25-04-2014, 11:20 AM
The European Union
European Union.pdf (Size: 74.91 KB / Downloads: 14)
Tired of war
● EU born out of the tragedy and horror of
WWII
● Some nations sought to make another world
war impossible
● 1950: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
Luxembourg, and the Netherlands form
European Coal and Steel Community
○ Intention: Foster economic interdependence)
● ECSC countries battling against the Cold
Economics
● 1957: Treaty of Rome creates European
Economic Community (aka the Common
Market)
● Customs union created
● Countries stop charging duties on inter-
Community trade
● EEC agrees to joint control over agriculture
First Enlargement
● 1973: Denmark, Ireland, and the United
Kingdom join
● European Parliament gains strength
● 1979: First direct election of European MPs
● EEC focuses on helping poorer regions
recover
○ Attempts to create new infrastructure and jobs
The Left Wing
● 1974: Salazar's regime (Portugal) falls
● 1975: General Franco (Spain) dies
● 1980: Lech Walesa leads labor strike
(Poland)
● 1989: Berlin Wall falls; border between East
and West Germany is opened
● 1990: Germany reunified
Second Enlargement
● 1981: Greece becomes the 10th member
nation
● 1986: Portugal and Spain join
● 1986: Single European Act signed, creates
Single Market
● 1993: Single Market completed; ensures
freedom of movement for goods, services,
people, money