EuropeComenius Project 2005/06

Lucia Massi

The post war period: to the1960s

2nd World War

Europe

Grave economic damage

Millions of dead

Military operations

Bombardment

inflationSerious balance of payment deficits

Unemployment

Plan of intervention in favour of the rebirth of Europe

Harry Truman & George MarshallPresident of

U.S.A.

Project (directed)

“not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos”

America wanted to counteract Soviet expansionism

The birth of the EOEC and the ECSC

2 important steps:

European Organisation for Economic Cooperation

EOEC

16 western European states

European Coal and Steel Community

ECSC

In 1952

So…

Elimination of

Import and export duties

Subsidies to industries

Other measures of support in individual countries

The birth of the EEC and EURATOM

Rome:1957

EEC EURATOM

European Economic Community

European Atomic Energy Community

The EEC

3 Targets

Elimination of customs barriers

Development of a common

system of customs duties

Creation of a common

agricultural policy

The birth of the European Community: 1967

EEC EURATOM

Joined together as

EC (European Community)1.to improve living and working conditions;

2.to reduce economic disparity between regions ;3.to help underdeveloped countries;4.to maintain peace and freedom;

ECSC

The ‘60s and the ’70s: development of the European Community

Political Crises Economic

Resolved with the widening of EEC

1973

Denmark Ireland United Kingdom

Economic and population growth

Helsinki Conference:1973

Helsinki Conference

Helped to bring together Eastern and Western Europe in a common struggle to develop civil liberties and rights.

1979 & 1981

1979

The European Parliament was for the first time elected directly by the citizens

The EMS: The European Monetary System

Ecu:an ideal currency to control oscillation in continental currencies

1981 Greece joined the EEC.

The UEA 1986

Luxemburg:1986

9 member states signed the unique European Act

Revision of the treaty of Rome

Objectives Social policyEnvironmental protectionTechnological researchReduction of gaps between the various regions

The Maastricht TreatySigned on 7th February 1992 by 12 countries

Coming into force in November 1993

Economic, political and cultural integration

The Maastricht Treaty launched the EU towards a form of collective cooperation which had no historical precedent

Main objectives of the Maastricht Treaty

2. The reinforcement of economic and social cohesion;

3. Economic and monetary union based on the free circulation of capitals, goods, people and above all the institution of a single European currency;

4. A common foreign and security policy in terms of a common defence policy;

5. The institution of a Community citizenship with the aim of reinforcing the observance of rights and cooperation in the field of justice.

1. The promotion of balanced economic and social development through the creation of “ a space without internal frontiers”;

The Treaty of Amsterdam: 1997

Amsterdam: 1997

Signed by the fifteen member states

Came into force in 1999

Objectives

To integrate the decisions of the Schengen agreement with relation to free circulation

To strengthen judicial cooperation in crimes against children, corruption and terrorism

The Treaty of Nice: 2000

Nice: 2000

The institutional bodies of the EU’s member countries were reorganised

The first “paper of fundamental rights within the Union” was agreed on

The Europe of 25

2003

EstoniaLithuaniaLatviaPolandCzech RepublicSlovakiaHungarySlovenia CyprusMalta

Union of 25 states

Ceremony in Dublin

2004

The ECB and the Euro

1998: Frankfurt

European Central Bank ECB

1999 EMU officially came into being

12 countries

Eurolandia: new economic zone

Countries in EUROLANDIA

AustriaBelgium

Finland

France

Germany

IrelandItaly

Luxemburg

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

The European Constitution

Europe Home of freedom

European Constitution

One single text

Civil, political, economic and social rights of EUROPEAN CITIZENS

Human values

The standards for the European Constitution respect and guarantee inalienable human values that are deeply rooted in European soil:

Dignity

Liberty

Equality Solidarity Citizenship Justice

“EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO LIBERTY AND SECURITY”

The importance of being free

What does it mean to live in a reality where the rights of liberty are respected?

In Europe it is not possible to carry out an arrest without first obtaining the authorisation of a judge;

None of the European member states are in favour of the death penality.

European Constitution affirms that:

“EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO LIFE”

“NO ONE MAY BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH OR EXECUTED”

“NO ONE MAY BE FORCED TO UNDERGO TORTURE OR INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT”

Other liberties in the UE

Liberty of every citizen of the Union to circulate freely and stay in any European territory

Liberty of information and expression

In other countries, such as China, this liberty isn’t guaranteed

Liberty of religion etc.

The importance of European Constitution:

With the new Constitution the European Union provides proof of its efforts to promote balanced and sustainable development and the hope of a peaceful future for the generations to come.

Liceo Classico Francesco Stelluti

Comenius Project 2005/2006