Europe

1. Europe Comenius Project 2005/06 Lucia Massi

2. The post war period: to the1960s 2nd World War Europe • Bombardment • Military operations Grave economic damage Millions of dead inflation Serious balance of payment deficits Unemployment

3. Plan of intervention in favour of the rebirth of Europe Harry Truman & George Marshall President of U.S.A. America wanted to counteract Soviet expansionism Project (directed) “not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos”

4. The birth of the EOEC and the ECSC 2 important steps: European Organisation for Economic Cooperation EOEC European Coal and Steel Community ECSC 16 western European states In 1952

5. So… Elimination of Import and export duties Subsidies to industries Other measures of support in individual countries

6. The birth of the EEC and EURATOM Rome:1957 EEC EURATOM European Economic Community European Atomic Energy Community

7. The EEC 3 Targets Elimination of customs barriers Development of a common system of customs duties Creation of a common agricultural policy

8. The birth of the European Community: 1967 EEC ECSC EURATOM Joined together as EC (European Community) • 1.to improve living and working conditions; • 2.to reduce economic disparity between regions ; • 3.to help underdeveloped countries; • 4.to maintain peace and freedom;

9. The ‘60s and the ’70s: development of the European Community Political Crises Economic 1973 Resolved with the widening of EEC United Kingdom Denmark Ireland Economic and population growth

10. Helsinki Conference:1973 Helsinki Conference Helped to bring together Eastern and Western Europe in a common struggle to develop civil liberties and rights.

11. 1979 & 1981 1979 The European Parliament was for the first time elected directly by the citizens The EMS: The European Monetary System Ecu:an ideal currency to control oscillation in continental currencies 1981 Greece joined the EEC.

12. The UEA 1986 Luxemburg:1986 9 member states signed the unique European Act Revision of the treaty of Rome Objectives Social policy Environmental protection Technological research Reduction of gaps between the various regions

13. The Maastricht Treaty Signed on 7th February 1992 by 12 countries Coming into force in November 1993 Economic, political and cultural integration The Maastricht Treaty launched the EU towards a form of collective cooperation which had no historical precedent

14. Main objectives of the Maastricht Treaty • 1. The promotion of balanced economic and social development through the creation of “ a space without internal frontiers”; • 2. The reinforcement of economic and social cohesion; • 3. Economic and monetary union based on the free circulation of capitals, goods, people and above all the institution of a single European currency; • 4. A common foreign and security policy in terms of a common defence policy; • 5. The institution of a Community citizenship with the aim of reinforcing the observance of rights and cooperation in the field of justice.

15. The Treaty of Amsterdam: 1997 Amsterdam: 1997 Signed by the fifteen member states Came into force in 1999 To integrate the decisions of the Schengen agreement with relation to free circulation Objectives To strengthen judicial cooperation in crimes against children, corruption and terrorism

16. The Treaty of Nice: 2000 Nice: 2000 The institutional bodies of the EU’s member countries were reorganised The first “paper of fundamental rights within the Union” was agreed on

17. The Europe of 25 2003 Estonia Union of 25 states Lithuania Latvia Poland Czech Republic Slovakia Ceremony in Dublin 2004 Hungary Slovenia Cyprus Malta

18. The ECB and the Euro 1998: Frankfurt European Central Bank ECB 1999 EMU officially came into being 12 countries Eurolandia: new economic zone

19. Countries in EUROLANDIA Austria Spain Belgium Finland Portugal Netherlands France Luxemburg Germany Italy Ireland

20. The European Constitution Europe Home of freedom European Constitution Civil, political, economic and social rights of EUROPEAN CITIZENS One single text

21. Human values The standards for the European Constitution respect and guarantee inalienable human values that are deeply rooted in European soil: • Dignity • Equality • Solidarity • Citizenship • Justice “EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO LIBERTY AND SECURITY” • Liberty The importance of being free

22. What does it mean to live in a reality where the rights of liberty are respected? • In Europe it is not possible to carry out an arrest without first obtaining the authorisation of a judge; • None of the European member states are in favour of the death penality. European Constitution affirms that: “EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO LIFE” “NO ONE MAY BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH OR EXECUTED” “NO ONE MAY BE FORCED TO UNDERGO TORTURE OR INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT”

23. Other liberties in the UE • Liberty of every citizen of the Union to circulate freely and stay in any European territory • Liberty of information and expression In other countries, such as China, this liberty isn’t guaranteed • Liberty of religion etc.

24. The importance of European Constitution: With the new Constitution the European Union provides proof of its efforts to promote balanced and sustainable development and the hope of a peaceful future for the generations to come.

25. Liceo Classico Francesco Stelluti Comenius Project 2005/2006