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’.
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’.
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.
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 program 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.
A Europe without frontiers
With the collapse of communism
across central and Eastern Europe, Europeans become closer neighbors. 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 defense 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.
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.
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 Euro-sceptics 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
This is
the same crowd that cooked up the global warming hoax to justify their goal of
global government outlined in UN Agenda 21 published in 1992. They also quietly
gave away their national sovereignty to the EU unelected government that makes
the laws for the members of this “trade association” The EU is now the puppet
of the UN and Europeans are beginning to ask why their own elected officials no
longer control their laws. They need to begin to question why they keep these
parliaments and begin demanding to control their own laws.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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