Monnet, Robert Shuman, Paul-

Henri Spaak and Altiero Spinelli were the visionary leaders that inspired the

creation of the European Union we live in today. Without their energy and

motivation we would not be living in the sphere of peace and stability that we

take for granted. From resistance fighters to lawyers, the founding fathers were

a diverse group of people who held the same ideals: a peaceful, united and

prosperous Europe. Beyond the founding fathers described below, many others

have worked tirelessly towards and inspired the European project. This section

on the founding fathers is therefore a work in progress.

 The Creation of Council of Europe in 1949 by the West European Nations

 The Historical Roots of the European Union lie in the WWII.

 18 April 1951, Six countries (Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands,

Belgium and Luxembourg) sign a treaty to run their heavy industries: coal

and steal under a common management. (European Coal and Steel

Community, ECSC)

 Seeing the success of the Coal and Steel Treaty, the six countries expand

cooperation to other economic sectors. They sign the Treaty of Rome,

creating the European Economic Community(EEC)

 Robert Schuman, a French foreign minister the man behind the idea of ECSC

with the Schuman Declaration, which he presented.

 What is the European Union’s objective?

 The objectives of the Union are to safeguard the common values, to

reinforce all dimensions of security within the Union, to maintain peace

and international security, to promote international cooperation, to

consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and to strengthen human

rights and fundamental freedoms..

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE EU

 Austria

 Belgium

 Bulgaria

 Croatia

 Cyprus

 Czech Republic

 Denmark

 Estonia

 Finland

 France

 Germany

 Greece

 Hungary

 Ireland

 Italy

 Latvia
  Lithuania

 Luxembourg

 Malta

 Netherlands

 Poland

 Portugal

 Romania

 Slovakia

 Slovenia

 Spain

 Sweden

 United Kingdom

 Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates of EU

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo

II. Timeline of the European Union

1945-1959
 The beginning of cooperation for a peaceful Europe, The European Union; is set

up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbors,

which culminated in the Second World War. As of 1950, the European Coal and

Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and

politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founders are Belgium, France,

Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s are dominated by a

cold war between east and west. Protests in Hungary against the Communist

regime are put down by Soviet tanks in 1956; while the following year, 1957, the

Soviet Union takes the lead in the space race, when it launches the first man-

made space satellite. Also in 1957, the Treaty of Rome creates the European

Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’.

1960-1969

The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture’, with groups such as The Beatles

attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to stimulate a

cultural revolution and widening the generation gap. It is a good period for the

economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when

they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production, so

that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural

produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and many changes in

society and behavior become associated with the so-called ‘68 generation’. This

period was also known as the ‘Swinging Sixties’

1970-1979
The period known as the ‘First Enlargement’ Denmark, Ireland and the United

Kingdom join the European Union on 1 January 1973, raising the number of member

states to nine. The short, yet brutal, Arab-Israeli war of October 1973 result in an

energy crisis and economic problems in Europe. The last right-wing dictatorships in

Europe come to an end with the overthrow of the Salazar regime in Portugal in 1974

and the death of General Franco of Spain in 1975. The EU regional policy starts to

transfer huge sums to create jobs and infrastructure in poorer areas. The European

Parliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the

first time, elect their members directly.

1980-1989

The period where the changing face Europe and the Berlin Fall, The Polish trade

union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household names across

Europe and the world following the Gdansk shipyard strikes in the summer of 1980.

In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU and Spain and Portugal follow

five years later. In 1986 the Single European Act is signed. Its a treaty which

provides the basis for a vast six-year programmed aimed at sorting out the

problems with the free-flow of trade across EU borders and thus creates the ‘Single

Market’. There is major political upheaval when, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin

Wall is pulled down and the border between East and West Germany is opened for

the first time in 28 years, this leads to the reunification of Germany when both East

and West Germany are united in October 1990.

1990-1999
The collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, Europeans become

closer neighbors. In 1993 the Single Market is completed with the 'four freedoms' of:

movement of goods, services, people and money. The 1990s is also the decade of

two treaties, the ‘Maastricht’ Treaty on European Union in 1993 and the Treaty of

Amsterdam in 1999. People are concerned about how to protect the environment

and also how Europeans can act together when it comes to security and defence

matters. In 1995 the EU gains three more new members, Austria, Finland and

Sweden. A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to the ‘Schengen’ agreements

that gradually allow people to travel without having their passports checked at the

borders. Millions of young people study in other countries with EU support.

Communication is made easier as more and more people start using mobile phones

and the Internet.

