EU ENLARGEMENT

The European Union (EU) is a union of now 27 independent states based on the European Communities.

The original members – France, West Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, Italy and the Netherlands – founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 under the Treaty of Paris. The aim of the ECSC was to control the manufacture of arms and, therefore, prevent another world war. Six years later, they signed the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) which were designed to cooperate in nuclear research and to improve Europe’s economic strength. In 1967 all three communities fully merged as the European Community (EC).

The original six were joined by the UK, Ireland and Denmark (Northern enlargement) in 1973, Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal (Mediterranean enlargement) in1986, and in the same year, the countries signed the Single European Act, which laid the foundation for free movement of goods and people within the Community (the single market), and for greater political unity.

In 1992, the governments of the 12 member states signed the Treaty on European Union (also known as the Maastricht Treaty). The treaty defined the aims of a single currency, joint defense and foreign policies, and cooperation on justice and home affairs. The Maastricht Treaty transformed the EC into the European Union. In 1994, Austria, Finland and Sweden (Neutral enlargement) joined the European Union, bringing the total membership to 15 members.

The Treaty of Amsterdam, which came into effect in May, 1999 provided a framework for the EU eastward expansion.

Objective criteria for countries in Central and Eastern Europe to join the EU were agreed at the Copenhagen Summit meeting in 1993. Politically, a country seeking membership must be based on the rule of law and democracy; guarantee human rights and protection of minorities. Economically, it must have a functioning market economy competitive within the EU. To be admitted, a country is bound to accept all the laws, principles and obligations adopted by the EU and to incorporate them in its legislation before joining the EU.

Ten new countries joined the EU in May, 2004: Cyprus (Greek part), the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia; and in 2006 Rumania and Bulgaria. The Eastern enlargement has brought with it many new problems. Some of them result from the unequal economies: none of the 12 new members have economies that can meet the economic criteria of the EU. Besides, in order to accommodate 12 new member states, it is necessary to reform both the institutions of the EU and its core policies.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-24