European Integration: Origins to Expansion

Overview

• Timeline tracing European integration from 1945 to early 2000s.
• Focus on key institutions, treaties, and economic integration steps.
• Explains motives (peace, reconstruction) and practical measures (common markets, single currency).

Origins And Motivation

• 1945: Second World War ends; strong desire to prevent future wars.
• Goal: rebuild a common destiny of peace across Europe.
• Integration seen as a tool for lasting political and economic stability.

Early Institutions And Steps

• 1951: European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) created.
  • Founding members: France, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy.
  • Purpose: pool coal and steel resources to prevent resource-driven conflict.
• 1958: European Economic Community (EEC) established by the same six countries.
  • Abolished customs duties between members to facilitate trade and investment.
  • Result: savings and reinvestment promoted growth and development.

Expansion Of Membership

• 1958–1986: EEC expanded from 6 to 12 countries.
  • New members included Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal.
• Symbolism: EU flag kept 12 stars, reflecting the expanded community.

Single Market And Policy Coordination

• 1986: European Commission proposed creating a single internal market across member states.
  • Objective: allow free movement of goods, people, capital, and services.
• Member states coordinated economic and social policies across sectors:
  • Agriculture, industry, energy, environment, transport, and others.
• 1993: Single (large) internal market opened, crucial for EEC development.
  • Despite the single market, member states still had individual currencies at this time.

Transformation Into The European Union

• 1993: EEC transformed into the European Union (name change reflecting deeper integration).
• Maastricht Treaty commitments:
  • Aim to achieve Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) including a single currency.

Euro And Economic Power

• 2002: Introduction of the euro in participating EU countries, replacing national currencies.
• Impact:
  • Euro became a major global currency, comparable to the US dollar and the Japanese yen.
  • Demonstrated the EU’s emergence as a significant world economic power.

Key Terms And Definitions

• ECSC: European Coal and Steel Community — first supranational European institution (1951).
• EEC: European Economic Community — common market established in 1958.
• EU: European Union — name adopted in 1993 to reflect broader integration.
• Customs Duties: Taxes on goods moved between countries; abolished within the EEC.
• Single Market: Area with free movement of goods, people, capital, and services (opened 1993).
• Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): Process to harmonize economies and adopt a single currency (Maastricht Treaty).

Structured Summary

Key Takeaways

• European integration began as a peace project after WWII and progressed through economic cooperation.
• Creation of common markets and removal of trade barriers fueled growth and integration.
• The EU evolved from sectoral cooperation (coal and steel) to a broad political-economic union.
• Adoption of the euro marked a major step in establishing the EU as a global economic power.

Possible Next Study Steps

• Review the Maastricht Treaty provisions and criteria for joining the euro.
• Study the institutional bodies of the EU (Commission, Council, Parliament) and their roles.
• Examine subsequent enlargements and how they affected EU policies and symbols.