2000-2009

The euro is the new currency for many Europeans. 11 September 2001 becomes

synonymous with the 'War on Terror' after hijacked airliners are flown into

buildings in New York and Washington. EU countries begin to work much more

closely together to fight crime. The political divisions between east and west Europe

are finally declared healed when no fewer than 10 new countries join the EU in

2004, followed by two more in 2007. A financial crisis hits the global economy in

September 2008, leading to closer economic cooperation between EU countries. All

EU countries ratify the Treaty of Lisbon before entering into force on 1 December

2009. It provides the EU with modern institutions and more efficient working

methods.
2010-Today

The new decade starts with a severe economic crisis, but also with the hope that

investments in new green and climate-friendly technologies and closer European

cooperation will bring lasting growth and welfare.

III. European Presidents

The Council of the EU - where national ministers discuss EU legislation - doesn't

have a permanent, single-person president. The country holding the Council

presidency, which rotates every 6 months, leads its work. For example,

representatives from the presidency country chair its meetings.

There are three main institutions of the European Union, which are headed by a

president:

 The President of the European Parliament

 The President of the European Council

 The President of the European Commission

 The Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Their role is to ensure that parliamentary procedures are properly followed,

oversees parliament’s various activities and committees. Represents Parliament in

legal matters and in its international relation and lastly is to give final assent to the

US budget.
IV. Agencies and European Union Bodies

The agencies in EU are distinct bodies from the EU institutions that is separated by

legal entities set perform specific tasks under the European Union Law and it is said

that there are over 40 agencies, divided in to four groups:

 Decentralized Agencies

Carries out the technical, scientific and managerial task that helps EU institutions to

make and implement policies.

 Executive Agencies

They are agencies that help European Union to manage their programs.

 EURATOM agencies

Created to support the aims of the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty

(EURATOM) whose purpose is to

1. Coordinate national nuclear research programs, for peaceful purposes

2. Provide knowledge, infrastructure and funding for nuclear energy

3. Ensure sufficient and secure supplies of nuclear energy.

 European Institute of Innovation and Technology

An independent European Union body which seeks to promote Europe’s ability

to new technology.

V. European Union Law (How decisions are made)

The European Union is based on the rule of law. This means that all EU member

countries found on treaties that have been approved voluntarily and every action
taken by the EU democratically. European Union’s decision-making procedure is

known as Ordinary Legislative Procedure, it means that the directly elected

European Parliament has to approve EU legislation together with the Council and

then the Commission drafts and implements EU legislation.

There are also EU’s treaties like the Treaty of Lisbon that increased the number of

policy areas where 'Ordinary Legislative Procedure' is used while the European

Parliament also has more power to block a proposal if it disagrees with the council.

Several types of legal act achieve the aims set out in the EU treaties. These legislative

acts include regulations, directives, recommendations and opinions. Some are

binding while others are not.

The European Law has equal force with national law - confers rights and obligations

on the authorities in each member country, as well as individuals and businesses.

The authorities in each member country are responsible for implementing EU

legislation in national law and enforcing it correctly, and they must guarantee

citizens’ rights under these laws.

VI. Legislation and Case Law

EU legislation takes the form of:

1. Treaties establishing the European Union and governing the way it works

2. EU regulations, directives and decisions - with a direct or indirect effect on EU

member states.
 EU case law is made up of judgments from the European Union's Court of Justice,

which interprets EU legislation.

VII. List of Treaties

European Coal and Steal Community (1951)

European Atomic Energy Community (1957)

European Economic Community (1957)

Single European Act (1986)

Maastricht Treaty (1992)

Treaty of Amsterdam (1999)

Treaty of Nice (2003)

Charter of Fundamental Human Rights (2007)

Treaty of Libson (2009)

VIII. Cohesion Policy

The Regional policy of the European Union also referred as Cohesion Policy.

Cohesion Policy, is a policy with the stated aim of improving the economic well-

being of regions in the EU and also to avoid regional disparities and the restructure

of declining industrial areas and also in order to diversify rural areas which have

declining agriculture

IX. EU and the Western Balkan

Western Balkan is composed of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. (All of

them used to be part of the Federal of Yugoslavia. The geographical proximity of the

Western Balkans makes the region of particular importance for the EU. Each country

is undertaking economic and political reforms – supported by the EU – bringing

them closer in line with the EU.

X. European Free Alliance

The European Free Alliance is consisting of various regionalist and political

parties in Europe that advocates full political independence. (Statehood)

XI. Reference

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/index_en.cfm

http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?

contentid=82321&contentlan=2&culture=en-US

http://europa.eu/index_en.htm