Europe as a Continent of the World

History of Europe

EU Member States

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Croatia
5. Cyprus
6. Czech Republic
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hungary
14. Ireland
15. Italy
16. Latvia
17. Lithuania
18. Luxembourg
19. Malta
20. Netherlands
21. Poland
22. Portugal
23. Romania
24. Slovakia
25. Slovenia
26. Spain
27. Sweden

What is EU?
The European Union (EU) is an international organization comprising 27 European countries and
governing common economic, social, and security policies. Originally confined to western Europe, the
EU undertook a robust expansion into central and eastern Europe in the early 21st century.

The EU has delivered more than half a century of peace, stability and prosperity, helped raise living
standards and launched a single European currency: the euro. More than 340 million EU citizens in 19
countries now use it as their currency and enjoy its benefits.

Thanks to the abolition of border controls between EU countries, people can travel freely throughout
most of the continent. And it has become much easier to live and work in another country in Europe. All
EU citizens have the right and freedom to choose in which EU country they want to study, work or retire.
Every EU country must treat EU citizens in the same way as its own citizens when it comes to matters of
employment, social security and tax.

The EU’s main economic engine is the single market. It enables most goods, services, money and people
to move freely. The EU aims to develop this huge resource to other areas like energy, knowledge and
capital markets to ensure that Europeans can draw the maximum benefit from it.

History of EU

With the aim of ending the frequent and bloody conflicts that culminated in the Second World War,
European politicians begin the process of building what we know today as the European Union.

The European Coal and Steel Community, founded in 1951, is the first step in securing a lasting peace. In
1957, the Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) and a new era of ever-
closer cooperation in Europe. This period, however, also sees the emergence of a Cold War that divides
the continent for more than 40 years.

Among other things, the EEC was designed to help break down trade barriers between countries in
Europe, protect from private trade agreements that could diminish competition, and establish common
agricultural and trade agreements and standards. The countries that comprised the EEC included
Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, West Germany
(and later East), Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece.

However, it wasn't until 1993 that the EEC morphed into the European Union following the new
Maastricht Treaty (also known as the Treaty on European Union).
Additionally, the Treaty of Lisbon, enacted in 2009, gave the European Union more broad powers that
included being authorized to sign international treaties, increase border patrol, and other security and
enforcement provisions.

The Maastricht Treaty

On Feb. 7, 1992, the European Union was officially formed via the Maastricht Treaty. The treaty was
comprised of three principal components: The European Communities, security and foreign policy, and
cohesive domestic affairs and justice standards.

The treaty broadened the newfounded EU's scope, which now includes both economic and social issues
- like education, public health, technological development, and environmental protection, to name a
few. And, perhaps most significantly, the treaty put into motion a common monetary policy united
under a common currency - the euro.

Additionally, the treaty established economic standards, including debt and budget requirements in
relation to each country's gross domestic product (GDP), as well as inflation levels. Despite some
countries failing to meet some of the standards detailed within the treaty (like Italy and Belgium), they
were still inducted into the monetary union.

Activities of EU