In September 1946, Winston Churchill, at a speech at the University of Zurich, presented a project to establish a lasting peace on the European continent. He called on the Europeans to build a "United States of Europe". These words can be considered the starting point for the formation of the European Union.
The need for an alliance
Wracked by two bloody wars in the first half of the twentieth century, a ruined Europe longed for peace. The European states have experienced the tragedy of resolving differences by force of arms and have realized the perniciousness of this path.
Stable peace in Europe then seemed impossible. France and Germany have been at war for decades. This enmity was both the result and the cause of several wars on the European continent. First of all, it was necessary to solve this problem - to reconcile old enemies.
First Unionpost-war Europe
The first step towards the formation of the European Union was the treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, concluded in Paris in 1951. France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries became members of the union. The Paris contract created a community that specialized in two industries: coal mining and steel.
Economic union or international control?
It doesn't take a conspiracy theorist to see this alliance less as a pursuit of economic gains as a desire to bring industries under international control that could fuel a new arms race on the European continent.
The post-war constitutions of West Germany, Italy and France had limits on sovereignty. Restrictions were also imposed on Germany's heavy industry, which did not allow the country's economy to develop at a rapid pace. The alliance created under the Treaty of Paris made it possible to get around this dilemma easily and gracefully. Common community institutions have been established to govern and control.
In the history of the formation of the European Union, this stage was decisive.
Creating a common market
On March 25, 1957, these same six countries create the European Economic Union. The idea of the EEC is to create a single market on the European continent with a gradual reduction in customs duties up to their cancellation for member countries of the EEC. The maximum task was to create conditions for the duty-free movement of goods, services, capital andfree migration of labor force. The founding treaty also emphasized that the union is committed to a common policy for member states, especially in the field of agriculture.
At the beginning of 1958, the governing bodies of the EEC are created: the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the Court of the European Communities.
July 1, 1968, the Customs Union of the EEC comes into force. Since then, customs duties between Member States have been completely abolished. Uniform customs duties are now imposed on goods from third countries. The foundation is laid for the largest retail space in the world. The consequences are impressive: between 1957 and 1970, intrastate trade doubles. EEC trade with the rest of the world triples. Consumers benefit directly from the abundance of imported goods.
The creation of a duty-free free trade zone for the member countries of this union has become an important step in the formation of the European Union of a modern type.
Expansion of the EEC
In 1973, the first expansion of the EEC took place: Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark joined the union. Greece joined the European Economic Union eight years later, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986.
November 9, 1989, the event that Europe least expected - the fall of the Berlin Wall. Prior to this, the protective fortifications on the border with Austria were dismantled by Hungary. Europe, previously divided into two economic blocs, opened up a vast market, not spoiled by variety.assortment. Old Europe did not want to miss such a chance. It was necessary to make adjustments to the association, taking into account modern realities.
Maastricht Treaty
February 7, 1992 - the day of the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. It is considered the official date of the formation of the European Union. Since then, the official name has been approved.
The agreement defines the procedures for intergovernmental cooperation in coordinating actions in the field of foreign and domestic policy, security and justice of the EU member states. In these areas, the states retain full sovereignty.
The year 1992 entered the history of the Old World as the year of the formation of the European Union.
In 1993, at the summit in Copenhagen, the criteria that must be met by countries wishing to join the European Union were determined. These are predominantly countries in Eastern and Central Europe that are trying to join the community.
On January 1, 2002, all countries except Denmark, Sweden and the UK introduced a single currency - the euro.
In May 2004, after a long stage of negotiations between the EU and each of the candidate countries, 10 new states became members of the European Union.
Constitution Treaty for Europe
For a Union of twenty-five member states, the Declaration on the Future of Europe was clearly not enough. In February 2002, the European Conference began its work. After 16 months of work, the text of the draft Constitutional Treaty was agreed upon. On October 29, 2004, the Agreement was signedabout the introduction of the Constitution for Europe. An attempt to adopt an EU constitution was unsuccessful. The ratification procedure failed in some countries.
Modern problems of the European Union
The main problems of the modern European Union are related to the imbalance between the expansion and deepening of integration processes. Having increased the number of member states to 28 countries, the union has been unable to strengthen its political institutions to a level consistent with the needs of integration, the number and heterogeneity of members.
The long road to education and the current problems of the European Union are inevitable for organizations that unite a large number of countries. The Union brought together the peoples of Western and Eastern Europe. Different historical roots, religion, mentality - all this creates problems that need to be addressed.
During the last decade, the EU has faced a number of economic and political crises. This has led to an increase in Euroskepticism in society, which further complicates the EU's ability to deal with numerous external and internal problems.
Among the most significant issues to be addressed:
- UK exit from the EU;
- terrorism threat;
- problems of migration and social integration of refugees;
- problems of democracy and the rule of law in Eastern Europe;
- trade war started by Trump.
Against this difficult political and economic background, the inability of the EU leadership to quickly adoptbalanced and economically justified decisions. Many observers argue that the breadth and complexity of these issues is unprecedented. How the EU reacts could have long-term implications, not only for the EU itself, but also for its strategic and economic partners.
Most experts consider the complete dissolution of the EU unlikely. But there are also voices saying that some aspects of integration can be stopped. Others argue that the multiple crises the EU is facing will make the union more effective and cohesive.
