The European Union
Saturday, 4 January 2014 - 01:00 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: Knut WingschCategory/Kategorie: General, Editorial, EU blog post series, European Union Reading Time: 4 minutes The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by the Inner Six countries in 1951 and 1958, respectively. In the intervening years the community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993. The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.
The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries, and regional development.
The eurozone, a monetary union, was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002. Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence. Permanent diplomatic missions have been established around the world. The EU is represented at the United Nations, the WTO, the G8, and the G-20. The EU was the recipient of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
Today, there are virtually no products, sorts of food or services that are not manufactured, produced, grown or performed somewhere in the European Union and within its rules, thus creating and keeping millions of jobs. Many challenges and efforts are still waiting for the current and future Member States to fulfill the great European vision, but the recent successes show that the efforts are worth it.
Read more on Pulse of Europe.
Overview EU series:
- The European Union
- The European Union: Café Europe
- The European Garden Heritage Network
- European Route of Industrial Heritage
- European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
- European Historic Thermal Towns Association
- House of European History
- Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations
- Museum of European Cultures
- The Way of St. James
- European Day of Jewish Culture
- Routes of El legado andalusi/Al-Andalus
- 20th Anniversary of the European Union
- The Europa Building, a new home for the European Council
- The European Union: Presidency of the Council of the European Union
- The European Union: Blessing or curse? Past or future?
- The European Union: Common Trade and Economic Policy
- The European Union: Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy
- The European Union: Regional Policy
- The European Union: Eastern Partnership
- The European Union: Institutions
- The European Union: Bon appétit!
- The European Union: The Budget
- The European Union: Quo vadis?
- The European Union: Bon voyage!
- The European Union: Real Estate and Demography
- The European Union: 2019 European Parliament election
- The European Union: The Brexit
- The European Union: Migration debate, xenophobia, racism and right-wing extremism
- The European Union: Climate Policy
- The European Union: Coronavirus Pandemic
- Transatlantic relations
Recommended posts:
- European Route of Industrial Heritage
- European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
- 20th Anniversary of the European Union
- The European Union: Café Europe
- The European Garden Heritage Network
- Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations in the Old Port of Marseille
- Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission
- The European Union and the European Political Community
- European Political Community (EPC)
- European Heritage Label
- The European Union: European Neighbourhood Policy
- The European Union: European Universities initiative
- Theme Week Brussels – The Europa Building, a new home for the European Council
- The European Union: Eastern Partnership
- The European Union: Europe Day