European Economic Community example essay topic

Following the end of World War II Europe was torn politically, economically, and physically by the war's effects. To unite the war torn countries in Europe in a way that can help improve economy as well as establish peace was the next step for these nations. After several ideas, several Western European nations acted together to create an amalgamation that would change the Europe's future for the better. In 1952 after suffering heavy economical loss in Europe 6 countries decided to unite their coal and steel industries. Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands created the European Coal and Steel Community, which put their resources into a common market as well as creating the first European economic alliance.

Then later in 1958, the European Economic Community was set up in order to expand a common market to all economic areas of the participating nations. Several other European nations noticed how this economic alliance was improving relations as well as business between member countries, and decided to join. These countries joined in 1973: the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland. The ultimate goal of this organization was to have such unification as to provide a common market for all the citizens of member countries of the EU. Ideas of this started as early as 1952, but the actual plan was enforced in 1985, a plan to reach a common market by 1992. By now Greece, Spain, and Portugal are members.

The act to establish a common market was called the Single European Act. This act posed hopes of reaching a single market by 1992, but these hopes were too optimistic. The reason why a common market was reached 7 years overdue was partly to the fact that only one vote was needed to reject the act. Since any country could veto it would take much longer to reach an agreement between all members. The solution to this was to create a rule that the making of this single European currency was to be voted by the majority of the states.

Hence, the Eurodollar was introduced into the market on January 1, 1999. In the half-a-century that passed after WWII the stability and economy of Europe had improved steadily. Germany, which had been bankrupt at the end of the war, is now the most populated country of the EU with plenty exports, mainly mechanics. The Eurodollar now creates a more balanced environment in Europe making all the countries, according to population, equal in terms of GNP as well as yearly income.

This sort of "Robin Hood" society "takes from the rich and gives to the poor", which is a reason why Great Britain, a member country, does not want to be part of the common market, and instead keeps its pound, which is worth about 1.6 the value of the euro. Great Britain is still a part of the other EU policies. With close ties in the economic business between the countries, disputes are settled easily because most countries enjoy the improved financial system of their nations. The EU improves relations not only within the union, but also without. Non-member candidates that would like to join are forced to "make friends" with the member nations because they, too, want to benefit from an economic alliance in Europe. Such nations are Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, Malta, and Czechoslovakia.

Those candidates will join in the future. This year the European Union invested $6 billion into helping the candidates be a part of this financial coalition. This enlargement plan is well underway and hopes for an even greater EU are ahead. Also out of the countries who are already candidates Britain, Sweden and Denmark are not joining the single-currency policy. Greece failed to meet the criteria because of financial weakness. Poland is one of the top candidates for the big EU enlargement that will be coming.

It is one of the most prosperous and populous country of the nations that are candidates. The vote for Poland to enter the EU will be done by the citizens of Poland, who, with lack of knowledge, might vote for the wrong thing and that would be "a major blow for the EU to lose Polish referendum". Poland's economy is already rising with a GNP growth of 1.5% last year and 2% by the end of this one. Marek Belka, the finance minister of Poland, hopes to get ties to the members of EU, and ultimately become an EU member. He traveled all over the world, and still is, to try and make relations better so that Poland would officially be part of the European Union. Already the INTERREG Program between Germany and Poland is loosening the economic knot in the borders of Mecklenburg-Vorpommen and Brandenburg of Germany and Voidvoship Zachodniopomorskie of Poland.

This program develops the economy and infrastructure on both sides that will improve cross-border cooperation. INTERREG Program for Future Polish Annexation by EU o Economic development and co-operation. Measures are mainly aimed at national and international marketing strategies, supporting enterprises and the tourism sector. (Community contribution: EUR 4.15 million). o Infrastructure. This priority is aimed at reinforcing transport infrastructure, the development of innovative infrastructure to exploit the regional innovation potential and the improvement of infrastructure for tourism development (Community contribution: EUR 50.92 million). o Environment. The improvement of natural resources, quality of water and a cross-border joint flood control and disaster prevention planning system are at the core of this priority (Community contribution: EUR 2.49 million). o Rural and urban development.

