Member States
Portugal
Spain
France
UK
Ireland
Italy
Belgium
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Germany
Austria
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Greece
New Members
(As of May 1st 2004)
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
Malta
Cyprus
In Negotiations
Bulgaria
Romania
Applicant Countries
Turkey
There’s still a long way to go. How will the EU go on from this point?
How will integration develop in other regions of the world? What do YOU think? Let us know about your country! Ways to express yourself:
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Discussion boards Have a question about what’s going on in Europe? Want to share your opinion or experience about European Integration? Or how it relates to your country? Wanna find out what others think? Have a look at our discussion boards Discuss! |
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Panorama
To share a longer opinion, a personal experience or an interview, submit it as an article to our online magazine “Panorama”, or enjoy reading the submissions of others. View the Panorama |
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Global Gallery Walls August 1961: A wall is erected in Berlin. The city is divided into two. A country is divided into two. The planet is opposed into two blocks. October 1989: The Berlin Wall is brought down. A country is reunited. The planet no longer opposed. May 2004: The ex-blocks unite under one common umbrella. Europe. May 2004: Elsewhere, walls are built, created physically or virtually. Dividing spaces. Creating opposition between people. A wall that stands is symbol of division. A refusal to understand what is on the other side. Indifference towards the other side. Clashes with the other side. A clash between blocks until they burst into flames. A wall is opposition. A wall that falls means change. The struggle of understanding. Exploring the other side. Living together. Sharing the block. A wall that falls is integration. Do you agree? Interpret, in an image, the meaning you give to integration or to division. Go to the contest page |
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Vision of Peace The Global Gallery is holding a second contest this month in partnership with the Youth Millennium Project (YMP)! Visions of Peace is a traveling art exhibition developed by, with, and for youth. It is part of YMP's Peace Challenge program. It's your opportunity to showcase your artistic talent, and raise awareness about peace building in communities around the world! Go to the Contest Page |
War experience – let’s work together!
After the Second World War and its disastrous effects on Europe, there was an obvious need for the European countries to find a way to live together in peace. This need made it possible to overcome single national interests and to build several European cooperation’s.
After Robert Schuman’s famous declaration from 1950, to put the production of coal and steel under a common supranational authority, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was founded one year later.
Two more communities were founded in 1957 in the Rome Treaties, founding the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
The growing European Communities – from 6 to 12
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was founded in 1960, driven in particular by the UK, as an alternative trade association.
1973 Enlargement to Denmark, Ireland and UK
1981 Enlargement to Greece
1986 Enlargement to Spain and Portugal
From the European Community to the European Union, and further growing
The Maastricht Treaty from 1992 transformed the European Community into the European Union, and added a closer cooperation in the areas of defense and justice and home affairs.
1995 Enlargement to Austria,
Sweden, Finland The treaties of Amsterdam (1997) and Nice (2000) should make the Union more democratic (Amsterdam) and prepare itself for the big enlargement (Nice).
2002 Euro coins and Euro notes start to be the official currency in most of the “Euro zone”. The UK, Sweden and Denmark chose continue using their traditional currency.
2002-2003 A constitutional convention works on developing proposals on how to reform the European Union. The convention had a broad membership from national parliaments, governments, European institutions from the member states, as well as observers from candidate countries and various organizations and institutions.
2004 Enlargement to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus (Greek part), Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
After the Second World War and its disastrous effects on Europe, there was an obvious need for the European countries to find a way to live together in peace. This need made it possible to overcome single national interests and to build several European cooperation’s.
After Robert Schuman’s famous declaration from 1950, to put the production of coal and steel under a common supranational authority, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was founded one year later.
Two more communities were founded in 1957 in the Rome Treaties, founding the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
The growing European Communities – from 6 to 12
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was founded in 1960, driven in particular by the UK, as an alternative trade association.
1973 Enlargement to Denmark, Ireland and UK
1981 Enlargement to Greece
1986 Enlargement to Spain and Portugal
From the European Community to the European Union, and further growing
The Maastricht Treaty from 1992 transformed the European Community into the European Union, and added a closer cooperation in the areas of defense and justice and home affairs.
1995 Enlargement to Austria,
Sweden, Finland The treaties of Amsterdam (1997) and Nice (2000) should make the Union more democratic (Amsterdam) and prepare itself for the big enlargement (Nice).
2002 Euro coins and Euro notes start to be the official currency in most of the “Euro zone”. The UK, Sweden and Denmark chose continue using their traditional currency.
2002-2003 A constitutional convention works on developing proposals on how to reform the European Union. The convention had a broad membership from national parliaments, governments, European institutions from the member states, as well as observers from candidate countries and various organizations and institutions.
2004 Enlargement to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus (Greek part), Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
The 3 main institutions for producing European Law in interaction are:
European Parliament – represents the European citizens who directly elect the members of the European Parliament, the next elections to the European Parliament in June 2004 will be held also in the 10 new member states for the first time, and the Parliament will then have 732 members.
European Commission – as the “guardian of the treaties” the Commission represents the interests of the Union as a whole, the new commission starting its term in November 2004 will have 25 members, until then the present commission will have 10 new colleagues working with 30 commissioners in total
Council of the European Union or Council of Ministers - represents the interest of the member states, and is composed of ministers of the national governments. Depending on the topic it meets in different formations, so for example regarding environmental issues the ministers of the environment would meet.
Not to confound with the European Council, which is the meeting of the heads of state and governments, and the Council of Europe, which is a separate international organization.
Other institutions:
European Court of Justice – is the highest authority to decide about actions from European institutions and bodies, national governments and bodies as well as individuals are conform with the European Law, acts as a “supreme court”
European Court of Auditors – controls the Union’s finances.
Other bodies:
European Central Bank – located in Frankfurt, is responsible for the European Monetary Policy in the 12 Euro countries
European Economic and Social Committee – composed of members of the civil society, the employees and employers groups, has advisory status
Committee of the Regions – represents the regions and other local authorities, eg Laender, provinces and regions, has advisory status
European Parliament – represents the European citizens who directly elect the members of the European Parliament, the next elections to the European Parliament in June 2004 will be held also in the 10 new member states for the first time, and the Parliament will then have 732 members.
European Commission – as the “guardian of the treaties” the Commission represents the interests of the Union as a whole, the new commission starting its term in November 2004 will have 25 members, until then the present commission will have 10 new colleagues working with 30 commissioners in total
Council of the European Union or Council of Ministers - represents the interest of the member states, and is composed of ministers of the national governments. Depending on the topic it meets in different formations, so for example regarding environmental issues the ministers of the environment would meet.
Not to confound with the European Council, which is the meeting of the heads of state and governments, and the Council of Europe, which is a separate international organization.
Other institutions:
European Court of Justice – is the highest authority to decide about actions from European institutions and bodies, national governments and bodies as well as individuals are conform with the European Law, acts as a “supreme court”
European Court of Auditors – controls the Union’s finances.
Other bodies:
European Central Bank – located in Frankfurt, is responsible for the European Monetary Policy in the 12 Euro countries
European Economic and Social Committee – composed of members of the civil society, the employees and employers groups, has advisory status
Committee of the Regions – represents the regions and other local authorities, eg Laender, provinces and regions, has advisory status
