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After the second world war, Robert Schuman, presented some ideas to consolidate peace, to avoid new conflicts in Europe, and to complete economically as a block with other world economies.
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Belgium, France, Italy, West Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands, joined the E.C.C. in 1951
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Six countries (Belgium, France, Italy, west Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands) created the European Coal and Steel Community (E.C.S.C.). It was successfull, so they decided to expand their project.
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Signing this, the European Economic Community (E.C.C) and the European Atomic Energy Community (E.A.E.C) were established. They changed the form of how people thought from Europe, and tried to rise economy for more integration.
They also introduced new measures:
- They set up common economic policies for member countries.
- They introduced free movement of goods, services, workers and capital between member countries.
- They created new laws in common to help to strengthen political cooperation. -
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the E.U. in 1973
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Grecee joined the E.U. in 1981
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Spain and Portugal joined the European Union
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This teatry came into force, changing the name from E.C.C. to European Union (EU). They changed the name, for the entering of new countries. They also led to:
- At an economical level, a single common market was established. In 2002, the official European currency, the euro, came into circulation in the Eurozone
- At a political level, all citizens of the EU were granted European citizenship.
- At a scial level, joint cultural, educational and environmental policies were adopted. -
Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the E.U. in 1995
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Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the E.U. in 2004
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Bulgaria and Romania joined the E.U. in 2007
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The treaty of Lisbon, reform the institutions of the E.U.:
- It valided the Charter of Fundamental RIghts for all European citizens.
- It created a new, more democratic voting system.
- It improved the EU decision-making process: a European president is now chosen to represent the E.U. for a two and a half year term.
- It strengthened E.U. foreign policies. -
Croatia joined the E.U. in 2013
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England, left the E.U the 1st of february of 2020