1. The Founding of the European Union
Historical overview of the European integration project

2. Inter war years Preservation of peace and security
An overall political authority to manage European conflicts
Federalism: a liberal intellectual current

3. War years Crisis of nation state system (balance of power)
Crisis of the state (invasion / collaboration / ideological division)
Anti-Nazi resistance: break with nationalism
Reconstruction of politics through a European federal state

4. Post-war Practical co-ordination of reconstruction
Integration of defeated states
Need security system for western Europe
New emphasis on economic modernisation and living standards

5. Solutions French-German co-operation / integration
Contain Germany in an integrated Europe
Federalists: promote federal ideal, a popular movement

6. The UK
Churchill had proposed Anglo-French Union in 1940 ad suggested a United States of Europe with common institutions and military
1946 in Zurich, Churchill: European project should be based around France and Germany, not Britain
Britain was ‘with Europe but not of it’

7. The Founding Fathers
Jean MONNET – French businessman and Planning Minister
Robert SCHUMANN – French Foreign Minister
Committed to federal vision, but also practical politics and specific forms of integration

8. European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
1951 Treaty of Paris: unifies coal and steel industries of France and Germany. Economic integration for the prevention of conflict.
Joined by Italy and the Benelux countries
4 common institutions: High Authority; Council of Ministers; Assembly; Court

9. Extension of integration: 1950s
1952 European Defence Community proposed but rejected by UK and France
1954: Western European Union for military cooperation
1955: Spaak Report proposes a Customs Union to further integration
1957: Goal of Common Market

10. Treaty of Rome (1957)
The ‘six’ create the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) through signing the Treaties of Rome. They came into effect on 1 January 1958.

11. Key developments 1965: French boycott establishes national veto
1973: First enlargement – Denmark, Ireland and the UK join
1979: European Parliament becomes directly elected by universal suffrage
1981: Accession of Greece
1986: Accession of Spain and Portugal

12. Single European Act (1986)
Timetable and implementation provisions for Single European Market
EEC becomes EC
Some additional powers for Parliament
Formalised Qualified Majority Voting
Considered the ‘relaunch’ of Europe after ‘Eurosclerosis’ of 1970s

13. Treaty on European Union (1992)
Maastricht Treaty, into effect 1 November 1993
Created 3 pillar system:
Supranational Pillar I: EMU, the Treaties
Intergovernmental Pillar II: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
Intergovernmental Pillar III: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
Established European citizenship

14. From 6 to 27
1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden accede to EU (Norway no in referendum)
1997: Treaty of Amsterdam
2000: Treaty of Nice – institutional reform for enlargement
2002: Launch of single currency
2004: Enlargement to the East
2005: Constitution for Europe
2007 Bulgaria and Romania join