The European Union A Layperson’s Introduction Laura Brunell, Ph.D. Department of Political Science Gonzaga University

Why a European Union?

Europe’s Bloody 20th Century

The Context of EU Origins: Post WWII Europe Initiative of French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman Proposes Coal and Steel Customs Union 1951: Treaty of Paris Forms the European Coal and Steel Community 6 member states: France Germany Italy BeNeLux countries

From the ECSC to the European Union: Deepening Integration 1957: Treaty of Rome forms the European Economic Communities 1963 The Common Agricultural Policy 1986 The Single Market 1992 The Treaty on the Europe Union (Maastricht) Includes timeline for Monetary Union (the Euro) Common Foreign and Security Policy Justice and Home Affairs

Expansion of the EU: Widening 1951 1973

Expansion of the EU: Widening 1981 1986

Expansion of the EU: Widening 1995 2004

Expansion of the EU: Widening 2007 2011: Candidate Countries

What kind of entity is the European Union? Intergovernmental AND Supranational i.e., in some issues Nation-States still rule (have a veto over joint EU action) in other issues (mainly economic ones) member states have ceded state sovereignty to the EU level Overtime, more issues decided supranationally

Qualified Majority Voting Weighted by population size Treaty of Lisbon As of 2014 Double majority 55% of member states Representing 65% of EU population

What does the EU do? Econonics Single Market Common Trade Policies External Relations Trade and development assistance with former colonies The Euro/Eurozone Not for UK, DK, SE Recently admitted countries will join

What does the EU do? Europeanization of Identity Cultural promotion, especially of regions and regional products Programs like Erasmus to encourage exchange of young people, acculturation to “Europeanness”

How European do Europeans Feel? Most still feel strongest attachment to their region, then their nation, then Europe Varies by country Germans feel more European Central Europeans feel more European Brits feel less European

Euroskeptics European Integration has its share of critics Argue it is an elite driven fantasy Capitalist conspiracy (neo-liberalism)

Europhiles Europhiles point to the EU’s success in creating economic growth A currency union Unprecedented levels of cooperation among European nations Positive influence on the democratization of Central Eastern Europe