European Union History and Institutions

European Union History

Treaty of Rome (1957)

• Signed on March 25, 1957, by six European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands
• Created the European Economic Community (EEC), aimed at promoting economic integration among member states
• Established the European Commission, Council of Ministers, and European Parliament
• Laid the foundation for a single market and customs union

Maastricht Treaty (1992)

• Signed on February 7, 1992, in Maastricht, Netherlands
• Created the European Union (EU) and introduced the concept of a single currency (euro)
• Established the three pillars of the EU:
  1. European Community (EC)
  2. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
  3. Cooperation in the Fields of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
• Introduced the concept of European citizenship and cooperation in areas like defense, asylum, and immigration

Enlargement of the EU

• The EU has undergone several waves of enlargement since its inception
• Key enlargements:
  • 1973: Denmark, UK, and Ireland joined
  • 1981: Greece joined
  • 1986: Spain and Portugal joined
  • 1995: Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined
  • 2004: 10 Central and Eastern European countries joined (A10)
  • 2007: Bulgaria and Romania joined
  • 2013: Croatia joined
• Enlargement has led to increased diversity and economic growth, but also challenges in integrating new members

Brexit

• The United Kingdom (UK) held a referendum on June 23, 2016, in which a majority voted to leave the EU (51.9% to 48.1%)
• The UK triggered Article 50 on March 29, 2017, beginning the withdrawal process
• The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020, entering a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020
• The consequences of Brexit are still unfolding, with implications for trade, migration, and EU-UK relations

EU Institutions

• European Parliament: directly elected by EU citizens, it has legislative and budgetary powers
• European Commission: the executive branch, responsible for proposing and implementing EU policies
• Council of the European Union: represents the member states, and adopts EU laws and policies
• European Council: composed of EU heads of state or government, it sets the EU's overall direction and priorities
• European Court of Justice: ensures the correct interpretation and application of EU law