The Formation of the European Union

2. The Formation of the European Union Annual Project Work in English and Geography Presented by Sebastian Geyer

3. Table of content • The topic The Early Stages of the Formation of the EU • Major steps in the Formation of the EU Enlargements Other Milestones of the Formation Process About the European Union  Objectives  Institutions • Policies of the EU The „Three Pillar“ Model Austria‘s way into the EU s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

4. The topic • After World War II Europe was split up into winner and loser countries • The confidence between the European countries was more or less destroyed • The EU as a federation has not been built up in a single formation act • The formation and integration of the EU has been and still is a long time process • The power in the EU is shared between the Commission (executive organ) and the Council of the European Union as well as the European Parliament (legislative organs) s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

5. Formation Process • In September 1946 Winston Churchill plead for the creation of “The United States of Europe” • The EU is the result of a process of cooperation and integration • After nearly fifty years, with three waves of accessions Northern Enlargement in 1973: Denmark,Ireland and the United Kingdom; Southern Enlargement in 1981: Greece; and 1986: Spain and Portugal; Third wave of enlargements 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden, the EU today has fifteen Member States s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

6. Major steps • The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) • Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, took over Jean Monnet’s idea of bringing recent enemies, France and Germany together (Schuman Plan) • On 9 May 1950 (Europe Day) the ECSC was created • Member States: France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries • The European Economic Community (EEC) • Organization, established (1958) between Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany • Informally known as the Common Market: internal tariffs were eliminated and a common external tariff was fixed • It worked for the development of joint policies on labour, agriculture, foreign trade, ... s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

7. Other institution • The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) • Established in 1960 by Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Swiss • An international free trade union of four member states: The Republic of Iceland, The Principality of Liechtenstein, The Kingdom of Norway and The Swiss Confederation • Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have structured their relations with the EU in the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA)  Participation in the EU Single Market • The Council of Europe • The EU states are all members of this intergovernmental organisation • Aims: to protect human rights; solutions to European society problems ; … s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

8. Foundation • In a treaty at Brussels it was decided to merge the executives of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) on 1 July 1967  EC (later EU) • In order to complete the single market and to achieve free capital movement the EC decided to apply a European Monetary Union (EMU) • European Monetary Institute (EMI)  European Central Bank (ECB) • Twelve Member States of the European Union are participating in the common currency, the Euro • They are: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

9. Milestones • Treaty of Maastricht • Established in December 1991 • Offers the EU an opportunity to become a political and economic world superpower • Provides a single European currency, common citizenship, common foreign and security policy, … • Treaty of Schengen • Signed in 19 June 1990, based on the Schengen Agreement of June 1985 • "Schengenland" is an area of free circulation within the Union • Its purpose is to remove all controls at internal land, sea and airport frontiers • Members: Euro-countries s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

10. Institutions • The European Union is built on an institutional system • The Council of the European Union • Not to be confused with the Council of Europe, which is an international organisation and with the European Council, which brings together the Heads of States or Governments twice a year • Each member state has a representative in the Council who commits his Government • It is the legislative body of the EU (shared with the Parliament) • Main functions: Co-ordination of the general economic policies and of the Member States’ activities; … • The European Commission • The most important executive organ  It embodies and upholds the general interest of the EU • The Members of the Commission are appointed by the Member States s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

11. Institutions • The Parliament • The 626 European Members of Parliament of the 15 EU countries are elected every five years by universal suffrage • Itis involved in the legislative process and needs to adopt all European laws • Beside its legislative function the Parliament has among a lot of informal functions • The Court of Justice • Itis responsible for the uniform interpretation and effective application of EU law • The Court of Auditors • Itchecks the lawful and regular manner of financial management of EU budgets s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

12. The „Three Pillar“ Model • First Pillar – The European Communities • Policy Areas of the First Pillar • The agricultural policy,education and culture, health, social policy, … • Agriculture – Example for Policy of the First Pillar • One of the most important policy areas • In 1962 the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) came into force • Includes a set of rules, which regulate the dealing with agricultural products • The Second Pillar – Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) • European Security and Defensive Policy (ESDP) • Compatible with the policy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) • Possible participation of third countries in EU military crisis management • The Third Pillar – Co-operation in Justice and Home Affairs • Security forces and justice s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

13. Austria‘s way • EFTA membership was the only possibility for a neutral country at that time • Austria left EFTA upon its accession to the EU in January 1995 • On 1 February 1993 negotiations began on Austria's full membership to the EU • The Austrian people endorsed their country's entry into the EU in a referendum on 12 June 1994 • Of the approximately 4,725,000 valid votes, 66,4 % voted for Austria’s accession to the EU • The Copenhagen European Council confirmed the accession of Austria by 1 January 1995 s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

14. Objectives • To promote economic and social progress; • To assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene; • To develop an area of freedom, security and justice; • To maintain and build on established EU law • Citizen’s Rights s e b a s t i a n g e y e r

15. EFTA The Council of Europe Northern Enlargement Third Enlargement ECSC EURATOM EU ? 1946 1950 1957 1967 1973 1981/86 1995 Idea: „The United States of Europe“ EEC EC Southern Enlargement Overview s e b a s t i a n g e y e r