History and Politics of European Integration

History and Politics of European Integration

• The European integration process began with Jean Monnet and the Rome Treaties (1949-1957).
• The development of the European Communities continued from the Rome Treaties to the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1957-1989).
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall opened new opportunities between Eastern and Western Europe, leading to the Maastricht Treaty and enlargement process (1989-2005).
• The failure of the European Constitution marked a crisis in European integration (2005-2008).
• The world economic and financial crisis impacted the European Integration Process (2008-2011).
• The Fiscal Compact agreement of 2012 faced difficulties in overcoming euro-pessimism (2011-2018).
• Crises surrounding the European Union included Libya, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, and immigration (2011-2016).
• The EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen focused on the green deal and digital revolution (2019).
• Europe faced the Coronavirus pandemic and the Next Generation EU (2020-2022).
• The conflict in Ukraine and relations with the BRICS movement marked a new cold war (2022-2024).

Europe: cultural entity or simple geographic expression?

• The question of Europe as a cultural entity or just a geographic expression is debated by Federico Chabod.

Growth Projections (IMF Data)

• Global Economy growth projections for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• Advanced economies growth projections for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• Emerging market & developing economies growth projections for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• Regional growth projections for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• A breakdown of world output growth projections for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• A breakdown of growth projections by region, including the US, Euro Area, Middle East, Central Asia, Emerging and Developing Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Detailed projections for various countries.

Key Indicators for Energy Transition Metals

• Data on production value (2020) in US $, for metals like copper, aluminum, nickel, zinc, lead, silver, manganese, chromium, silicon, cobalt, molybdenum, lithium, vanadium, and graphite.
• Information about whether or not these metals have an Exchange Traded status
• Information about whether or not these metals were used in renewable, network, battery, or hydrogen energy fields

The maximum extension of the Roman Empire

• Information about the Roman Empire's territorial extent (98 AD-116 AD). Maps are included.

The Ottoman Empire Under Suleiman I

• Information about the extent of the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman the Magnificent in 1580. Maps are included.

Europe in 1815

• A map of Europe in 1815 with highlighted borders.

Europe in 1914

• A map of Europe in 1914 with highlighted borders.

Europe after the First World War (1923)

• A map of Europe after WWI (1923) with details about borders.

Europe after 1945: The Cold War and The Iron Curtain

• A map of Europe after 1945 with highlighted borders and political divisions

The Schuman Plan (9th of May 1950)

• The French government proposed to place Franco-German coal and steel production under a common High Authority, open to other European countries.
• This initiative constituted a first step toward European Federation.

The Pleven Plan (24th of October 1950)

• The creation of an integrated European army under common supranational bodies.
• This treaty was rejected because of opposition.

Stop of the European Integration Process

• The French Chamber of Deputies refused to ratify the EDC treaty (30th of August 1954).

The recovery of the European Integration Process

• The Messina Conference (1st-2nd of June 1955) led to the creation of the Spaak Committee and the renewal of the European Integration Process

The Rome Treaties (25th of March 1957)

• Establishment of the EEC and EURATOM.

The evolution in the 60s, 70s and 80s

• Introduction of the CAP (30th of July 1962)
• Treaty merging the executives of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) (8th of April 1965)
• Compromise of Luxemburg (29th of January 1966)
• First enlargement of the EU (1st of January 1973)
• Creation of the European Council (10th of December 1974)
• Creation of the European Monetary System (13th of March 1979)
• Second enlargement (1st of January 1981)
• Third enlargement (1st of January 1986)
• The Single European Act (17th of December 1985)

EU Enlargement

• The first enlargement: UK, Denmark, and Ireland
• The second enlargement: Greece
• The third enlargement: Spain and Portugal
• The fourth enlargement: Austria, Sweden, and Finland
• The fifth enlargement: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus
• The sixth enlargement: Romania and Bulgaria
• The seventh enlargement: Croatia
• 2021 Brexit: UK Exit

The European Monetary System (13th of March 1979)

• Establishment of a European currency unit (ECU).
• Fluctuation margin of bilateral parities: ±2.25%.

The Single European Act (17th of December 1985)

• Free circulation for workers, capitals, goods, and services within the European common market (1st of January 1993).
• The European Economic Community becomes the European Community.
• Harmonization of foreign and security policy of the European Community.

