The European Union
The European Union (EU) has become one of the defining organisations of the 21st century and its influence is felt around the world. But what is the EU and how did it come to be? This article will explore the history, evolution, and integration of the European Union, providing an overview of the key moments and players in the process, as well as examining how the nations of Europe have been able to come together to form this dynamic and powerful body.
History of the European Union
The history of the European Union (EU) begins in the aftermath of World War II. In 1945, with the continent in ruins, European leaders sought to craft a new organisation designed to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity to the region. The first step in this process came with the establishment of the Council of Europe in 1950, a body focused on human rights, cultural and legal cooperation between European nations.
The European project, and the EU, really began to take shape with the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. This organisation sought to expand economic co-operation between its members and to remove barriers to free trade. It also undertook various initiatives such as the Common Agricultural Policy in 1962 that sought to further integrate the European market.
The following decade saw the creation of a number of organisations designed to form an ever closer European Union. This process culminated in the Maastricht Treaty which established the European Union in 1993.
Evolution of the European Union
The evolution of the European Union has seen it expand beyond its original purpose as an economic union to become a more powerful and multi-faceted institution.
The Single European Act in 1986 saw the EEC move towards a single market by eliminating all physical and administrative barriers to trade, while the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997 gave the EU the ability to pass its own legislation in a number of policy areas.
The EU has also moved to build a closer political union between its members. The Treaty of Maastricht in 1993 introduced a common currency (the euro) and established the European Central Bank to oversee its management. The introduction of the Schengen Area in 1995 abolished passport and customs control at most internal borders, while the Lisbon Treaty in 2007 gave the European Parliament more power and greater involvement in the EU’s decision-making process.
In recent years, the EU has also sought to increase its global influence, launching initiatives such as the European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership that have sought to expand cooperation between the EU and its non-member neighbors.
Integration within the European Union
The process of integration within the European Union has had a profound impact on the continent and its citizens. This process is not only economic but also political and legal in nature.
Economic Integration
The European Union’s Common Market is one of the most advanced and far- reaching trading blocs in the world. The four freedoms of the single market – the freedom of goods, services, capital and labour – mean that businesses, services and citizens are able to travel freely within the EU.
The euro, meanwhile, is the official currency of 19 member states and is managed by the European Central Bank, which determines eurozone monetary policy. The EU’s fiscal policy is also co-ordinated via the Stability and Growth Pact, a set of guidelines designed to ensure fiscal responsibility and sound public finances.
Political and Legal Integration
The EU also exercises a significant degree of political and legal authority over the countries of Europe. The European Court of Justice is the highest court of the EU, with the power to interpret and enforce the law of the union. The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU and is responsible for proposing new legislation and managing the common policies of the union. Meanwhile, the European Parliament is the legislative branch of the EU, with MEPs elected every five years to represent the citizens of Europe.
The European Union is a complex, powerful and diverse entity that has evolved rapidly since its establishment in the aftermath of World War II. The economic and political integration that has taken place has brought unprecedented levels of peace, stability and prosperity to the continent, while the process of integration continues to push Europe ever closer to becoming a truly unified entity. In the future, the European Union is likely to continue to innovate and evolve, with its influence extending ever further out into the world.
