urope’s long history of conflict reached acrisis in World War II (1939-1945). In thewake of that destructive war, two goals

emerged: to rebuild the nations’ shatteredeconomies and to prevent new conflict. Somepeople believed the best way to achieve bothgoals was to unify Europe. As you read the CaseStudy, consider the pros and cons of that idea.

Steps Toward UnityIn 1951, France and West Germany began theprocess of unification by signing a treaty thatgave control of their coal and steel resources to amultinational group, the European Coal and SteelCommunity (ECSC). Italy and the Benelux coun-tries also joined the ECSC. The six countries’leaders thought this alliance would have manypositive results. Because the nations woulddepend on each other for industrial resources,their economies would suffer if they foughtagain. No country could prepare for war secret-ly because each knew what the others weremanufacturing. In addition, the ECSC would set

a tone of cooperation that would help Europe rebuild its economy. The next step toward unity came in 1957 with the formation of the

European Economic Community (EEC), also called the CommonMarket. This alliance removed trade barriers, set common economicgoals, and allowed people to live and work in any member country.Between 1958 and 1968, trade among the EEC nations quadrupled.

In 1967, the EEC merged with the ECSC and another Europeanalliance to become the European Community (EC). In 1973, the ECbegan to admit other European nations. (See the map on page 327.)

E

EU headquarters inBrussels, Belgium

1957 European Economic

Community (EEC)forms.

2002Euro adopted

as standardcurrency.

1999Euro introducedin banking and

finance.

1967EEC, ECSC, and European AtomicEnergy Community (Euratom) becomethe European Community (EC).

1993Maastricht Treaty

establishing EuropeanUnion (EU) takes effect.

The Road to European Unity

326 CHAPTER 14

1951European Coal andSteel Community(ECSC) forms.

Today’s Issues in Europe 327

The European Union TodayIn 1993, the Maastricht Treaty took effect, and the European Union(EU) replaced the EC. With 15 member nations, the EU faces manyissues. They include settling political and economic differences, replac-ing national currencies with the euro, and expanding EU membership.

ECONOMICS AND POLITICS EU members wonder how the union willaffect their national economies. For example, workers may move toareas with higher wages, creating shifts in national populations.

Further, some countries believe that switching to the euro will meanlosing control of economic factors such as interest rates. Others don’twant to give up the national identities associated with having their owncurrencies. But many people believe the euro has benefits. Theseinclude greater business efficiency and increased international trade. In1999, financial institutions began to calculate transactions in euros.Euros will begin to be used in everyday life in 2002.

The EU also affects politics. For example, on February 4, 2000, JoergHaider and his Freedom Party became part of a coalition government inAustria. (In a coalition government, several parties share power.) In thepast, Haider had made state-ments that were sympathetic toNazi Germany, so EU nationscriticized Austria for its sup-port of Haider. Haider did stepdown, but some observers fearthat a controversial leader likeHaider could some day tear theEU apart.

EXPANDING THE EU One ofthe complex issues facing theEU is growth. In time, it mightexpand to 28 countries thatpresently have about 475 mil-lion people. Running such ahuge alliance could be difficult.Many of the proposed mem-bers were once Communistnations. In general, they are lessprosperous and have little expe-rience of democracy. Such dif-ferences may create tensionsthat the EU will have to resolve.

On the following pages, youwill find primary sources aboutthe EU. Use them to form yourown opinion.

AT L A N T I CO C E A N

N o r t hS e a

Bayof

Biscay

Black Sea

B al t

i cS

ea

Mediterranean Sea

DENMARK1973

ITALY1951

HUNGARY

FINLAND1995

NORWAY

SWEDEN1995

SPAIN1986

ROMANIA

TURKEY

POLAND

FRANCE1951

(WEST)GERMANY

1951

PORTUGAL1986

GREECE1981

BULGARIA

AUSTRIA1995SWITZERLAND

IRELAND1973

ICELAND

YUGOSLAVIA

MALTA CYPRUS

SLOVAKIA

UNITED KINGDOM

1973

ALBANIA

CZECHREPUBLIC

LITHUANIA

LATVIA

ESTONIA

LUXEMBOURG1951

BELGIUM1951

NETHERLANDS1951

SLOVENIA

MACEDONIA

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

CROATIA

(1990)

0

0 250 500 kilometers

250 500 miles

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

N

SE

W

1973

Original Europeanalliance

Later EuropeanUnion members

European Unioncandidates

Non-membercountries

Year of joiningEuropean alliance

The European Union, 2000

EUR

OP

E

SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting MapsMOVEMENT In what years did the largest expansion of the Europeanalliance occur? What countries joined?

REGION Which region of Europe is not part of the EU? Why?

PRIMARY SOURCE A

SEE

PRIMARY SOURCE B

SEE

PRIMARY SOURCE C

SEE

328 CHAPTER 14

Panel Discussion

Primary sources A to E onthese two pages presentdiffering opinions onexpansion of the EU. Usethese sources and yourown research to prepare fora panel discussion on EUexpansion. You might usethe Internet and the libraryfor research.

