EU Constitutional History Overview

Overview

This lecture reviews the constitutional history of the European Union, tracing its development from early postwar cooperation through foundational treaties to the modern structure under the Treaty of Lisbon.

The Origins of European Integration

• European integration emerged in response to the decline of the sovereign nation State after two world wars and growing globalisation.
• Early postwar cooperation aimed to shift from international coexistence to international cooperation among European states.

Early International Organisations

• Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (1948) managed US aid for European reconstruction.
• Western European Union (1948, 1954) formed a security alliance to prevent future European conflict.
• Council of Europe (1949) was created to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe.
• These organisations did not directly create the European Union.

Founding of the European Communities

• The 1951 Treaty of Paris established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) with six founding members.
• The ECSC integrated one industrial sector and broke from traditional international treaties by introducing supranational governance.
• The 1957 Treaties of Rome created two more communities: the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community (EEC).
• In 1967, the three communities were partly merged, though they remained relatively independent.

Evolution into the European Union

• In 1993, the three Communities were integrated into the European Union, marking a significant organisational shift.
• The 2001 European Convention drafted a Constitutional Treaty, which ultimately failed.
• The 2007 Lisbon Treaty reformed and replaced the old EU, establishing the current structure.

Chapter Structure Overview

• Section 1 covers the ECSC and its supranational approach.
• Section 2 examines the EEC.
• Section 3 details the development under the Maastricht Treaty.
• Section 4 analyses recent reforms and the Lisbon Treaty's impact.

Key Terms & Definitions

• European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) — An organisation (1951) integrating coal and steel industries among six European countries.
• Treaty of Paris (1951) — Established the ECSC.
• Treaty of Rome (1957) — Created the EEC and Euratom.
• European Economic Community (EEC) — A Community aiming for broad economic integration.
• Treaty of Maastricht (1993) — Created the European Union by integrating the Communities.
• Treaty of Lisbon (2007) — Major reform treaty establishing the current EU structure.
• Supranational — Authority or governance above national governments.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review Sections 1-4 for detailed analysis of each phase of EU constitutional history.