Thursday, May 9, 2024

History of the European Union



“By this Treaty, the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES establish among themselves a EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter called ‘the Union’, on which the Member States confer competences to attain objectives they have in common.”

– “Treaty on European Union” (also known as the “Maastricht Treaty”), 7 February 1992 – later replaced by a modified version of the treaty in 2007

Europe was devastated by World War II …

Europe was devastated by World War II. Even in the winning countries, there was destruction from bombing by one side or the other. And in the losing countries, the devastation was (if anything) even worse. In Germany, a new “Iron Curtain” was forming, and their old capital city of Berlin was divided. Everything to the east of that Iron Curtain (except West Berlin) would be controlled by the Soviet Union, and managed exclusively for Soviet benefit. The countries to the west would have an opportunity for freedom and prosperity, but the Eastern Bloc (at this time) did not. It was in this postwar environment that the European Union’s earliest predecessors were formed.


Hamburg, Germany, after a massive Allied bombing in 1943


… and the earliest predecessors of the European Union came shortly after the war ended

So what were these early predecessors? They included the Treaty of Brussels in 1948, which established the Western Union. This was originally a military alliance of France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. But it also served as the founding treaty of the Western European Union, and was even a precursor to NATO. Another predecessor was the Schuman Declaration in 1950. Its anniversary is now celebrated by the European Union as “Europe Day,” a sort of continental holiday for the European Union. Put simply, it placed French and West German production of coal and steel under a common authority. It was named after the French foreign minister Robert Schuman. Mr. Schuman then said that with this declaration, “any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.” (see source)


Meeting in the Hall of Knights in The Hague, during the congress (9 May 1948)

Establishment of the “European Coal and Steel Community” (1951)

In 1951, this was followed by the Treaty of Paris, which established the European Coal and Steel Community. This included not only France and West Germany, but also Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This was accompanied by the Europe Declaration, which said that “By the signature of this Treaty, the involved parties give proof of their determination to create the first supranational institution and that thus they are laying the true foundation of an organised Europe. This Europe remains open to all European countries that have freedom of choice. We profoundly hope that other countries will join us in our common endeavour.” (see source)


Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community

Establishment of the “European Economic Community” (1958), with a free trade zone

In 1957, the European Atomic Energy Community (or EAEC) was created. In 1958, there was the Treaty of Rome, signed by the same six nations as the aforementioned Treaty of Paris. This established the European Economic Community (or EEC). As Wikipedia puts it, this treaty “proposed the progressive reduction of customs duties and the establishment of a customs union. It proposed to create a single market for goods, labour, services, and capital across member states. It also proposed the creation of a Common Agriculture Policy, a Common Transport Policy and a European Social Fund and established the European Commission.” (see source) A “customs union” is just another name for a free trade zone. This is because its members, by definition, have agreed not to impose customs (or tariffs) upon each other. Thus, the modern European Union is a kind of “free trade zone.” In this respect, it is similar to the African Union, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (or NAFTA) – and many other free trade zones throughout the world. Across the Iron Curtain from Western Europe, the Berlin Wall was created in 1961. This may have little bearing upon our economic story, but it was an important symbolic moment for Modern Europe.


Konrad Adenauer, Walter Hallstein and Antonio Segni, signing the European customs union and EAEC in Rome in 1957

After the Berlin Wall falls, a “Treaty on European Union” (1992)

In 1989, the Berlin Wall suddenly came down (more about that here). Soon after, Germany was reunified in 1990, with the Soviet Union collapsing in 1991 (more about that here). Thus, the Iron Curtain fell, and the (First) Cold War was over. This would have a major effect upon European history, since it was no longer cut down the middle by this old Cold War barrier. Shortly after this, there was the important Maastricht Treaty in 1992. This is the treaty which created the European Union itself, and replaced several aspects of its predecessors. It has since been renamed the “Treaty on European Union.” This is the most important treaty in the entire history of the European Union, even more important than the Treaty of Rome that I mentioned earlier. As Wikipedia puts it, “it announced ‘a new stage in the process of European integration’ chiefly in provisions for a shared European citizenship, for the eventual introduction of a single currency, and (with less precision) for common foreign and security policies.” (see source) By this time, there were several more member states in the European Union than the original founding six.


