History and Evolution of the European Union

Establishment of the European Union

This cheat sheet outlines the historical progression and key milestones that led to the formation of the modern European Union.

The Idea of Europe

Key questions regarding European identity and unity have shaped political and cultural debates throughout history.

The Peace of Westphalia (1648)

The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War and introduced several core principles of international relations:

• Sovereignty over territory and domestic affairs.
• Equality among states.
• Non-intervention in internal matters.
• However, it lacked mechanisms to prevent imperialism.

World Wars and Europeanism

World War I: This conflict deepened national divides but simultaneously encouraged pro-European thinking as a means to ensure lasting peace.

Post-WWII and Early Integration

• Yalta Conference (1945): Divided Europe into Western and Soviet blocs.
• Marshall Plan (1947): U.S. aid promoted economic recovery and regional cooperation.
• OEEC (1948): Established to manage the distribution of Marshall Plan funds.
• The Hague Congress (1948): Two distinct integration paths emerged:
  • Intergovernmental: Led to the Council of Europe (1949).
  • Supranational: Led to the ECSC (1951).

Institutional Beginnings

• Schuman Declaration (1950): Suggested pooling coal and steel production under a single supranational authority.
• Treaty of Paris (1951): Created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) with six founding members.
• Treaties of Rome (1957):
  • EEC: Established a common market with four freedoms (goods, people, services, and capital).
  • Euratom: Created for joint nuclear energy regulation.

Key Reforms and EU Consolidation

• Empty Chair Crisis (1965): Highlighted the tensions between supranationalism and national sovereignty.
• Hague Summit (1969): Focused on political cooperation and laid the foundations for the Economic and Monetary Union.
• Single European Act (1986): Set the goal to complete the Single Market by 1992 and introduced Qualified Majority Voting.

Maastricht Treaty (1992): Birth of the EU

The Maastricht Treaty officially established the European Union and introduced a three-pillar structure:

1. European Communities: Focused on the market, EMU, and common policies.
2. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
3. Justice and Home Affairs (JHA).

The treaty also introduced EU citizenship and the subsidiarity principle, which dictates that the EU acts only when necessary.

Towards Modern Europe

• Amsterdam Treaty: Emphasized individual rights and Justice/Interior policies.
• EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000): Codified essential rights for all citizens.
• Lisbon Treaty (2007): Merged the TEU and TFEU, abolished the pillar structure, and strengthened institutions. It promoted democracy, external action, and legal clarity.