European Union Description :: European Union Essays

European Union Description In 1967, three European institutions merged. The three institutions were the European Coal and Steel club (ECSC), the European frugal Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). When the three merged, they create the European Community or EC. On November 1, 1993, the 12 members of the European Community ratified the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty. The twelve members were- Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, long Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. The countries of the Benelux Economic Union- Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg- continue to and in some ways as a adept economic entity within the European Union. The EC became the policy-making remains of the European Union. In 1994 Austria, Finland, and Sweden became members of the European Union. By 1997 more than a 12 countries had applied for European Union membership, but the European Union had unaccompanied admitted the three listed above. The new(prenominal) countries that applied for membership overwhelm Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. Of those countries, sestet are considered associate members of the European Union Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Three other countries-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-are being considered for associate membership. Other potential European Union applicants include members of the European Free Trade Association. The European Union was expected to make up which counties it would open negotiations for full membership with by the end of 1997. The purpose of the European Union was to increase economic integration and strengthen cooperation among its member states. European citizenship was granted to citizens of each member state, under the Treaty on European Union. Customs and immigration agreements were enhanced to all ow European citizens more emancipation to live, work, and study in any of the member states, and border controls were also eased. The European Union also set a goal of prepareing a single European currency, the Euro, by 1997 this date was later changed to 1999. It is proposed that full circulation of the Euro is to be in effect by the year 2002. At that time the individual states notes leave no longer be valid. The European Unions attempts to establish a single European currency have had some controversy. An archetype is, some member countries, such as Great Britain, have broken that a shared European currency would threaten their national individuality and their governments authority.