The emphasis of this priority is on measures to safeguard agricultural, forestry and marine production and to diversify regional production (Community contribution: EUR 4.15 million). o Education, qualifications, and employment. Main activities concern regional co-operation in the field of training to safeguard and create new jobs. Funding is available for training projects for innovative industries, services, and tourism (Community contribution: EUR 3.32 million). o Co-operation in the fields of culture, social affairs, and security. Projects under this priority focus on co-operation between public and private organizations in the field of cultural, social, health and security affairs. The aim is to strengthen the attractiveness of the region with a view to increasing the identification of the citizens with their region (Community contribution: EUR 13.89 million).

Another EUR 4.15 million of ERDF funding will be spent under the heading of technical assistance for program administration, information, and evaluation. With a budget of EUR 4.875 million for the years 2000-06, the Community initiative INTERREG aims to stimulate interregional co-operation in the EU and its border regions. It is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Britain is another country that the EU wants to gain. However, the United Kingdom is different, it is already part of the EU, but still has not joined the single-currency policy. Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) of Britain, said that Britain must pass five tests before it can join the European single-currency policy.

The questions that will be asked by Brown are "Is there sustainable convergence within the Euro Zone? Will the euro promote investment? Will it be good for jobs? Will it boost the financial services industry? And is there sufficient flexibility in the British economy to join the euro?" The British doubters of this policy say the "one-size-fits-all interest rates set by the European Central Bank cannot be sustained because the Euro Zone countries, with divergent growth and unemployment rates, need different interest rates to suit their circumstances". These are just some of the question posed by British pessimists.

Even with some critics disagreeing with the policy that has been establishment in most of Europe, Robin Cook, British Foreign Secretary, says that Britain will be drifting towards the single European currency. Some say the EU was a great move for Europe and some say that it will just put Europe on the brink of another economic collapse, and possible war. It has done much to support countries in Europe as well as many others including the United States. The European Union plans to enlarge its Euro Zone to an additional 12 countries. Many plans are already underway in creating an even greater union. I think the biggest improvement that can be made is the enlargement of EU and a more stable economy.

Chronology- (Provided by the European Union Official Website) 1952 Six countries - Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - create the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) by pooling their coal and steel resources in a common market controlled by an independent supranational authority. 1958 The Rome Treaties set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), extending the common market for coal and steel to all economic sectors in the member countries. 1973 The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark join the European Community (EC). 1979 The European Parliament is elected, for the first time, by direct universal suffrage and the European Monetary System (EMS) becomes operative.

1981 Greece becomes the 10th member state. 1985 The program to complete the Single Market by 1992 is launched. 1986 Spain and Portugal become the 11th and 12th member states. 1987 The Single European Act (SEA) introduces majority voting on Single Market legislation and increases the power of the European Parliament. 1989 The Madrid European Council launches the plan for achievement of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). 1990 East and West Germany are reunited after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

1991 Two parallel intergovernmental conferences produce the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) which EU leaders approve at the Maastricht European Council. 1992 Treaty on European Union signed in Maastricht and sent to member states for ratification. First referendum in Denmark rejects the Treaty. 1993 The Single Market enters into force on January 1. In May, a second Danish referendum ratifies the Maastricht Treaty, which takes effect in November. 1994 The EU and the 7-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) form the European Economic Area, a single market of 19 countries.

The EU completes membership negotiations with EFTA members Austria, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. 1995 Austria, Finland, and Sweden join the Union on January 1. Norway fails to ratify accession treaty. EU prepares the 1996 intergovernmental conference on EU institutional reform.

2001 Treaty of Nice results from 2000 Intergovernmental Conference.

Bibliography

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