The Evolution of the EU
While Europe has been evolving for centuries, the efforts to improve
regional integration only dates back the end of WW2, when 3 critical
needs came forefront:
o Economic reconstruction
o Increased security during cold war tensions
o Prevent European nationalism spilling over again into conflict (definition -
nationalism is a system of governance created by people who believe they
have a strong nation than other countries. It also promotes the interest of a
certain nation with a view of governing itself and maintain sovereignty over
its homeland)
o Pros - strengthens a nation as they have more bargaining power in the
global market, everyone has the right to protect their nation, it brings a
sense of patriotism (belonging and attachment to one's homeland), single
identity in terms of culture, language and religion, prioritised in
infrastructure
o Cons - extreme measures taken to secure the nation, civil war, hatred
amongst other nations, impacts economic status, led to WW1 & WW2,
politicians can manipulate their people
Treaty of Paris (1951) (1952) - France had control over Germany's
remilitarisation, Germany had control over national resources, Benelux
(Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) had economic dependence on
France and Germany, Italy had consolidation of capitalist identity and
, Britain was reluctant to ceded sovereignty. (ECSC- European Coal & steel
community)
Single market boosted in 1986 with agreement of the Single European Act,
with a 5 year deadline to remove remaining barriers
Euro launched in 1999, replacing 12 national currencies in 2002, 19 countries
in 2020
13 new Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004-2013, total of 28
memberships (27 in 2020 as UK has left)
Treaties of Rome (1957) (1958) - Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands and West Germany - these countries sign this treaty establishing
the (EEC - European Economic Community), ECSC (expired in 2002) and the
(Euratom - European Atomic Energy Community) which came into force in
1958.
Stagnation during 1960s: Blocked membership of the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA)
Denmark, Ireland, Norway and UK applied for membership in 1961 - access
denied for France & UK in 1967
De Gaulle was president in 1969 and wasn't a fan of the UK joining because
they were already strong enough and that France & Germany would no
longer be that important if UK entered so he delayed the meetings which
caused conflict among the members. He resented UK's lack of enthusiasm
towards integration and felt that Britain's EEC membership would give the US
too much influence in Europe
o UK reapplied in 1967 (rejected), then accepted in 1973 after De
Gaulle's resignation
o France also rejects the changes to the QMV (qualified majority voting)
and the proposal to budget "own resources" through CAP (Common
Agricultural Policy - a single market for agricultural products to assure
that EEC farmers were guaranteed prices for their produce)
Due to Bretton Woods - Franc, D-Mark and Pound became weak and were
not suited for FAIRTRADE, so EU members had to do something to remain
competitive in the international market
Britain, Denmark, and Ireland join the EU in 1973
Jacques Delors becomes Commission President in 1985 - a common market
that is similar to our single market (plans to develop the European
community to a proper EU)
The Schengen Agreement (1985) - France, Germany and Benelux signed this
in order to remove all border controls among these countries. All EU
member states have since signed this including Iceland, Norway and
, Switzerland but (Britain has stayed out of this because it didn’t want to open
borders)
The Single European Act (SEA) (1986) (1987)- established the Single
European Market programme
o More power for the Council and the European Parliament as it is the
only institution that is directly and democratically elected in the
European Union
o (SEA) created the wealthiest market place in the world, internal
passports and controls were eased or lifted, banks can do business
throughout the community
o Gave legal status to European Political Cooperation (foreign policy
coordination) to work closely on foreign, defence and security issues
The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union) (1992) (1993) - EURO
was also created
Rested on these 3 pillars:
o European Communities
o Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
o Justice and Home Affairs
Essentially established the European Union in 1992
Also created Economic and Monetary Union
New European policies (horizontal integration)
Greater intergovernmental cooperation on immigration & asylum & stronger
European Parliament
o New rights created for EU citizens to live in any EU countries
Ratification issue in Denmark but it came into force in 1993
Formal set of rules to join the EU (Copenhagen conditions)
o Be democratic (respect to human rights & rule of law)
o Viable free market economy
o Acquis Communautaire - (obey to the laws & policies already in the EU)
Further enlargement - Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995
o Switzerland didn't as there was a negative referendum on the so-called
EEA - application was suspended
Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)(1999)
o Makes Schengen part of EU framework
o Expand the powers of the EU Parliament
o Launch of the single currency
Treaty of Nice (2001)(2003)
o Increase the size of the European Commission and the EP
o Shrink the size of the commission
, Accession in 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia
Accession in 2007 - Romania & Bulgaria
Challenges of the EU enlargement
o Institutional reform needed
o Former structural funds will lose
The Constitutional Treaty (2003) - FAILED (ratification failed in France and
Netherlands) and led to the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
o Designed to adjust the institutional structure of the EU to account for
enlargement
o Abolition of the 3 pillars (introduced by the Maastricht & European
Community (EC)
o Equal powers to the EP & the Council of EU
ONGOING ISSUES 2010s:
o Euro issue
o Asylum
o Brexit
o Pending questions with enlargement (Turkey, Albania, Slovenia, Serbia
etc)
o Conflict in Ukraine
The Theories of Integration notes (Week 3) - Chapter 1 & 2
Common Traits:
Geography
o Similar institutions (parliamentary system)
o Similar political parties
Economics
o Market economies
o Welfare states
Common traits within the countries:
Joint history & culture
o Shared history & religious traditions
o Shared political, economic and social values
o Similar challenges (de - industrialisation)
o Immigration & multiculturalism