The way towards Maastricht Treaty

• First period of the EMS (1979-1982)
• Second period of the EMS (1983-1986)
• Third period of the EMS (1987-1991)

The Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1)

• Creation of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

The Maastricht Treaty on European Union (2)

• Creation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
• Cooperation within the field of justice and internal affairs.

From Maastricht Treaty to today

• The Treaty of Maastricht
• The Treaty of Amsterdam
• The New Enlargements
• The Treaty of Nice
• The new European Constitution
• The Lisbon Treaty

The bonds for the Euro

• Convergence criteria and results in 1997, including inflation, long-term interest rates, government deficits, and public debt.

European Council of Copenhagen (22nd of June 1993)

• Prerequisites for applying to the EU, including stable institutions, law supremacy, human rights, and a competitive market economy.

The Nice European Council (8th − 10th of December 2000)

• Adoption of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.
• Agreement on institutional reforms
• Adoption of the European Social Agenda.
• Support of a mobility plan in Europe.
• Protection of the health and security of consumers.

The Treaty of Nice (26th of February 2001)

• Agreement on institutional reforms.
• Change in the number of members of the European Parliament.
• Change in the number of members of the European Commission.

The Laeken European Council (14th − 15th of December 2001)

• Creation of an European Convention.
• Adoption of the operational capability of the European Security and Defence Policy.
• Enlargement is irreversible: accession negotiations for candidate countries.
• Support for the International fight against International Terrorism.

The Thessaloniki European Council (19th − 20th June 2003)

• Presentation of the Draft Document from EU Convention.
• New cooperation among member states in immigration and border control.
• Enlargement continued regularly for countries with accession treaty

Brussels European Council (17th − 18th of June 2004)

• Final text of the European Constitution established.
• Enlargement for Romania and Bulgaria.
• Development of strategic partnership with the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and India.

The signature of the new European Constitution (29th of October 2004).

• Signature of the new European Constitution in Rome.
• Ratification by all 25 member states necessary for taking effect.

The main innovations in the draft document presented by the European Convention

• Confirmation of values of the EU
• Distinctions of exclusive vs common European Union and member state competences
• Creation of a Minister for Foreign Relations for the EU
• Increased codecision powers for the European Parliament
• Changes to the role and power of the President of the European Commission.

EU crisis in 2005 − 2024

• French & Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution.
• EU Council Agreement on the 2007-2013 budget with CAP remaining, although reduced over time.
• Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds directed towards long-term EU countries as well as new EU members.
• The Treaty of Lisbon.

The future of Europe?

• Popular opposition to the structure of the EU.

History and Politics of European Integration (Repitition)

• The beginning of the European integration process: from Jean Monnet to the Rome Treaties (1949 – 1957);
• The development of the European Communities from Rome Treaties to the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1957 – 1989);
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the new opportunities between east and west in Europe: the Maastricht Treaty and the enlargement process (1989–2005);
• The failure of the European Constitution and the crisis of the European integration process (2005 – 2008);
• The world economic and financial crisis and the consequences for the European Integration Process (2008 – 2011);
• The Fiscal Compact agreement of 2012 and the difficulties to erase the europessimism (2011 – 2018);
• The crisis around the European Union: Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Isis, immigration (2011-2016);
• The new program of the EU Commission of Ursula von der Leyen: green deal and digital revolution (2019)
• Europe in front of the Coronavirus pandemic and the Next Generation EU (2020–2022);
• The conflict in Ukraine and the new cold war between the Western countries and the Russian Federation with the BRICS movement (2022 - 2023).

Social and Labour impact of EU enlargement

• The Structural Funds
• The circulation of workers

The Structural Funds

• Objective 1 (~70% of the Structural Funds) directed towards regions below 75% of the EU GDP per capita rate.
• Post-2004 enlargement, only 26 of the previous 57 EU regions were eligible for Objective 1 funding.

GDP per Capita by region (PPS), 2000

• A map showing GDP per capita levels in different EU regions.

The Workers Circulation

• Transition period (2+3+2)
• Specific cases of Germany and Austria
• Italy: fixed number of entries per year

The economic patriotism

• Economic patriotism, including examples in Italy, France, Poland, and Spain.
• Reduced liberalization of services.

The 2008-2009 financial crisis

• Italian government measures to reduce deficit and public debt.

