EU Reading (Notes)

In the wake of that destructive war two goals emerged: to rebuild the nation's shattered economies and to prevent new conflict. Some people believed the best way to achieve both goals was to unify Europe.

Steps Toward Unity
The first step towards unification was an industrial alliance. France, Germany, Italy, and the Benelux countries signed a treaty that gave control of their coal and steel resources to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
The next step came in 1957 with the formation of the European Economic Community (EEC), also called the Common Market. This alliance removed trade barriers, set common economic goals, and allowed people to live and work in any member country. Trade quadrupled between 1958 and 1968 (EEC).
EEC merged with the ECSC and became EC (European Community). In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty took effect, and the EU replaced the EC. EU included 27 member nations.

Issues Facing the EU Today
In 50 years, the EU has increased from 6 nations to 27. In time it will extend to 30 countries that presently have almost 560 million people.

Growing Pains
Many of the Eastern European nations that joined the EU had a Communist past; less experience with democracy. Such differences may create friction among the EU members. Some Europeans fear rising tensions if Turkey joins the EU. Turkey is Muslim nation, while other countries are Christian. Turkey also has a record of human rights abuses and of conflict with Greece.

Economics and Politics
The Maastricht Treaty set the goal of replacing national currencies with a single currency. Some Europeans had reservations about the euro. They feared losing control of economic factors, such as the ability of each country to set its own interest rates. Denmark and the U.K chose not to adopt the euro.
In 2002, work began on a new constitution. The changes created fears that the EU would become "super-nation" and replace individual nations. Netherlands and France rejected the constitution. EU leaders wrote the Lisbon Treaty to replace the failed constitution. The Lisbon Treaty contained many changes proposed for the constitution.