European Union Development: Key Treaties and Policies

The Development of the European Union

Item 14: The Development of the European Union

Foundational Treaties

• The Treaty of Paris (1951) gave rise to the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community), establishing a common market for these two products.
• The Treaty of Rome (1957) created the EEC (European Economic Community) and Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community), promoting a free market for nuclear fuel.

EU Enlargement Timeline

The initial community comprised six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

• 1973: Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined.
• 1981: Greece joined.
• 1986: Portugal and Spain joined.
• 1995: Sweden, Finland, and Austria entered.
• 2004: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta joined.
• 2007: Romania and Bulgaria joined.

The EU in Different Spheres

Political Sphere

The EU pursues a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) with several objectives:

• Security: The EU aspires to create a more united world, increasing international cooperation.
• Defense: Contemplating the progressive development of a common defense policy, potentially leading to a common defense structure.

Justice and Interior Cooperation

In the area of freedom, the goal is to fully achieve the free movement of persons, supported by security measures to prevent delinquency and terrorism.

• Justice: Intends to promote judicial cooperation through measures such as the creation of Eurojust.

Economic Policies

The Single Market

The EU Single Market ensures the free movement of persons, goods, capital, and services among Member States.

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

This involves the implementation of the Euro as the single currency.

Other Common Economic Policies

• Primary Sector: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and fishery policy aim for fair prices for both producers and consumers.
• Secondary Sector: Industrial policy focuses on improving sector competitiveness, restructuring industries in crisis, and fostering investment in new technologies.
• Tertiary Sector: Highlights the policy of Trans-European Networks (TENs) to promote European integration.
• Trade Policy: Eliminates internal tariffs among Member States and establishes a common external customs tariff for trade with third countries.