The Euro risk and the "golden rule"

• Creation of an European fund to protect members from financial crises.
• European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

Central and Eastern European countries until 1945

• Europe after the Vienna Congress
• Independence process in the Balkans
• The two world wars

The fall of the Berlin Wall

• The collapse of the Berlin Wall.

The changing of German borders during the 20th century

• German borders in 1900, 1919, 1945, and 1999.

Europe after 1992

• Map of Europe after 1992 with political divisions.

The Arab Spring

• Tunisia departure of Ben Ali.
• Egypt departure of Mubarak.
• Lybia: military crisis.
• Syria military crisis.

The Security in the Mediterranean Region

• NATO in the Mediterranean.
• EU in the Mediterranean.

The Libyan crisis in 2011

• Start of the upraising in Lybia.
• UN Resolution 1970 and 1973.
• NATO military intervention.

The Balkan Issue

• General evolution.
• Yugoslavian crisis (1991-1995)
• Chechoslovakia crisis (1992-1993)
• the Albanian crisis (1997)
• the Kosovo crisis (1999-today)

The general evolution of the Balkan peninsula from 1815 to 1991

• Balkan Powder and the decline of great empires (Ottoman & Austria-Hungary)
• The treaties of Saint Stefano and Berlin (1878), dividing Bulgaria.
• Creation of Albania & new borders, and independence in the Balkan regions
• The breakup of Austria-Hungary & Ottoman Empires enabled the liberation & independence of several Balkan countries.

The idea of Mitteleuropa

• The German plan included a customs association.

The storm of the First World War

• Alterations in the European political map after WWI
• Territorial changes arising from national legitimacy principle.
• The resentments & conflict after the war
• The Treaty of Versailles & the lost territories (Eastern Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, Sudet zone, Galizia, Bohemia, Moravia, Bucovina, Slovenia, part of Croatia; Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace, Bessarabia)

The changes after the Second World War

• Territorial changes in Europe after WWII
• Territories transferred to the Soviet Union (Eastern Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia from Germany).
• Territories handed over from Italy to Yugoslavia.
• Romania obtaining Dobrudja from Bulgaria.

Europe during the Cold War

• Map of Europe during the Cold War with division into blocks: NATO and Warsaw Pact countries.

The Yugoslavian crisis (1991–1995)

• Warning indicators, including Tito's death, Kosovo troubles, economic crisis, abolition of Vojvodina & Kosovo autonomy, and democratization process.
• Declaration of independence by Slovenia & Croatia.
• Federal reaction of Yugoslavia.
• Recognition by Germany, Vatican, and European Community.
• Proclamation of independence by Bosnia & Yugoslavian Macedonia.
• The war in Bosnia and Croatia, and the Paris Peace Agreement (1995).
• Kosovo crisis (1999).

The Croatian referendum (1991)

• Referendum in Croatia on independence.

The Slovenian referendum (1990)

• Referendum in Slovenia on participation in a Yugoslav confederation.

The elections in Serbia (1990)

• Milosevic's victory in Serbian elections.

The blocking of the Presidential Federal elections in Yugoslavia (15th of May 1991).

• The pro-Serb group's refusal to elect the Croatian Stipe Mesić as Yugoslavia's president.

The stages of the crisis (3):

• Military intervention by NATO in Yugoslavia.
• Peace plan for Kosovo.
• Technical military agreement.
• Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council.

Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council.

• Legal perspective of the resolution and its purpose.
• Guaranteeing territorial integrity of Yugoslavia
• Support for the global approach of economic development

The 2008 − 2009 financial crisis

• Italian government’s measures to reduce deficit & public debt.

The Arab Spring

• Tunisia
• Egypt
• Libya
• Syria

The Security in the Mediterranean Region

• NATO in the Mediterranean
• EU in the Mediterranean

The crises in Albania and Kosovo

• The new process of disarmament between the United States and Russia, issues related to Kosovo, and events after September 11th, 2001.
• The world economic crisis in 2009
• The Arab Spring (2010-2013)
• The rise of the Islamic State & other problems
• Consequences of the Ukrainian Crisis, including the emergence of the Islamic State and the new Greek crisis; North Korea, Iran, Syria & Hong Kong, the pandemic in 2021

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Explore the key events and milestones in the European integration process from the Rome Treaties to contemporary challenges faced by the EU. This quiz covers significant treaties, crises, and the evolution of policies within Europe. Test your knowledge on the historical context and political dynamics that shaped the European Union.