European Union

History

Following the devastating wake of World War II, the remaining European nations pledged mutual cooperation, communication, and harmonization of national interests to overcome the vicious cycle [Page 379]of the security dilemma. After the founding of the Council of Europe in 1949, a mere discussion forum, the first real breakthrough was reached in 1951/1952. With the Treaty of Paris, the age-old conflict between Germany and France over resource-rich border areas was finally defused. The new European Community for Steel and Coal (ECSC) created the first supranational organization in the world's history. An independent market for coal and steel, overviewed by an independent commission, judiciary, and representatives of the involved governments and ministers, was the first step for six nations (France, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Italy) to conglomerate certain key areas of national sovereignty. The declared goals of this young organization were (and still are) peace and security, prosperity, a new self-concept, freedom and mobility, and to become a common international power.

Even as early as 1957 to 1958, the so-called treaties of Rome pushed for integration. The founding of the EURATOM and European Economic Community (EEC) created a three-pillar system that kept the EU operational. To achieve the goals of a customs union, common policies of agriculture and trade and free transportation of goods, capital, and services (in short, the creation of a common market), the Rome treaties established the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Communities. These institutions later became the core of the EU. The years 1965 to 1967 saw the merger treaty of Brussels combine the first three communities (ECSC, EURATOM, and EEC) into the European Community (EC) and confirmed another early goal of the six founding states: peaceful expansion to the rest of Europe. In 1973, the first northern expansion brought the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark into the EC. Greece joined 8 years later.

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