The History and Development of the European Union, Since 1951

The History and Development of the

European Union, Since 1951

By John Martin, 2007

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

•Treaty of Paris (1951)•6 member organization•Franco-German relationship• Increased economic production by

combining coal and steel resources

Leadership and Foresight

• Robert Schuman • European

integration and cooperation

• Jean Monnet (1952-1955)

• Post-war debt relief

ECSC Institutions

•Common Assembly/European Parliament

•Council of Ministers•High Authority/European

Commission (Schuman)•Court of Justice

Treaty of Rome (1957)

•European Economic Community (EEC)

•Common market (the Six)•European Atomic Energy

Community (Euratom)•Nuclear energy

Merger Treaty (1965)

•European Communities (ECSC, EEC, and Euratom)

• Joint budget and distribution of power

•European Parliament (1962) and budgetary control (1975)

Enlargement and Improvement

•1973- change in French presidency and 3 new additions

•European Parliament (1979)•1980’s- southwest Europe (3 more

countries incorporated into European Communities)

Economic Progress

•Schengen Agreement (1985)- borders and police cooperation

•5 out of 12 members •British mainland (Common Travel

Area)

Single European Act (1986)

• Internal market•Qualified

majority voting (QMV)

•European Council (policy)

• Introduction of symbolic flag

Economic and Political Unity

•German reunification•Maastricht Treaty (1992)- European

Union (EU)•3 nations succeed to EU•Copenhagen European Council

(1993)•Amsterdam Treaty (1995)

Maastricht Uncovered

•Treaty on European Union •Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)• Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)•Eurocorps (5 members)•Trilateral organization of power

21st Century Updates

•Treaty of Nice (2001)

•Globalization•Coinage and

adoption

European Integration

•10 members included •East meets west•Economic disparity and uncertainty•27 total nations

Modern EU Politics and Governance

•Members of Parliament (MEPs) and political parties

•EPP-ED and PES•Regulations, directives, and

decisions•Bilateral power distribution

(legislative and judicial)

Recent Trends and Statistics

•Economic diversity and success•Exports and imports•Continental integration and

disadvantages•Global involvement

Global Impact

•Humanitarian aid•Environmental focus• International competition•Positive EU/U.S. relationship

EU Problems and Conflicts

•European Constitution (2004)•Franco-German supremacy •Decreasing EU/China relationship•British skepticism•New candidate countries

Conclusion

•Stabilizing Europe with a common market

•Uniting east and west•Worldwide responsibility and

assistance•Future of the EU

Further Reading

• Chryssochoou, Dimitris N. 1998. Democracy in the European Union. London.

• Kostlowski, Dean J., ed. 2000. The European Union: From Jean Monnet to the Euro. Ohio.

• Newman, Michael. 1996. Democracy, Sovereignty, and the European Union. New York.

• Wallace, Helen and William Wallace, eds. 2000. Policy-Making in the European Union. Oxford.