26/09/2019 Milestones of the

European Union
construction
process and key
features
European Legal Environment -
Subject 1

Martin Havard – Koichi Matsushita

IGR - IAE
The European union is an economic and political union between 28 countries located across
Europe. The purpose of this huge union is to maintain the piece within Europe and to promote
economic and social progress. Basically, to make a summary, the EU is responsible for
managing common European policies such as:

 Agriculture
 Environment
 Unique monetary
 …

However, this handout will mainly focus on the history of the EU. What’s the origin of the EU ?
What are its key dates, its values ? The goal is to answer the following:

What make the EU special and singular ?

1949 - 1992
In 1949, while the WW2 just ended four years ago, European countries are looking for stability.
Therefore, Robert Schumann, the French minister of the foreign affairs made a statement. He
proposed to Germany to share its resources in order to sustain and to ease the flow of
resources. Thus, the European community of coal and steel (ECCS) is created in 1952 and four
other countries (Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) joined the community. This is
considered as the beginning of the EU.

Later the EEC (European economic community) is created in the frame of the Treaty of Rome
(1957). The EEC is very similar to the ECCS but it goes further in the cooperation. The purpose
is to create a common market where the circulation of merchandizes and people would be
possible without custom duties. Moreover, many activities like economic activities or social
activities are now taken into consideration at the European scale.

ECC France, Belgium,

Germany,
(1957, Treaty of Luxembourg, Italy,
Rome) Netherlands

Common
market
Social policy
Common Security policy
policies Environment
...

Later, the ECC will become more recognized and more powerful. Many enlargements
occured such as UK, Denmark, Ireland in 1973 or Greece in 1981. Plus, the creation of
the Schengen area is made in 1981 (The group of European countries that have
abolished border controls between each other).
1992 – Treaty of Maastricht

Strengthening the Improve the efficiency

democratic legitimacy of the instituions
of institutions

Institution of a Development of the

foreign policy and social dimension of
common security Treaty of the community
Maastricht
Creation of a
(1992)
european ECC EU Instauration of a unique
monetary union
citizenship
Values Symbols
Respect of the human dignity; freedom; - European flag
democracy; equality; rule of law; respect of - European anthem (“Ode à la joie”)
the human rights - European motto (“United in the
diversity”)
- Day of Europe: 9th may
1999-2001 - Changeover to the euro
- January 1999: Euro became the unique money of eleven countries in Europe
- January 2002: Coins and Banknotes are released into the countries

2007 – Treaty of Lisbonne

In 2007, while there are 27 members (with wealthy and poor countries), the management of
such a huge union has become more complicated, that’s why, the creation of a european
constitution was a must. On december 2007, in december all the member agreed on one
constitution that is still working today. Among the specificities of the treaty, there are:

- One council president elected for a period of 2 years and a half.

- The Reduction of european commissioners
- Unanimity is not necessary anymore
- …

Today – A Controversial Union

With a tense context due to the increase of populist parties among european countries, the EU
is more criticized today. Brexit is an example. Due to immigration, contribution, border issues
and even trade issues, the UK decided to leave the EU. It’s the first time of the history that a
member decides to leave the union.
Sources (APA-Style):
 Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU. (2019, September 16).
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887

 Anonymous. (2019, April 29). The EU in brief. Retrieved from

https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/eu-in-brief_en

 EU2017. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.eu2017.mt/en/Pages/A-Brief-History-

of-the-EU.aspx

 Anonymous. (2019, September 20). The history of the European Union.

Retrieved from https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/history_en