1. The European Union

2. Important Events in EU History May 9, 1950 – French Leader Robert Schuman proposes the idea of working together in coal and steel industries, creating a “common market” 1951 – Treaty of Paris creates European Coal and Steel Community 1957-58 – The 6 original countries (France, West Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) moved their cooperation into other sectors of the economy, and formed the European Economic Community (EEC) – Treaty of Rome

3. More Important Dates 1973 – UK, Ireland, and Denmark join 1981 – Greece joins 1985 – Schengen Agreement; abolishes passport and customs control 1986 – Spain and Portugal join 1989-91 – Fall of the Iron Curtain (Soviet Union) 1992 – Maastricht Treaty creates the European Union 1995 – Finland, Sweden, and Austria join

4. More Important Dates 2002 – The Euro is introduced to 12 member states as a form of currency 2004 – 10 countries join (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), and the constitution is adopted 2007 – Romania and Bulgaria join

5. EU Notes Together these countries represent an economic power equal to (or close to) the United States Total membership is 27 countries Many new countries have developed over the last 20-25 years due to the fall of the Soviet Union and a rise in nationalism