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
There are 23 official languages within the EU. German is most widely spoken followed by English.
The EU more than 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. Together the members are trying to create a stable European Union with a constitution (which recently was rejected by France and the Netherlands). The European parliament is based in Strassbourg and Brussels.
Some fear the creation of the United States of Europe as a superstate. This assumptions is not the policy of the EU but can always be formed in order to power up to the world nations.
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.
- Turkey_Joining_the_EU - Extending European Union
- Power of the United Nations
Inhibitors:
- Tradition
- Religion
- Politics
Paradigms:
Old: Separate countries and governments. 27 currencies.
New: 1 Union 1 Constitution with 1 government and 1 currency providing the most stable economy of the world
Experts:
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
Angela Merkel, current president of the European Council
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 |
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eu