The EU, Thatcher, and Yugoslavia

Post-War Need for Unity After World War 2, Europe needed better friendship between countries to preserve peace Political union was rife with potential conflict and disagreement Military union suggested frightening implications: enemies, corruptible power, potential conflict Economic unity was easy to suggest, beneficial to many, did not require much sacrifice EU emphasizes that European nations’ commonalities are greater than their differences First steel ingot created under European Steel and Coal community

Towards an EU 1951: European Coal and Steel Community: France, West Germany, Italy, Benelux 1957: Treaty of Rome created “European Economic Community” –EEC abolished all tariffs between member nations, and allowed labor migration –Join European nations together to increase clout to near status of 2 superpowers –1961 UK desired admission, but vetoed by France until 1973 –1973: UK, Ireland, Denmark joined –1982: Spain, Portugal, Greece joined

Toward the Euro Currency 1991: Treaty of Maastricht –Common currency planned for EEC –Common central bank for EEC area –Renamed as European Union 1999: Most EU members joined the Euro zone, adopting single currency Britain and Denmark did not, and retained own central banks and currencies 2004: EU accepted 10 new member nations, mostly from eastern Europe –But not yet into Euro zone; currency and fiscal stability must be proved first

The EU Today Organization to which member states have delegated some sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. Common market, without tariffs between countries and without immigration restrictions Works to make decisions about –Trade and the economy –Citizens’ rights –Ensuring freedom, security and justice –Job creation –Regional development –Environmental protection –Making globalization work for everybody

Margaret Thatcher’s UK Conservative prime minister ; staunch Reagan ally Became PM determined to reverse decline of UK: inflation, unemployment; elected 3 times –Deregulation –Sold off public facilities to private industry –Weakened unions: coal miners strike Gov’t to close 20 state-owned mines Miners struck for over a year Violence at picket lines wounded 20,000 Miners’ union finally gave in without concessions By 1992, 97 pits closed and rest sold to private industry 1982 Falklands War: UK defended Falkland Islands against Argentine junta’s attack

Yugoslavian Civil War Marshal Tito ruled unified Yugoslavia since 1940: strong central authority kept ethnicities together 1980: Tito died, and ethnicities began to fragment 1990: Slovenia and Croatia declared independence 1991: Croatian Serbs demanded safeguards: Serbian army attacked Croatia Serbia and Croatia attempted to divide Bosnia-Herzegovina: Serbian army led ethnic cleansing 1994: NATO bombed Serbia; Serbia withdrew from Bosnia 1999: Serbia attempted to force Albanians from Kosovo: NATO air strikes forced Serbian forces from Kosovo Serbian leader Milosovic tried before UN criminal court: died in custody

Current EU Membership