DIDACTIC UNIT 9. 5TH COURSE. THE EUROPEAN UNION. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE EUROPEAN UNION. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

What´s the European Union (EU)?                       

How many are the member countries?

Are all the countires in Europe members of the European Union? 


               
THE HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION      


After World War I, many people began to talk about a 

politically unified Europe. The first Pan-

European Congress was held in 1926. In 1929, the French prime minister, Mr. Schumann, proposed a 

federation of European nations for economic and social co-operation. Many people supported this

idea, but the start of World War II interrupted the process.

In 1957, the European Economic Community (EEC) was founded. It began with six members:

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany and Italy. Their objective was to

increase economic development and prevent another war.

In 1973, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark joined the EEC making nine member states in

all. Greece joined in 1981, and Spain and Portugal joined in 1986. The EEC now had twelve member

countries and changed its name to the European Community (EC).

In 1992, the EC changed its name a third time and became the European Union (EU) as registered in

the Treaty of Maastricht (The Netherlands).

Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995.  In 2002 most of the countries in the EU began using Europe´s single currency, the euro.

By the year 2004, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, 

Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus were also members of the EU, making a total of 25 member states. In 

the same year, Bulgaria and Romania completed their negotiations to join the Union in 2007.

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in Lisbon, still considers Turkey as an applicant.

Contrary to Turkey Croatia became the 28th member on July 1st, 2013..               
                        

    The responsibilities of the EU include agriculture, fishing, industrial and social 

development, culture, environmental issues, external trade, human rights, public health, justice 

and security.

In 2016 British citizens voted against the UK being a member of the EU (52% vs. 48%). Negotiations were started

ended on the 31st of January 2020. From that day on The United Kingdom is no longer a member of

the EU.