European Union

Definition/short description

The European Union (EU) is a Political regional Cooperation, made up of twenty-seven member states in Europe. It was established in 1993 by the Treaty on European Union (The Maastricht Treaty) and is the direct successor to the six-member European Economic Community founded in 1957. Since then new extensions have raised its number of member states, and competences have expanded. As a result, the EU can be described as both a supranational and intergovernmental body. --M.J.I.Ramzan 13:05, 5 February 2010 (CET)

In dept

The economic association of over two dozen European countriess which seek to create a unified, barrier-free market for products and services throughout the continent, as well as a common currency with a unified authority over that currency. The European Union was established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht, and was based on the European Economic Community. The EU is formed of three areas, or pillars, which are theEuropean Community , Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters.

Institutions

The EU has a wide variety of legislative bodies, including the Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission. The Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance are the two main judicial bodies for the European Union. The format and principles of the EU have their roots in the European Coal and Steel Community, created in the early 1950s.

The EU is a big family of democratic European counties; they made agreement with each others that they will work together for peace and prosperity. It is a big community state and it is also bigger than any other international organization. Basically EU is a Unique. The member countries of EU made common institutions and if the members countries trying to decide anything new then they made a conversation with each other’s and through that they reached on final point for all countries. This voting system is also call with the name of “European integration".

After the world war the whole community thinks about the killing and destruction. At that times French Foreign Minister Robert in his speech on 9 may 1950 purposed them and celebrate a European Union day. There are five EU institutions, each playing a specific role:

• European Parliament (elected by the peoples of the Member States);
  
• Council of the European Union (representing the governments of the Member States);
• European Commission (driving force and executive body);
• Court of Justice (ensuring compliance with the law);
• Court of Auditors (controlling sound and lawful management of the EU budget).

These are also other five other important bodies:

• European Economic and Social Committee (expresses the opinions of organized civil society on economic and social issues);
• Committee of the Regions (expresses the opinions of regional and local authorities);
• European Central Bank (responsible for monetary policy and managing the euro);
• European Ombudsman (deals with citizens' complaints about maladministration by any EU institution or body);
• European Investment Bank (helps achieve EU objectives by financing investment projects).

A number of agencies and other bodies complete the system. The rule and law are equal for the European Union, all decisions and taking part in activates of the worlds are based on the treaties, which are agreed by all the EU countries. In early time just join six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the [Dutch Golden Age|Netherlands] after that Denmark, Ireland and [United Kingdom Border Agency|United Kingdom] joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, Austria,Finland and Sweden in 1995.in 2004 more 10 countries came into EU.vin beginning co-operation between these countries was only Trade and Economy, but now EU also deals with other subjects the use of things that we use every day in life and also deals with matter like citizens rights; ensuring freedom, security and justice; job creation; regional development; environmental protection; making globalization. The European Union spends lot of time for peace and prosperity, through this the living standard raise up a new Europe Wide market came into and introduce a Single Currency for all.

Economic Cooperation

The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states, ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It maintains common policies on trade, agriculture and fisheries [1] and regional development. Sixteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro, constituting the Eurozone. The EU has developed a limited role in foreign policy, having representation at the World Trade Organization, G8, G20 and at the United Nations. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs, including the abolition of passport controls by the Schengen Agreement between 22 EU and 3 non-EU states.

Why the European Union

Before becoming a real political objective, the idea of uniting Europe was just a dream in the minds of philosophers and visionaries. Victor Hugo, for example, imagined a peaceful ‘United States of Europe’ inspired by humanistic ideals. The dream was shattered by the terrible wars that ravaged the continent during the first half of the 20th century.

However, a new kind of hope emerged from the rubble of World War Two. People who had resisted totalitarianism during the war were determined to put an end to international hatred and rivalry in Europe and create the conditions for lasting peace. Between 1945 and 1950, a handful of courageous statesmen including Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi and Winston Churchill set about persuading their peoples to enter a new era. New structures would be created in western Europe, based on shared interests and founded upon treaties guaranteeing the rule of law and equality between all countries.

Robert Schuman (French foreign minister) took up an idea originally conceived by Jean Monnet and, on 9 May 1950, proposed establishing a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In countries which had once fought each other, the production of coal and steel would be pooled under a common High Authority. In a practical but also richly symbolic way, the raw materials of war were being turned into instruments of reconciliation and peace.

Migration and Asylum in External Relations

Migration is the heart of political argument in Europe and is also one of the strategic priorities in the external relations of the Union. If we look at it carefully it’s a positive factor for growth and success of both the Union and also the countries concerned. If we look at the Amsterdam Treaty; the Tampere, Hague European council, the Brussels European Council, all of them followed the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and their policies were the building blocks for a complete migration and Asylum policy. Considering the political frame work in place, all the things that were related to migration and Asylum issues have become part of the external relations policy and cooperation programmes with third countries. EU is working on migration, systematically by political, economic and social dialogue with third world countries. Such arguments address various angles of the migration like migration and development nexus, curbing irregular migration, readmission, human trafficking, and integration of migrants in receiving societies. EU is addressing migration and asylum through different National and regional programmes, such as MEDA, TACIS or Aeneas (financial and technical assistance to third countries). From 2007 to 2010 the Thematic programme for cooperation on migration and Asylum has allocated a budget of 205 million euros. In case of emergency situations Europe has allocated the 20 million euros A special channel is used for Uprooted People in Asia and Latin America (AUP). Even though this programme has almost terminated, these regions keep receiving EU attention. The support is now channelled through national programmes.

Examples

Example: Illegal Migrants trying to get into the European Union. Because of the High standards of living in the European Union, Many people try every year to get passed the borders and are willing to take enormous risks to do so. [2]

Example: Free movement of people within the EU creates much migration from east to west Europe. The higher wages in combination with the possibility to work and move freely within the Euorpean Union is a reason for many east Europeans to try to make a better living in the West European countries. [3]

Sources, further reading, links

• Official Site of the European Union
• Knud Erik Jorgensen, Mark A. Pollack and Ben Rosamond, Handbook of European Union Politics Sage Publications london, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4129-0875-7
• Michelle Cini, European Union Politics Oxford University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-19-924836-2
• Desmond Dinan, Enceclopedia of the European Union ISBN 0-333-712625
• European NAviagator site
• Wikipedia

• http://www.europeanunion.promotion.org.pl/
• http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/immigration/fsj_immigration_intro_en.htm

Related Educational Pages

• IPMProject1