The EU, Thatcher, and Yugoslavia

1. The EU, Thatcher, and Yugoslavia

2. Post-War Need for Unity • After World War 2, Europe needed better friendship between countries to preserve peace • Political union was rife with potential conflict and disagreement • Military union suggested frightening implications: enemies, corruptible power, potential conflict • Economic unity was easy to suggest, beneficial to many, did not require much sacrifice • EU emphasizes that European nations’ commonalities are greater than their differences First steel ingot created under European Steel and Coal community

3. Towards an EU • 1951: European Coal and Steel Community: France, West Germany, Italy, Benelux • 1957: Treaty of Rome created “European Economic Community” • EEC abolished all tariffs between member nations, and allowed labor migration • Join European nations together to increase clout to near status of 2 superpowers • 1961 UK desired admission, but vetoed by France until 1973 • 1973: UK, Ireland, Denmark joined • 1982: Spain, Portugal, Greece joined

4. Toward the Euro Currency • 1991: Treaty of Maastricht • Common currency planned for EEC • Common central bank for EEC area • Renamed as European Union • 1999: Most EU members joined the Euro zone, adopting single currency • Britain and Denmark did not, and retained own central banks and currencies • 2004: EU accepted 10 new member nations, mostly from eastern Europe • But not yet into Euro zone; currency and fiscal stability must be proved first

5. The EU Today • Organization to which member states have delegated some sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. • Common market, without tariffs between countries and without immigration restrictions • Works to make decisions about • Trade and the economy • Citizens’ rights • Ensuring freedom, security and justice • Job creation • Regional development • Environmental protection • Making globalization work for everybody

6. Margaret Thatcher’s UK • Conservative prime minister 1979-1990; staunch Reagan ally • Became PM determined to reverse decline of UK: inflation, unemployment; elected 3 times • Deregulation • Sold off public facilities to private industry • Weakened unions: 1984-5 coal miners strike • Gov’t to close 20 state-owned mines • Miners struck for over a year • Violence at picket lines wounded 20,000 • Miners’ union finally gave in without concessions • By 1992, 97 pits closed and rest sold to private industry • 1982 Falklands War: UK defended Falkland Islands against Argentine junta’s attack

8. Yugoslavian Civil War • Marshal Tito ruled unified Yugoslavia since 1940: strong central authority kept ethnicities together • 1980: Tito died, and ethnicities began to fragment • 1990: Slovenia and Croatia declared independence • 1991: Croatian Serbs demanded safeguards: Serbian army attacked Croatia • Serbia and Croatia attempted to divide Bosnia-Herzegovina: Serbian army led ethnic cleansing • 1994: NATO bombed Serbia; Serbia withdrew from Bosnia • 1999: Serbia attempted to force Albanians from Kosovo: NATO air strikes forced Serbian forces from Kosovo • Serbian leader Milosovic tried before UN criminal court: died in custody

9. Current EU Membership