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This bloody conflict lasted four years and caused the deaths of over 21 million people. Image: Royal Irish Rifles in a trench during the battle of the Somme. Source: UK Imperial War Museum.
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Even deadlier than World War I, this war lasted six years and took the lives of 50 million people worldwide. Image: American troops at Normandy. Source: National Archives.
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French leader Robert Schuman suggested that several countries work together to manage coal and steel production and said that if countries learned to cooperatie, they would not be as likely to make war. Image: Robert Schuman making his proposal. Source: Europa Alla La Vagna.
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Six nations (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) signed a treaty creating the European Coal and Steel Community. This created a COMMON MARKET for coal and steel. Image: ECSC flag. Source: Wikimedia, public domain.
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The same six countries removed trade barriers for all kinds of goods, creating the EEC (Common Market). Image: EEC's High Authority building, Luxembourg.
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12 Common Market countries formed the EU. Image: Signing of the Maastricht Treaty creating the EU. Source: http://ec.europa.edu
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The majority of EU member states use the euro. However, s ome have chosen not to use the euro (UK) or have not yet achieved a stable enough economy to be allowed to use it (Poland).
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Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia join the EU.
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27 member states, 3 candidate states: Turkey, Croatia, and Macedonia. Map source: Wikimedia. Author: ssolbergj.