PRIMARY SOURCE A

Political Commentary Global Britain, aconservative group in the United Kingdom,gave this view of the euro on January 25,1999. Although the United Kingdom belongsto the EU, it is reluctant to adopt the euro, acentral issue for EU expansion.

The Single Currency is a political project designedto hasten the creation of a Single European Statein which nation-states like Britain would beprovinces. . . . In joining the Single Currency, anation hands over control of its interest rate,exchange rate and gold and currency reserves, aswell as control over tax and spending, to [the EU].All of this is set out in the Maastricht Treaty whichBritain signed in 1992. . . . There are 43 nation-states in Europe, of which only 11 have joined the“single” European currency. Those 11 countries,unlike Britain, are in varying degrees economicsatellites of Germany and France. . . . A singlecurrency eliminates the interest rate and exchangerate safety valves, which allow changing nationaleconomies to adjust to each other. . . .Preparations for the “single” currency have alreadyhelped to cause mass unemployment in Germany,France, and Italy, where real jobless rates are atleast three times as high as in Britain.

PRIMARY SOURCE B

Speech Günter Verheugen of Germany, the EuropeanCommissioner for Enlargement,expressed his views on EUexpansion in speeches in theUnited States on April 4–6, 2000.Germany is an original member of the EU and its predecessors.

Enlargement is the biggest challenge the Unionis facing at the dawn of the new millennium. . . .

We are committed to this historical mission: tointegrate the Central and East European countries

which can and want to participate in our commonachievements. . . . Our objective is to promote political

and economic stability—and make this process irreversible. . . . What are the political benefits? First and foremost, theenlargement process is vital for securing political stability,democracy and respect of human rights on the Europeancontinent as a whole. . . . Political stability and freedom willbe increased throughout Europe. Against the background ofmany years of crisis . . . the only way to achieve lastingstability in Europe is further integration.

Suggested Steps1. Choose a European (EU or non-EU)

country to represent. 2. Research your country’s position on

EU expansion. Use encyclopedias,books, or the Internet to help you findthe right information.

3. Consider the following questionsduring your research.• Why do certain countries want to

join the EU?• What do current EU members have

to gain and lose in expansion?• Why do certain countries want to

remain independent?

4. Create a visual to be shown duringthe panel discussion.

5. Give a 2–3 minute speech thatintroduces your country’s position.

Materials and Supplies• Writing paper• Posterboard• Felt-tip markers• Encyclopedias and reference books• Computer• Internet access

RESEARCH LINKSCLASSZONE .COM

http://www.classzone.com/books/world_geography05/index.cfm

Today’s Issues in Europe 329

PRIMARY SOURCE C

Data Eurobarometer is a company that surveyspublic opinion. It asked people living in the 15 EU countries how they felt about variouscountries joining the EU. This chart lists thevarious countries and the support for them.

PRIMARY SOURCE D

Political Analysis Edmund L. Andrewspublished this article in the New YorkTimes on June 21, 1999. He examinedsome of the problems and issues of EUexpansion into Central Europe.

By becoming [EU] members, the CentralEuropean nations would eventually gain fullaccess to European markets. Their citizenswould be free to live and work throughoutWestern Europe. . . .

As more detailed negotiations loom . . .between the European Union and the Poles,Czechs, and Hungarians . . . both sides face theneed for painful change. . . .

Central Europeans have the added burden of history. Many of them remain suspicious ofGermany, the European Union’s largest powerand Central Europe’s neighbor. And most adults,reared under Communism, are still adjusting to . . . the Western way of doing things.

As for the European Union, the prospect of a flood of labor from the East raises irrationalfears among Westerners already grumblingabout too many immigrants. . . . Another bigfear [in Central Europe] is that foreigners—bywhich most people mean Germans—will buy uptheir land, which is another basic right accordedto anybody living within the European Union.

PRIMARY SOURCE E

Political Cartoon Pat Oliphant, a politicalcartoonist, shows the leaders of the EUtrying to navigate stormy seas on a euro.

Have I . . .

researched my country’sperspective?

answered all relevant questions?

created an interesting, colorfulvisual for the discussion?

practiced my speech?

GeoNet

Back Forward Reload Home Images Print Stop

Level of EU Member Support forPossible Members, 1999NON-EU FOR AGAINST NO OPINIONCOUNTRY (%) (%) (%)Norway 70 12 18

Switzerland 70 13 17

Malta 50 26 24

Hungary 46 31 23

Poland 43 35 22

Cyprus 42 33 25

Czech Republic 40 35 25

Estonia 36 38 26

Latvia 35 38 27

Slovakia 35 39 26

Lithuania 35 39 26

Bulgaria 35 40 25

Romania 33 43 24

Slovenia 32 42 26

Turkey 29 47 24

SOURCE: Standard Eurobarometer

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