1. Mr. Meester AP European History Pages 1045-1050
European Unification
Mr. Meester
AP European History
Pages

2. Post-War Cooperation
After World War II Western Europe moved towards cooperation in 3 main areas:
Politically, Militarily, and Economically
Economic cooperation unlike the others didn’t involve a loss of sovereignty
It brought immediate benefits and popularity
The General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Included 23 nations and became the basis of the post war global economy (99 by 1990)

3. The European Coal & Steel Community
In 1951 the European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC) was founded
France, West Germany, Italy, and the Benelux
Placed the industries under a supranational organization
Removed tariffs and quotas
Caused profits to increase in all member nations

4. The European Economic Community (EEC)
The success of the ECSC and failure of the French and British in the Suez Crisis convinced European leaders they needed to work together to be able to influence the US or USSR
The Treaty of Rome (1957)
The ECSC became the EEC or Common Market
They sought free trade, free flow of labor & capital, and equal wages & benefits in all countries

5. Success of the Common Market
The EEC was extremely successful early
1959 Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden , Austria, Portugal, & Switzerland formed the European Free Trade Area
By 1968 the EEC had abolished tariffs and allowed greater labor & trade migration
Britain tried twice to join the EEC in 1963 & 1967, but Charles de Gaulle veto them twice
Felt they were too close to the US

6. Evolution of the EEC
1973 Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark were admitted to the EEC
By the 1980’s there were disagreements and stagnated growth inside the EEC
Treaty of Maastricht (1991)
Transformed the EEC into the European Union (EU)
Setup a strong central bank
By 1992 completely free with a single tariff on outside imports

7. Growth of the EU The European Union was ratified in 1993
In 1999 it launched the common currency
The Euro became the currency for 12 of the member nations
In 2004 the EU expanded adding 10 new member nations (25 nations total)
Most were former Soviet allies
The European Constitution was also adopted

8. Problems for the EU The European Constitution was never ratified
Would have taken power from the nations and given it to a central EU government
Unification has slowed for many reasons
The economy in Europe has slowed and many nations are actually looking at bankruptcy
Small nations feel they will be dominated by large nations like France & Germany
Some feel the Euro places them at a disadvantage economically
Admission of Turkey (The Muslim Question)