Stone memorial in front of government building in Maastricht (Netherlands), commemorating the signing of the Maastricht Treaty

Creation of European Parliament, and eastern expansion of the European Union

In 1997, there was another treaty in Amsterdam. Wikipedia notes that in this treaty, “member states agreed to transfer certain powers from national governments to the European Parliament across diverse areas, including legislating on immigration, adopting civil and criminal laws, and enacting common foreign and security policy (CFSP), as well as implementing institutional changes for expansion as new member nations join the EU.” (see source) The treaty took effect in 1999. In 2001, there was another treaty in Nice that allowed for eastern expansion of the European Union. This would allow them to include many of the former Soviet countries that had become independent since the Iron Curtain fell. This increased the number of member states even more. This treaty came into force in 2003.


European leaders in Amsterdam, 1997

Further changes to the European Union (2007), many of which were sweeping

And in 2007, there was another treaty in Lisbon, which made many sweeping changes. As Wikipedia puts it, “Prominent changes included the move from unanimity to qualified majority voting in at least 45 policy areas in the Council of Ministers, a change in calculating such a majority to a new double majority, a more powerful European Parliament forming a bicameral legislature alongside the Council of Ministers under the ordinary legislative procedure, a consolidated legal personality for the EU and the creation of a long-term President of the European Council and a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Treaty also made the Union's bill of rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding. For the first time, the treaty gave member states the explicit legal right to leave the EU, and established a procedure by which to do so.” (see source) This treaty came into force in 2009.


Signing of the Treaty of Lisbon in the Jerónimos Monastery – Lisbon, Portugal (2007)

Comments on the establishment of the new common “Euro” currency

I noted earlier the creation of the Euro currency. This would eventually replace prior currencies like the French franc, the German mark, and the Italian lira. It started to become an accounting currency in 1999, and entered into circulation in 2002. Even at these times, the British would decline the offer to accept the Euro currency, preferring to regulate their own pound sterling for themselves. We shall return to the subject of Britain shortly. For now, let me note that a common currency went far beyond the other free trade agreements of its kind. For example, there is no common currency for North America (although some have proposed an “Amero” currency), nor is there one for the African Union. For better or for worse, the Euro currency seems to be unparalleled at the moment – although it may well be joined by others later on.


Coins and banknotes of the Euro, the single-currency introduced from 1999

“Brexit”: The British exit from the EU (2020)

I also noted that there is now a legislature for all of Europe. Like the United States Congress, it is now divided into two houses. One is the European Parliament (the lower house, established 1952), and the other is the Council of the European Union (the upper house, established 1967). There are some passing similarities here to the “Pan-African Parliament” in the African Union, although that legislature consists of only one house. However, this is unlike anything seen in North America, which has no continental legislature. Nor, I think, are North Americans likely to want such a legislature anytime soon. In Europe, the continental legislature may be the single most controversial aspect of the entire European Union. This is because it restricts the sovereignty of individual nations. It was certainly controversial in Great Britain. Thus, Britain left the European Union in 2020 – a process known as the “Brexit,” or “British exit.” Even then, Great Britain would continue to participate in the common market of Europe and the free trade zone. But they would no longer be subject to the European Parliament, or the Council of the European Union. The prior laws passed therein would still stand in Britain, but only until modified by the British Parliament. I will not go here into the reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the “Brexit” has both its supporters and its critics. I don’t much care for myself what the British decide in this, and consider this an issue for Europeans to work out between themselves. But suffice it to say that this is one of the most important developments in modern British history – and broader European history at that. It is quite recent at the time that I write this, and thus is still debated by many in Europe, inside and outside Britain.


Flag of the European Union

The story of the European Union is still being written

The future of the European Union remains to be decided. Its story is still being written today. But it seems likely that it will continue to exert a massive influence upon world affairs. Many throughout the world will look upon the European Union, and continue to debate about how much (or even whether) to emulate it. Some of its policies are undoubtedly good, while others (unfortunately) may not be so. But whatever one’s opinion of the European Union, most would agree that it will continue to be an important player on the world stage for years to come. It will be an important force for better or for worse – I hope for the better.

Footnote to this blog post:

Some of the material in this post is likely to go out of date. If you are aware of any outdated information in this blog post, I invite you to bring it to my attention through a brief comment – or a long one, if you like. I would like this blog post to stay current, so that it may be as useful as possible for my readers.

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