The Founding Fathers of the EU (wanted to establish) a peaceful, united and prosperous Europe.
1945
- 1959 A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation. The European
Union is set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between
neighbors, which culminated in the Second World War. As of 1950, the European
Coal and Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and
politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founding countries are
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s are
dominated by a cold war between east and west. Protests in Hungary against the
Communist regime are put down by Soviet tanks in 1956. In 1957, the Treaty of
Rome creates the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’.
1960
- 1969 A period of economic growth. The 1960s is a good period for the
economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when
they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production,
so that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus
agricultural produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and
many changes in society and behavior become associated with the so-called ‘68
generation’.
1970
- 1979 A growing Community – the first enlargement
Denmark, Ireland and the United
Kingdom join the European Union on 1 January 1973, raising the number of Member
States to nine. The short, yet brutal, Arab-Israeli war of October 1973 results
in an energy crisis and economic problems in Europe. The last right-wing
dictatorships in Europe come to an end with the overthrow of the Salazar regime
in Portugal in 1974 and the death of General Franco of Spain in 1975. The EU
regional policy starts to transfer huge sums of money to create jobs and
infrastructure in poorer areas. The European Parliament increases its influence
in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the first time, elect their
members directly. The fight against pollution intensifies in the 1970s. The EU
adopts laws to protect the environment, introducing the notion of ‘the polluter
pays’ for the first time.
1980
- 1989 The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall The
Polish trade union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household
names across Europe and the world following the Gdansk shipyard strikes in the
summer of 1980. In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU, and Spain
and Portugal follow five years later. In 1986 the Single European Act is
signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast six-year programme
aimed at sorting out the problems with the free flow of trade across EU borders
and thus creates the ‘Single Market’. There is major political upheaval when,
on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the border between East
and West Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years. This leads to the
reunification of Germany, when both East and West Germany are united in October
1990.
1990
- 1999 A Europe without frontiers. With the collapse of communism across
central and eastern Europe, Europeans become closer neighbours. In 1993 the
Single Market is completed with the 'four freedoms' of: movement of goods,
services, people and money. The 1990s is also the decade of two treaties: the
‘Maastricht’ Treaty on European Union in 1993 and the Treaty of Amsterdam in
1999. People are concerned about how to protect the environment and also how
Europeans can act together when it comes to security and defence matters. In
1995 the EU gains three more new members: Austria, Finland and Sweden. A small
village in Luxembourg gives its name to the ‘Schengen’ agreements that
gradually allow people to travel without having their passports checked at the
borders. Millions of young people study in other countries with EU support.
Communication is made easier as more and more people start using mobile phones
and the internet.
2000
– 2009 Further expansion. The euro is now the new currency for many
Europeans. During the decade more and more countries adopt the euro. 11 September
2001 becomes synonymous with the 'War on Terror' after hijacked airliners are
flown into buildings in New York and Washington. EU countries begin to work
much more closely together to fight crime. The political divisions between east
and west Europe are finally declared healed when no fewer than 10 new countries
join the EU in 2004, followed by Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. A financial
crisis hits the global economy in September 2008. The Treaty of Lisbon is
ratified by all EU countries before entering into force in 2009. It provides
the EU with modern institutions and more efficient working methods.
2010
– today A challenging decade. The global economic crisis strikes hard in
Europe. The EU helps several countries to confront their difficulties and
establishes the 'Banking Union' to ensure safer and more reliable banks. In
2012, the European Union is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Croatia becomes the
28th member of the EU in 2013. Climate change is still high on the agenda and
leaders agree to reduce harmful emissions. European elections are held in 2014
and more Eurosceptics are elected into the European Parliament. A new security
policy is established in the wake of the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Religious extremism increases in the Middle East and various countries and
regions around the world, leading to unrest and wars which result in many
people fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in Europe. The EU is not only faced
with the dilemma of how to take care of them, but also finds itself the target
of several terrorist attacks.
Comments
The EU is
thoroughly contaminated by the UN and needs to go. Europe needs to quit the UN because of its
One-World Communist Government ambitions, deceptive practices and ruinous
results. Europe also needs to abolish
the EU as a policy-making body and allow its sovereign nations to reestablish
laws that are voted on by its citizens.
They need to dismantle their socialist, government-funded welfare
programs and allow retirement plans to become individual plans funded by
individual savings. They all need to
impose balanced budget requirements for government and pay off their
debts.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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