1 Interface between Christianity, Democracy and Market Economy: the 10 th Anniversary of Lithuania´s Accession to the European Union EU vs. the nation-states: confrontation between the future and the past? Goce Peroski6th December 2014 Troškūnai, Lithuania

2 Who can apply for membership in the European Union? Art. 49 Treaty of the European Union (TEU) Every European state that respects the merits mentioned in Art. 2 and promotes their advancement, may apply for membership in the European Union. Problems: What does European mean? No clear definition! Question(s) about the (unclear) borders of Europe!

3 The steps of enlargement of the EU until 2013 (Source:

4 Europe 2014

5 Establishment of the European Communities Treaties of Rome (1957): European Free Trade Association and Euratom comprise: ensuring of peace and freedom closer relationships between the states social and economic development abolition of internal customs steady expansion of the economy, honest competition free movement of people, exchange of services, capital and goods

6 Single European Act (1987) reforms of the institutions in order to put into effect the internal market broadening of the Communities‘ competences in the European political cooperation referring to foreign policy Maastricht Treaty (1992) This treaty establishes the European Union and the European Economic and Monetary Union; it does not replace the European Communities, but puts them, with the new policies and forms of cooperation, on a new basis. Strengthening the Communities/ Establishment of the Union

7 Maastricht Treaty: The columnar structure of the EU until European 2. Common Foreign3. Cooperation in Communities and Security Policy the area of police and justice

8 Amsterdam Treaty (1999) Treaty of Nice (2003) Lisbon Treaty (2009) – the EU as a legal entity/ the European Communities are being absorbed by the EU – further equalisation of the European Parliament and the Council – 3rd column (Cooperation in the area of police and justice) is being communitised – 2nd column (Common Foreign and Security Policy) remains intergovernmental – new: voluntary leaving of the EU On a steady way to supranationality: new treaties

9 – the member states have been transferring more and more competences to a big Europe – requests of the member states towards more subsidiarity have not been considered in the Maastricht Treaty – the member states have less influence – on the other hand, regions want to leave nation states and form their own nation states (e.g. Scotland, Catalonia, discussions in Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol or Flanders) Supranationality vs. subsidiarity

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