European Union

Description:

The European Union (EU) was established in 1992 by the Treaty on European Union (The Maastricht Treaty). Currently the EU has 27 Members and three countries are still candidate for obtaining the membership. Listed in chronological order, the members are:

• Belgium
• France
• West Germany
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• Greece
• Portugal
• Spain
• Austria
• Finland
• Sweden
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Bulgaria
• Romania

Candidates:

• Turkey
• Croatia
• Republic of Macedonia

The EU became tripled within 50 years. Rapidly increasing economies and a stable Euro (adopted by 13 member states) is the base for applying to the EU. Within the EU there are now several cultures which not all are related to the members because of immigration.

Enablers:

• Politics - Politics within different countries try to become a member
• Economics - A bounded Europe can gain a stable market position with an economic stability and a stable currency
• Changing world - The world is changing into sections. Leaders in these sections are currently: USA, China and Russia
• Terrorism - If nations are gathering within a comunity they are stronger and will get the necessary help from the other members.

Inhibitors:

• Tradition
• Religion
• Politics

Timing:

Year	History of European Union membership	No.
1957	Belgium,France,West Germany, Italy,Luxembourg,Netherlands	6
1973	Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom	9
1981	Greece	10
1986	Portugal, Spain	12
1995	Austria, Finland, Sweden	15
2004	Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia	25
2007	Bulgaria, Romania	27

Web Resources:

Wikipedia - EU