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The Founding of the European Union

The Founding of the European Union. Historical overview of the European integration project. Inter war years. Preservation of peace and security An overall political authority to manage European conflicts Federalism: a liberal intellectual current. War years.

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The Founding of the European Union

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  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

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