The European Union : An Erroneous Assumption

Europe now, for the first time in modern history, is a partnership sharing common values and a commitment to harmony and cooperation. The dream of European integration, shared by the United States, is now being realized, leaving behind us the wasteful era of wars, hostility, and inequalities. We are on the road to a Europe enjoying a unity and

In 1946, Churchill delivered speech at the University of Zurich at which he advocated for a “United States of Europe”. He was convinced that, following the Second World War, only a united Europe could guarantee peace. The ills of “nationalism and war-mongering” had damaged the continent long enough, and his goal was to eliminate them ("Winston Churchill: calling for a United States of Europe"). “We must build a kind of United Sates of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living,” Churchill concluded. With this plea, Churchill became one of the first champions for European integration and became a driving force for the concept and a fighter for its cause.

Since 1973 when the British first joined the European Union their membership has been a controversial issue. When conservatives in the United Kingdom won the general election in 2015, their election manifesto promised to hold a referendum on whether or not the United Kingdom should stay or leave the European Union. The referendum also referred to as “Brexit” is scheduled to take place by the end of 2017. The United Kingdom initially joined the union to be part of the common market for the purpose of trade and to develop international relationships. The main argument for those who are pro Brexit is that being part of the European Union is too costly for the United Kingdom, that the EU has grown to large, has interfered to far into

The European Economic Community was an organization started in 1957 by France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Luxembourg, in post War World II torn European. This organization was a union between the Steal and Coal Community and The European Atomic Energy Community. The goal of the organization, heavily influenced by John Monnet one of its founders and National Liberation Committee member at the time, was to build a stronger cohesive Europe through collaboration and economic ties to bring mutual prosperity. This organization and its ideals developed into the well know European Union of today, that currently sits with 28 members. However, one controversial possible membership has increased in importance over the years.

The beginnings of what we know today as the European Union can be traced back to 1952, and the formation of the 'European Coal and Steel Community ' by the 'Inner Six ' founding member states. The ECSC was one of the first examples of a supranational union , designed to prevent the calamity of the two Great Wars from ever happening again. The ECSC later developed into the 'European Economic Community ' in 1967, before formally becoming the European Union (EU) in November 1993.

In the wake of two devastating European wars, there was a vague desire across Europe for more unity to hopefully prevent yet another terrible conflict from breaking out. However, views over the proper scope and implementation of any such unity were often divided between the philosophies of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. At different times, both ideas played a part in shaping the future European Union, depending on the moods of European leaders and their constituents.

It was a first step towards an European Union. Not only Schuman was concerned with an integrating Europe, also Winston Churchill famously called for cooperation. Churchill said European cooperation would bring “nothing but good and hope in a richer, freer, more contented European communality.” Both Schuman and Churchill passionately talk about Europe not as a means to cooperate economically, but as a political entity that can ensure that a war such as the First and Second World War will never break out again.

1946 in a speech in Zurich after WWII, did Winston Churchill call for “kind of United States of Europe” (Coe.int, 2014). 1951 the ECSC is established by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Six years later in 1957 does the Rome treaty sets the start of the EEC the beginning of the european common market and the EURATOM (atomic energy community). In 1961 does Britain in fellowship with Denmark and Ireland apply for membership to the EEC but it is not until 1973 when the approval has been granted hence to Charles de Gaulles veto (News.bbc.co.uk, 2014).

During the Second World War, Europe suffered huge loss due to the destruction of properties and infrastructure that as a result led to the collapse of their economy. Besides that, a lot of the European countries were very much against Germany, which was the country that started the war under Hitler’s rule. Thus, after the war ending, the mutual relationship that had existed between Germany and its neighbors, especially France was imperative (Wilkinson, 2016). Ultimately, this led to the creation of the new movement aimed at creating unity, later the movement resulted in the formation of the European Union. Thus, since its formation, the union has helped a lot in

After The Second World War, Europe was on the brink as it was in a state of total ruin, both economically and politically. Europe was involved in two World Wars in only fifty years, there was a massive need to achieve lasting peace as well as economic stability, this however would be difficult to achieve. The first major step was taken in 1951, when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was established. It was the chain of events leading from the ECSC that would be the first steps in molding today’s European Union. Throughout this period the “European” project was erratic and underwent quick development at certain times, and at others came to a grinding halt. The culminations of the larger moves seen in the sculpting of Europe were the main factors in the formation of the Europe that is seen today. Arguably the most important milestone is the, Treaty of Maastricht (1992).

European Union was formed with many expectations. Despite closeness and similarities, the various nations of the European continent fought bitter wars for thousands of years within themselves. After the devastating World War II, finally everyone saw the light and decided to give a chance to peaceful coexistence. However, EU’s path hasn’t been smooth. Many critical economic as well as political problems have emerged throughout the last decade, raising questions about its credibility.

The European Union is a regional IGO located in Europe founded in 1993 in Maastricht, Netherlands. The EU's main priorities are political and financial. The European Union began with six different member states, now it currently has over 28 member states from all over the continent. The European Union has become so large that they have their own currency and legal system. The European Union started from various different attempts of European integration after the Second World War ended. Europe did this in order to stop further issues of nationalism and to reestablish the financial power of the larger European states. The first of these attempts was the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in May 1950. French foreign minister Robert Schuman proposed

People have created unions many times but not all of them were successful, specifically when we consider alliances among number of countries with different economics, political systems and culture. For instance, last century brought both the biggest collapse and the most promising union in the modern history. Although U.S.S.R has disappeared from geographical maps, some of its members joined another alliance. The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership that united 28 countries on the European part of Eurasia and represents a unique form of cooperation among members today.

Germany, now one of the most powerful states in the European Union, is most broadly defined as a representative democracy. Citizens vote on the upper legislature, lower legislature, and state representatives, known as the Bundestag, Bundesrat, and Länder respectively. The Bundestag goes on to elect a leader or chancellor. This leader has less independent authority than the president of the United States or the British Prime Minister, and is very dependent on parliamentary agreement to pass laws. Thus, the German government would more specifically be labeled a parliamentary republic. A parliamentary republic is a form of government in which the parliamentary legislature (elected by the people) has more power than the head of state.

Europe has a history of war and conflict that predates living memory and the idea of a united Europe is something that appears repeatedly in that history. Hitler, Napoleon, and the many Roman Emperors all sought a united Europe. Their quests although in many ways motivated by a horrifying desire for power sparked the minds of philosophers and other political thinkers to imagine Europe united in harmony and peace despite national differences. Today we have the European Union which is quite unique. After the horrors, bloodshed, and economic disaster of the