This is a grouping of several
European countries in order to achieve unity between
the peoples, develop the economy and improve the working conditions and life of citizens.
One of the main objectives of
the European Union is to compete globally against major world powers,
like the United States and Japan, and its market trading and
services.
History
The first attempt to create a
union between European countries took place after the First World War, but the
idea was thwarted due to political causes.
After World War II attempted
to return to this matter. Thus, in 1947 joined the countries of Western Europe
in order to manage and distribute aid under the Marshall Plan. This led
to the creation of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation
(OEEC).
Later, after various
problems, this group would be reduced leading to the group of six comprising
Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 1951
fundarían in Paris the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
This group signed agreements
in 1957 that would be the first step towards the creation of the European
Union (EU): the Treaty of Rome which gave rise to the European Economic
Community (EEC) and the Commonwealth European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM).
In 1992, all EU member states
signed the Maastricht Treaty, also known as the Treaty on European
Union. With this document supplementing and amending the earlier treaties and
are beginning to see the Commonwealth as a political unit.
Member Countries
In the beginning the EU was
formed by six countries, which were: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands.
Subsequently have joined the
group of six different countries at different stages until it reaches the
27 existing at present:
· 1st incorporation
1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
· 2nd incorporation
1981: Greece.
· 3rd incorporation
1986: Spain and Portugal.
· 4th incorporation
1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden.
· 5th incorporation
in 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
· 6th incorporation
2007: Bulgaria and Romania.
At present, three countries
are candidates for joining the European Union, this is the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey.
Organization
for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)
It was founded in 1948 at the
hands of Frenchman Robert Marjolin to help distrobuir aid that americans
sent to rebuild Europe known as the Marshall Plan.
This organization became
several years later in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD). In this new project were incorporated non-European
countries.
European
Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Born with the Treaty of
Paris in 1951 and disappeared in 2002 after 50 years of existence. This
community is the origin of the current European Union (EU).
This is an international
organization born in Europe whose main purpose was to regulate the coal and
steel industries of the countries that made up.
Community
European Atomic
Energy Community (EURATOM)
It was created in March 1957
in Rome with the European Community Treaty of Atomic Energy. Along with
this treaty was also signed on the creation of the European Union.
The treaty was signed by the
group of six who were the founders of the ECSC and the European
Economic Community (EEC) and came into force in January 1958.
Remarks
On May 1, 2004 joined the EU
a number of countries in Eastern Europe that belonged to the Soviet communist
regime until the fall of the Berlin Wall. This led ultimately to
the breakdown since 1945 had divided Europe into two: the free world and the
Communist bloc.
Turkey's accession to the EU
is a slow process because of the refusal of many countries to join. This
is due, above all, they have a different religion to Europe and the fear of
increasing Islamic influence in Europe.
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