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Alec Holzer
IBS 298
06/07/2014
Describe and explain the origins of the European Union
The European Union can trace its history’s foundation back to the 1951 with the establishment
of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The ECSC strived to unite European countries
politically and economy to secure peace and prosperity— and to secure a front against the growing
USSR community. The six founding members included: West Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg,
Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands (britannica.com).
In 1957 the “Treaty of Rome” was signed by Italy, Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg,
and the Netherlands creating the European Economic Community (EEC) (britannica.com). The EEC’s
main task was to diminish hostile tensions between the European nations following the aftermath of
World War II.
“In particular, it was hoped that integration would promote a lasting reconciliation of France
and Germany, thereby reducing the potential for war. EEC governance required political
cooperation among its members through formal supranational institutions. These institutions
included the Commission, which formulated and administered EEC policies; the Council of
Ministers, which enacted legislation; the European Parliament, originally a strictly consultative
body whose members were delegates from national parliaments (later they would be directly
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elected); and the European Court of Justice, which interpreted community law and arbitrated
legal disputes.” (britannica.com).
In 1973 the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark had joined— and by 1981 Greece had joined,
followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. Finally in 1990, East Germany was accepted in with the
reunification of the Deutschland in 1990 (britannica.com). By 1992 the European Community members
had committed themselves to removing most market barriers and acted together in “formal control of
community policies on the environment, research and technology, education, health, consumer
protection, and other areas” (britannica.com). Also in 1992 it hailed in a new event with the creation of
the Treaty of Maastricht which, “laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense
policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including
a common currency” (cia.gov). Thus with the Treaty of Maastricht founded the integration, created what
is now known as the European Union (EU) alongside the still existing European Community at the time.
By 1995 Finland, Austria, and Sweden had joined the European Union/ European Community, raising the
total membership to 15 (cia.gov).
With the newly founded European Unions, Leaders of the European Union set in mind one main
goal, “economic integration and a common European currency” (encyclopedia.com). Thus on January 1st
1999, the Euro “became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and
the United Kingdom” (cia.gov). The “Euro” was created with the task of “the creation of a single market
expected to spur increased competition and the development of more niche products, and ease the
acquisition of corporate financing, particularly in what would formerly have been international trade
among members of the single currency area.” (encyclopedia.com). On January 1st 2002 the Euro
banknotes and coins were introduced into circulation and by July 2002, the Euro became legal tender of
the following countries: “Finland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
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Spain, Greece and Portugal”-replacing their national currencies with the Euro and thus creating the
“Euro-zone” (encyclopedia.com). With the growing success of the European Union, in 2004, Poland,
Malta, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia and Slovakia joined the
union. In 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined and in 2013 Croatia joined, bringing the total membership
of the European Union to 28 member countries (cia.gov).
The European Commission was officially replaced and succeeded by the European Union with
the Lisbon Treaty which was drafted in 2007 and finally approved in 2009 creating an ever closer union
and giving more power to the European Union Parliament and the European Council (cia.gov).
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Analyze the mission of the EU and its organization in detail ( EU Commission, Council of the EU,
European Council, EU Parliament, European Court of Justice)
The European Union mission statement:
“To guarantee peace, freedom and security in and around Europe. To promote and protect
democracy and universal rights in Europe and around the world. To strengthen Europe's
economy and to promote solidarity around Europe by working in partnership with national,
regional and local government. To make it easy for Europe's citizens to live and work throughout
the Union. To promote equality and tolerance of diversity in Europe. To promote and facilitate
cooperation between Europeans, at individual, local, regional and national level, and in both the
public and private sectors. To protect Europe's environment and combat climate change. To
help Europe benefit economically and socially from globalization*.To ensure that Europe's voice
is heard in the world. To listen to its citizens, be accountable to them and work for them in a
transparent and decentralized way” (europa.eu).
The EU has a unique set up on how it operates. It is made up of five main branches that are the
European Council, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, European Commission, and the
European Court of Justice (europa.eu).
The European Council sets the geopolitical direction and priorities of the EU and “deals with
complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at a lower level of intergovernmental cooperation.”
Though the European Council members are extremely influential in setting the EU political agenda, the
Council has no powers to pass laws. The European Council consists of leaders of the EU nations,
president of the European Commission, and president of the European Council. Members of the council
meet at least four times a year. (europa.eu) The Current president of the European Council is Herman
VAN ROMPUY (cia.gov).
