The Founding of the European Union

1. The Founding of the European Union Historical overview of the European integration project

2. Inter war years • Preservation of peace and security • An overall political authority to manage European conflicts • Federalism: a liberal intellectual current

3. War years • Crisis of nation state system (balance of power) • Crisis of the state (invasion / collaboration / ideological division) • Anti-Nazi resistance: break with nationalism • Reconstruction of politics through a European federal state

4. Post-war • Practical co-ordination of reconstruction • Integration of defeated states • Need security system for western Europe • New emphasis on economic modernisation and living standards

5. Solutions • French-German co-operation / integration • Contain Germany in an integrated Europe • Federalists: promote federal ideal, a popular movement

6. The UK • Churchill had proposed Anglo-French Union in 1940 ad suggested a United States of Europe with common institutions and military • 1946 in Zurich, Churchill: European project should be based around France and Germany, not Britain • Britain was ‘with Europe but not of it’

7. The Founding Fathers • Jean MONNET – French businessman and Planning Minister • Robert SCHUMANN – French Foreign Minister • Committed to federal vision, but also practical politics and specific forms of integration

8. European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) • 1951 Treaty of Paris: unifies coal and steel industries of France and Germany. Economic integration for the prevention of conflict. • Joined by Italy and the Benelux countries • 4 common institutions: High Authority; Council of Ministers; Assembly; Court

9. Extension of integration: 1950s • 1952 European Defence Community proposed but rejected by UK and France • 1954: Western European Union for military cooperation • 1955: Spaak Report proposes a Customs Union to further integration • 1957: Goal of Common Market

10. Treaty of Rome (1957) • The ‘six’ create the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) through signing the Treaties of Rome. They came into effect on 1 January 1958.

11. Key developments • 1965: French boycott establishes national veto • 1973: First enlargement – Denmark, Ireland and the UK join • 1979: European Parliament becomes directly elected by universal suffrage • 1981: Accession of Greece • 1986: Accession of Spain and Portugal

12. Single European Act (1986) • Timetable and implementation provisions for Single European Market • EEC becomes EC • Some additional powers for Parliament • Formalised Qualified Majority Voting • Considered the ‘relaunch’ of Europe after ‘Eurosclerosis’ of 1970s

13. Treaty on European Union (1992) • Maastricht Treaty, into effect 1 November 1993 • Created 3 pillar system: Supranational Pillar I: EMU, the Treaties Intergovernmental Pillar II: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Intergovernmental Pillar III: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Established European citizenship

14. From 6 to 27 • 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden accede to EU (Norway no in referendum) • 1997: Treaty of Amsterdam • 2000: Treaty of Nice – institutional reform for enlargement • 2002: Launch of single currency • 2004: Enlargement to the East • 2005: Constitution for Europe • 2007 Bulgaria and Romania join