Lecture 1: Origins of EU Law
World War I
16,000,000 deaths.
World War II
50,000,000 deaths.
Response
1945, United Nations:
o ‘To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has
brought untold sorrow to mankind.’
1945, International Monetary Fund.
1948, ‘OECD’
1949, NATO:
o In response to the Cold War.
1950, ECHR:
o Idea was to empower individual citizens against the state.
1951, European Coal and Steel Community:
o Coal and steel were very important to get countries back on their feet.
o If resources are pooled, countries can’t go to war again.
1957, European Atomic Energy Community.
1957, Treaty of Rome:
o Founded the EEC.
o To establish the foundations of an ever-closer union among the European peoples.
o To ensure the economic and social progress of their countries by common action.
o To strengthen the safeguards of peace and liberty by establishing this combination of
resources.
1973, UK and Ireland joined the EEC.
1975, UK Referend198um – 67% remain.
EU
28 members.
Membership requirements.
o A state must be European.
o Respect for democracy.
o Respect for the rule of law.
o Respect for human rights.
o Viable market economy.
o Ability to adopt EU law.
World War I
16,000,000 deaths.
World War II
50,000,000 deaths.
Response
1945, United Nations:
o ‘To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has
brought untold sorrow to mankind.’
1945, International Monetary Fund.
1948, ‘OECD’
1949, NATO:
o In response to the Cold War.
1950, ECHR:
o Idea was to empower individual citizens against the state.
1951, European Coal and Steel Community:
o Coal and steel were very important to get countries back on their feet.
o If resources are pooled, countries can’t go to war again.
1957, European Atomic Energy Community.
1957, Treaty of Rome:
o Founded the EEC.
o To establish the foundations of an ever-closer union among the European peoples.
o To ensure the economic and social progress of their countries by common action.
o To strengthen the safeguards of peace and liberty by establishing this combination of
resources.
1973, UK and Ireland joined the EEC.
1975, UK Referend198um – 67% remain.
EU
28 members.
Membership requirements.
o A state must be European.
o Respect for democracy.
o Respect for the rule of law.
o Respect for human rights.
o Viable market economy.
o Ability to adopt EU law.