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The European Parliament is made up of “representatives of the EU member nations who are
selected by direct election in their home countries.” (encyclopedia.com). They are elected into office
every 5 years. The parliament is one of the EU’s main law-making institutions, along with the Council of
the European Union. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union work closely
together to decide on the content and structure of EU laws and ways to officially adopt them
(europa.eu). The European Parliament has three main roles which consist of debating and adopting the
EU's budget alongside the Council of the European Union— restructuring European laws, with the help
and oversight of the Council of the European Union and lastly scrutinizing other EU institutions,
predominantly the Commission, to make sure they are working democratically (europa.eu ).
The Council of the European Union “is where national ministers from each EU country meet to
adopt laws and coordinate policies” (europa.eu). The Council of the European Union is tasked with,
Developing and progressing foreign affairs, signing agreements between European Union and other
nations. Their duties also include upholding defense policies, creating cooperation between police
forces and courts within EU member nations, approving the annual spending budget of the European
Union, and organizing and synchronizing economic policies within the EU. (europa.eu). The process of
passing laws is held by The Council of the European Union and Parliament
The European Commission “is one of the main institutions of the European Union. It represents
and upholds the interests of the EU as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws. It manages
the day-to-day business of implementing EU policies and spending EU funds.” (europa.eu ). There are a
total of twenty eight commissions, one from each European Union nation. They serve a five year term
and assigned obligations regarding specific policies by the President of the European Commission, which
seat is currently held by José Manuel Barroso. The European Commission’s president is nominated by
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the European Council and its commissions are also appointed in this way, but can also be nominated by
the Commissions President. The Commission’s main tasks within the EU are to propose new laws to the
European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The commission is also tasked with
managing and overseeing the EU's budget and allocating funding, enforcing EU law together with the
Court of Justice, and lastly, representing the EU internationally (europa.eu).
The European Court of Justice is tasked with interpretation of European Union laws and carrying
out the duty of applying them fairly to all European Union members. They also settle legal disputes in
regards to institutions, companies, organizations, and individuals within the EU. The courts composition
is made up of one judge from each EU nations and is aided by “nine advocates-generals whose job is to
present opinions on the cases brought before the Court. They must do so publicly and impartially. Each
judge and advocate-general is appointed for a term of six years, which can be renewed. The
governments of EU countries agree on whom they want to appoint” (europa.eu).
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Define the relationship between the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and
the EU
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is an international
organization founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. Members of the OECD
are “Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States” (britannica.com ). These countries of the OECD
produce two-thirds of the world’s goods and services. “The OECD provides a forum in which
governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems”
(oecd.org). The OECD collaborates with governments to discuss and understand what pushes economic,
social, and environmental change. The OECD measures productivity and global flows of trade and
investment. The OECD strives to set international standards on a wide range of ideas and concepts, from
agriculture and taxes to the safety of chemicals (oecd.org)
The OECD looks at issues that directly affect everyone’s daily life. They compare how different
countries’ school systems are preparing their young people for modern life, and how different countries’
pension systems and social systems will functions in regards to the coming future (oecd.org).
The Commission of the European Union work beside the OECD. Within the OECD the EU holds a
permanent delegate to the OECD which helps formulate and develop economic progress within member
nations. The EU does not contribute to the overall budget of the OECD, and the EU’s representative is
not allowed to vote on acts held by the OECD’s council members. The EU’s representative are permitted
however to “participates fully in the preparation of texts, including legal acts, with an unrestricted right
to make proposals and suggest changes“ (oecd.org).
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The EU benefits from this combined relationship with the OECD due to its relationships with
over 70 non EU members’ economies. “the European Union benefits from dialogue and consultations
with all players on the world scene, in a context of increased interdependence that demands global rules
of the game” (oecd.org).
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. Encyclopædia Britannica, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. .
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"Treaty of Rome." .
Encyclopædia Britannica, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. .
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/508886/Treaty-of-Rome>.
"European Community (EC)."
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The Center Of Intelligence, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. .
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ee.html>.
"European Union."
Encyclopedia of Management. 2009. Encyclopedia.com.
<http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Kohari, Kinga. "Mission Statement for the European Union ."
. European Union, n.d. Web. .
<http://web.cor.europa.eu/alde/our-views/Documents/Mission-Statement.pdf>.
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