While Europe has been evolving for centuries, the efforts to improve
regional integration only dates back the end of WW2, when 3 critical
needs came forefront:
o Economic reconstruction
o Increased security during cold war tensions
o Prevent European nationalism spilling over again into conflict (definition -
nationalism is a system of governance created by people who believe they
have a strong nation than other countries. It also promotes the interest of a
certain nation with a view of governing itself and maintain sovereignty over
its homeland)
o Pros - strengthens a nation as they have more bargaining power in the
global market, everyone has the right to protect their nation, it brings a
sense of patriotism (belonging and attachment to one's homeland), single
identity in terms of culture, language and religion, prioritised in
infrastructure
o Cons - extreme measures taken to secure the nation, civil war, hatred
amongst other nations, impacts economic status, led to WW1 & WW2,
politicians can manipulate their people
Treaty of Paris (1951) (1952) - France had control over Germany's
remilitarisation, Germany had control over national resources, Benelux
(Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) had economic dependence on
France and Germany, Italy had consolidation of capitalist identity and
, Britain was reluctant to ceded sovereignty. (ECSC- European Coal & steel
community)
Single market boosted in 1986 with agreement of the Single European Act,
with a 5 year deadline to remove remaining barriers
Euro launched in 1999, replacing 12 national currencies in 2002, 19 countries
in 2020
13 new Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004-2013, total of 28
memberships (27 in 2020 as UK has left)
Treaties of Rome (1957) (1958) - Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands and West Germany - these countries sign this treaty establishing
the (EEC - European Economic Community), ECSC (expired in 2002) and the
(Euratom - European Atomic Energy Community) which came into force in
1958.
Stagnation during 1960s: Blocked membership of the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA)
Denmark, Ireland, Norway and UK applied for membership in 1961 - access
denied for France & UK in 1967
De Gaulle was president in 1969 and wasn't a fan of the UK joining because
they were already strong enough and that France & Germany would no
longer be that important if UK entered so he delayed the meetings which
caused conflict among the members. He resented UK's lack of enthusiasm
towards integration and felt that Britain's EEC membership would give the US
too much influence in Europe
o UK reapplied in 1967 (rejected), then accepted in 1973 after De
Gaulle's resignation
o France also rejects the changes to the QMV (qualified majority voting)
and the proposal to budget "own resources" through CAP (Common
Agricultural Policy - a single market for agricultural products to assure
that EEC farmers were guaranteed prices for their produce)
Due to Bretton Woods - Franc, D-Mark and Pound became weak and were
not suited for FAIRTRADE, so EU members had to do something to remain
competitive in the international market
Britain, Denmark, and Ireland join the EU in 1973
Jacques Delors becomes Commission President in 1985 - a common market
that is similar to our single market (plans to develop the European
community to a proper EU)
The Schengen Agreement (1985) - France, Germany and Benelux signed this
in order to remove all border controls among these countries. All EU
member states have since signed this including Iceland, Norway and
, Switzerland but (Britain has stayed out of this because it didn’t want to open
borders)
The Single European Act (SEA) (1986) (1987)- established the Single
European Market programme
o More power for the Council and the European Parliament as it is the
only institution that is directly and democratically elected in the
European Union
o (SEA) created the wealthiest market place in the world, internal
passports and controls were eased or lifted, banks can do business
throughout the community
o Gave legal status to European Political Cooperation (foreign policy
coordination) to work closely on foreign, defence and security issues
The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union) (1992) (1993) - EURO
was also created
Rested on these 3 pillars:
o European Communities
o Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
o Justice and Home Affairs
Essentially established the European Union in 1992
Also created Economic and Monetary Union
New European policies (horizontal integration)
Greater intergovernmental cooperation on immigration & asylum & stronger
European Parliament
o New rights created for EU citizens to live in any EU countries
Ratification issue in Denmark but it came into force in 1993
Formal set of rules to join the EU (Copenhagen conditions)
o Be democratic (respect to human rights & rule of law)
o Viable free market economy
o Acquis Communautaire - (obey to the laws & policies already in the EU)
Further enlargement - Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995
o Switzerland didn't as there was a negative referendum on the so-called
EEA - application was suspended
Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)(1999)
o Makes Schengen part of EU framework
o Expand the powers of the EU Parliament
o Launch of the single currency
Treaty of Nice (2001)(2003)
o Increase the size of the European Commission and the EP
o Shrink the size of the commission
, Accession in 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia
Accession in 2007 - Romania & Bulgaria
Challenges of the EU enlargement
o Institutional reform needed
o Former structural funds will lose
The Constitutional Treaty (2003) - FAILED (ratification failed in France and
Netherlands) and led to the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
o Designed to adjust the institutional structure of the EU to account for
enlargement
o Abolition of the 3 pillars (introduced by the Maastricht & European
Community (EC)
o Equal powers to the EP & the Council of EU
ONGOING ISSUES 2010s:
o Euro issue
o Asylum
o Brexit
o Pending questions with enlargement (Turkey, Albania, Slovenia, Serbia
etc)
o Conflict in Ukraine
The Theories of Integration notes (Week 3) - Chapter 1 & 2
Common Traits:
Geography
o Similar institutions (parliamentary system)
o Similar political parties
Economics
o Market economies
o Welfare states
Common traits within the countries:
Joint history & culture
o Shared history & religious traditions
o Shared political, economic and social values
o Similar challenges (de - industrialisation)
o Immigration & multiculturalism
