A Stronger And Unified European Union

As the EU includes 27 states therefore they would inevitably face difficulties due to the diverse range of national interests. On the other hand increasing numbers of policies are decided on a supranational level and therefore speed the process, for example decisions relating to trade or agriculture. However vital policies such as Defence remain intergovernmental, as do decisions such as the accession of new states. The effect of recent economic crisis has made an impact on the creation of EU superstate. The global downturn, which originated in 2007 created the ‘Eurozone’ crisis. As a result EU bailouts have been organized for Greece, Ireland and Portugal. The fear of the crisis extending further across Europe has caused a loss of confidence in the EU, and in particular the euro. There has even been speculation that Greece may have to exit the ‘Eurozone’. Alternatively it has also caused some to call for further integration, arguing the crisis has shown the need for tighter budget rules throughout the EU.

The Eurozone is the worlds most sophisticated currency Union and has since its foundation helped to spur the economic Development of European Countries. This essay will firstly address the question to which extend Germany has benefitted from its membership since it joined. Furthermore, the currency union will be critically examined to figure out in what way it does fulfil the requirements of an Optimum currency area. Finally, policy lessons learned from Germany in the OCA will be set out.

Before the Single Market Acts, there was a real risk that Europe’s economy would stagnate and would have experienced a long term loss in economic competitiveness. Citizens and companies were not aware of the advantages market integration would bring about in Europe and were not so eager to give their support towards the undertaking of the single market project. The EU launched a fight back with the Single Market Acts, which is a plan to relaunch growth and put markets at the service

The European Union’s core foundation began in the 1950’s, when the Treaty of Rome was signed. Decades earlier, right after the Second World War, a movement was created to unite the countries of Germany and France. The EU has, for some time, been a major player in world politics and with twenty-eight member states the EU has had its fair share of complications throughout the years. Foreign policy began to take place early on as the EU was seen as a political system that was making decisions on behalf 28 countries. In the 1970s Henry Kissinger, the United States Secretary of State for President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford, brought up the question of “If I want to call Europe, who do I call?” This began a long and stressful debate of who is the official that needs to be called when other foreign actors and institutions want to address a problem or simply ask a question to the European Union. After many years European leaders claimed to have answered Henry Kissinger’s question by creating the European Council President and a European Foreign Minister position. But is it as simple as that? Has this question really been resolved by just creating these positions? We can see that reorganizing the Union’s political structure has strengthened the EU, it has allowed them to show foreign leaders a more united front and show that they, too, have global interests.

Driven by the desire to prevent another World War, many of the founding fathers of the European union envisioned a federalist Europe. Monnet was adamant on the idea that the center of the community should exist a supranational body. Originally established after World War Two, what is now the European Union was formally the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The ECSC was established on the basis that trade and pooling of both commodities would prevent rearmament and another war. Established on the 18th April 1951, by the Treaty of Paris, the founding six member states ( France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) have expanded until it tripling in size. Today, after rapid phases and slower periods of integration, the EU is composed of 28 member-states after. Over 60 years of enlargement, the European union has yet to has still not reached its territorial limits, with numerous application still being processed. Undefined frontiers exist in the Balkans and Turkey, as well as in eastern Europeans regions. With economic interdependence, European countries have united economically and politically with the goal of maintaining peace. The question yet to be answered is, how far and deep should political integration go?

The creation of the Single European Market led to a major development in economic and political European integration. It is managed by the European Central Bank (ECB) and currently the Euro is used in nineteen EU states. The ECB monitors and regulates the European Union’s interest rates. Risks associated with exchange rates disappeared, and the costs are reduced in comparison to individual state currencies. Individuals travelling throughout the Eurozone only need to carry one currency. Not all EU member states share the Euro, states have a free will and may choose whether to adopt the currency or not. Countries can be members of the European Union without sharing the single currency of the Eurozone. Being united by one currency brings political and economic stability to the EU’s member states. The Euro creates a larger economy as well as a homogenous market where states are able to co operate towards one common goal.

