ACADEMY OF ECONOMIC STUDIES OF MOLDOVA

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS FACULTY

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Tatiana CAPAȚINA

European Union - the way project

Speciality 365.1 World Economy and Internatinal Economic Relations

Author Capațîna Tatiana

Department of International Economic Relations
EMREI 172 group
Checked By Crudu Rodica
Dean of International Economic Relations Faculty
Doctor, conferentiar universitar, Professor Jean Monnet

CHISINAU – 2019
The European Union as we know it started its journey over half a century ago. Visionary leaders came together
to create economic and political stability to ensure long term peace in Europe. From then on, many others have
followed in their footsteps, striving to build on this vision through successive treaties.
In 1951, the Treaty of Paris established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the first of a
series of treaties with the aim of increasing cooperation in Europe. The founding countries of the ECSC were
Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 
Following the success of the ECSC, the founding fathers broadened their cooperation by signing the
Treaties of Rome in March 1957, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European
Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). The aim of the EEC was to create a common market based on the
freedom of movement of people, good and services and capital. In 1968, customs duties between the countries
of the EEC were removed and the first common policies relating to agriculture and trade were introduced.
Alongside the EEC, EURATOM was established to promote the pacific use of nuclear energy in Europe.
The European Communities were well established by the mid-60’s and spurring the EC forward.
However, the EC leaders felt the Communities could be further improved. Under the Merger Treaty, all three
communities were fused into one, managed by the Single Commission, Council and Assembly. This was a
significant step towards the EU as we know it.
As the EC grew, its leaders realised they needed to enhance the free movement of goods and services.
This would help the EC create wealth and jobs. Consequently, they created the single market as stipulated in the
Single European Act (SEA), undoubtedly one of the EU’s greatest achievements. The single market paved the
way for more competition, better efficiency and lower prices.
The Treaty of Maastricht signed on 7th February 1992, established the European Union (EU) on the
basis of three pillars: the European Communities, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and the
Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (JHA). It introduced the concept of European citizenship,
enhanced the powers of the European Parliament and launched the economic and monetary union (EMU). 
The need for solutions to new problems led to the Treaty of Amsterdam, an amendment to previous
treaties. The Member States felt the need to enforce the freedom of movement to boost the EU’s economy.
Thus, the Treaty of Amsterdam included new provisions on the Schengen Agreement into the EU framework.
At the time, Schengen was still an intergovernmental form of cooperation between 5 Member States.
The Treaty of Nice, signed in 2001, streamlined the institutional system in a bid to maintain efficiency
in preparation for the fourth and largest enlargement of the EU; Malta was part of this enlargement.
After the 5th enlargement, the EU faced new bureaucratic challenges. As a result, the Lisbon Treaty—
signed in 2007—simplified the working methods, voting rules and created a President of the European Council.
In addition, the Treaty created the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy. This strengthened the EU’s presence in the international sphere.
In my opinion for a good analysis of the future of European Union we should talk about nowadays
achievements and problemes.
Throughout the history of Europe, the inhabitants of our continent have experienced devastating
the influence of ideologies claiming a clear establishment of certain cultural, ethnic and religious or pseudo-
religious standards enforced for all. Therefore, the very unification of most of Europe in peace and freedom
after the Second World War and for the first time since the Middle Ages is a major historical achievement.
In addition, some progress has been made in the field of human rights. European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, European Court of Human
Rights Human Rights, European Social Charter and European Union Charter on Human Rights - are milestones
for Europe. The European project in its various manifestations favors as an example of what can be achieved
through reconciliation, stability and prosperity.
The European Union, with its underlying values and structures for cooperation and joint action is a key factor in
overcoming undemocratic and totalitarian political regimes that ruled the east and south of the continent for
much of the twentieth century. EU is also key factor in integrating countries from these parts of the continent
into a new model cooperation and exchange. On its territory, the EU promotes solidarity between the rich and
the poor regions through cohesion policy and related funds (eg European Social Fund). A number of EU
financial instruments have helped in the development most disadvantaged and poorer regions. Solidarity
between urban and rural areas have been enhanced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), whichever
imperfect ECPP was not. Significant is the EU social experience in areas as equality between women and men,
health and safety in the workplace and social security for moving employees within the EU. “Companionship"
of cities and villages throughout the EU and student exchange programs Erasmus types, as well as the free
movement of people in the Schengen area, are among one of the most appreciated successes of the EU.
Universities from 28 EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and the candidate countries
Macedonia and Turkey accept participation in the Erasmus program. Since its inception in 1987, the program
has supported over 3 million students. The Schengen Agreement includes member states EU (except Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK), and not EU members are Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and
Liechtenstein. Similar to these projects brought people together in participating countries, promoted mutual
understanding, and gave meaning to European cooperation at the grassroots level. At the global level, the EU
manages the largest emergency budget Humanitarian Aid in the World (ECHO), while the EU and its Member
States also are major players in development cooperation (in particular, for account of their development
budgets and the European Development Fund). Concerning climate change and nature conservation, the EU
plays a leading role. And last, but not in the last - the EU has conducted several peacekeeping operations in
various regions.
In general, the EU provides institutional contexts where important citizens problems that Member States cannot
easily solve on their own. It happening in the spirit of understanding the fact that together you can achieve more
than when individual countries act on their own. Through regular and transparent dialogue with these
institutions we solve the problems that Europe faces, democratically and openly.