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among 28 member states. Formed through a series of binding treaties, the Union is latest in a process of integration begun after World War II in Europe to promote peace and economic prosperity. Its founders hoped that by creating specified areas in which member states agreed to share sovereignty firstly in coal and steel production, economics and trade, and nuclear energy, it can promote interdependence and make another war in Europe. Since the 1950s, this European integration project has expanded to encompass other economic sectors; a customs union; a single market in which goods, people, and capital move freely; a common trade policy; a common agricultural policy; many aspects of social and environmental policy; and a common currency (the euro €) that is used by 19 member states. Since the mid-1990s, EU member states have also taken significant steps toward political integration, with decisions to develop a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and efforts to enhance cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), which is aimed at forging common internal security measures.

In 1945 the European Unity (formally established as the European Union when the Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November 1993 ) was a political development, which was reinforced and inspired by leading British politicians, especially Sir Winston Churchill. In his 1946 Zurich speech "a kind of United States of Europe" his intent was for the European Unity to be led by France and Germany and he specifically had no intention of involving Britain. It was evident that in these early stages of building a united Europe it reflected some of today’s views, which have been described as "wishing to seem an important part of Europe without being a part of it". Fast forward to David Cameron’s success in the elections and this has bought him

What most people don’t realise is just how deeply being a member of the European Union affects us in our everyday lives. It doesn’t just affect our law and big political issues but also our culture, the NHS and job prospects. In this essay I will only be focusing on a tiny amount of the issues raised out of the enormous range including how being a member of the European Union affects our laws, jobs and immigration. I will try to weigh up all of the arguments for each side and, hopefully, come to a conclusion.

Brexiters are desperate and angry with everything and everyone that suggests that the British people should vote to remain in the European Union in the 23 June 2016 referendum. The recent victim of their desperation and ire has been no less a personage than the US President Barrack Obama himself.

In 1999, the European Union introduced the Euro for a large proportion of its members. In 2009 a European constitution was introduced, which gave more powers to the European Parliament. The 'Lisbon Treaty ' was also created, allowing the European Union to supersede Foreign Policy and Home Affairs, extending the European Union’s scope well beyond economic integration.

The European Union (EU) was 'founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law'. Democracy can be interpreted in different ways, for it means "the power of the people" where the public decide who they want as they leader by a majority vote system who represents the views of the people. Lisbon Treaty gave these rights the force of law therefore these rights are not to be violated by member states and must maintain a healthy baseline of democracy. Many academics have argued that the EU is suffering from a 'democratic deficit' due to the Euopean not having enough power and for other reasons which will be discussed. I will discuss the observation of Joseph Weilers 'standard version' of the democratic deficit and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of his argument. This essay will examine the reasons why many academics and authors believe there is a democratic deficit. Further discussions will point to renowned intellectuals who reject the idea of democratic deficit , such as Professor Andrew Moravcsik and Proffesor Giandomencio Majone who both refute the idea that the EU lacks democratic accountability- for different reason which will be discussed in detail. My conclusion will include my belief that the EU does suffer from a democratic deficit and this will be supported by the powerful evidence that will be stated throughout this essay.

The European Union formed in 1956, firstly as a European Community until further expansion. “The Union was not the first attempt at European cooperation, but it has been the boldest in conception, the most developed and the most successful,” (Watts). With the first countries to join such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Holland, then many other countries joining for years after. It was formed in search of mutual benefit between the European countries after the impact that World War II took on Europe, and it created a huge benefit for Europe and its citizens, allowing travel to citizens freely within Europe, but in recent years we have seen a surplus of people wanting to come to Europe. While, the European Union has been a strong advantage for Europe, the open borders have become out of control and the future does not look as promising.

European Union was formed with a lot of expectations. Despite closeness and similarities, the various nations of the European continent fought bitter wars for thousands of years within themselves. After the devastating World War II, finally everyone saw the light and decided to give a chance to peaceful coexistence. However, EU’s path hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. Especially of late, too many critical problems have emerged, making some to question its very existence.

In recent years the European Union has began taking a new shape, positioning itself as a major competitor in the global market. With economies becoming increasingly integrated and globalization creating a new playing field for trade, new strategies have been necessary to grow with and beyond other world markets. Some of these strategies have included monetary unification, decentralization, enlargement, welfare reform, and social convergence. In the following essay I will address of these strategies and convey my thoughts and concerns surrounding them.