European integration. European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration of states[citation needed] wholly or partially in Europe. European integration has primarily come about through the European Union and the Council of Europe. History[edit] One of the first to conceive of a union of European nations was Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who wrote the Pan-Europa manifesto in 1923.[1] His ideas influenced Aristide Briand, who gave a speech in favour of a European Union in the League of Nations on 8 September 1929, and who in 1930 wrote a "Memorandum on the Organization of a Regime of European Federal Union" for the Government of France,[2] which became the first European government formally to adopt the principle.
Theories of integration[edit] The question of how to avoid wars between the nation-states was essential for the first theories. Citizens' organisations calling for further integration[edit] Most integrated countries[edit] The EU at a glance - The History of the European Union. The Founding Fathers of the EU The following visionary leaders inspired the creation of the European Union we live in today. Without their energy and motivation we would not be living in the sphere of peace and stability that we take for granted.
From resistance fighters to lawyers, the founding fathers were a diverse group of people who held the same ideals: a peaceful, united and prosperous Europe. Beyond the founding fathers described below, many others have worked tirelessly towards and inspired the European project. This section on the founding fathers is therefore a work in progress. A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation The European Union is set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. The ‘Swinging Sixties’ – a period of economic growth A growing Community – the first Enlargement The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall A Europe without frontiers Further expansion 2010 – today.
The EU at a glance - Panorama of the EU. The EU is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 European countries that together cover much of the continent. The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries who trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict. The result was the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Since then, a huge single market has been created and continues to develop towards its full potential. From economic to political union What began as a purely economic union has evolved into an organisation spanning policy areas, from development aid to environment. A name change from the EEC to the European Union (EU) in 1993 reflected this. Mobility, growth, stability and a single currency Human rights and equality. The EU at a glance - European treaties. A treaty is a binding agreement between EU member countries. It sets out EU objectives, rules for EU institutions, how decisions are made and the relationship between the EU and its member countries. Treaties are amended to make the EU more efficient and transparent, to prepare for new member countries and to introduce new areas of cooperation – such as the single currency.
Under the treaties, EU institutions can adopt legislation, which the member countries then implement. The complete texts of treaties, legislation, case law and legislative proposals can be viewed using the EUR-Lex database of EU law. The main treaties are: Treaty of Lisbon Signed: 13 December 2007 Entered into force: 1 December 2009 Purpose: to make the EU more democratic, more efficient and better able to address global problems, such as climate change, with one voice.
The Lisbon treaty clarifies which powers: belong to the EU belong to EU member countries are shared. Read more about the Treaty of Lisbon Treaty of Nice. The EU at a glance - The EU in slides. The budget of the EU : how is your money spent? Where does the money come from? The EU obtains revenue not only from contributions from member countries but also from import duties on products from outside the EU and a percentage of the value-added tax levied by each country. How is the money spent? The EU budget pays for a vast array of activities from rural development and environmental protection to protection of external borders and promotion of human rights. The Commission, Council and Parliament all have a say in how big the budget is and how it is allocated. But the Commission and EU countries are responsible for the actual spending. The euro The euro – used every day by some 332 million Europeans – is the most tangible proof of cooperation between EU countries.
The Economic and Financial Crisis The economic crisis has prompted intense and sustained action by the EU's national governments, the European Central Bank and the Commission since it erupted worldwide in 2008. The official website of the European Union. European Civil Service. The European Civil Service is the civil service serving the institutions of the European Union, of which the largest employer is the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union. It is the permanent bureaucracy that implements the decisions of the Union's government. Civil servants are recruited directly into the institutions after being selected by competitions set by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), the official selection office.
They are allocated to departments, known as Directorates-General (DGs), each covering one or more related policy areas. Directorates-General[edit] The Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General (DGs or the services), each headed by a director-general, and various other services. List of Directorates-General[edit] The Directorates-General are divided into four groups: Policy DGs, External relations DGs, General Service DGs and Internal Service DGs. List of services[edit] Hierarchy[edit] Grades[edit] EU institutions and other bodies. Quick links to EU institutions Direct access to institution and body websites Setting the agenda The European Council sets the EU's overall political direction – but has no powers to pass laws. Led by its President – currently Herman Van Rompuy – and comprising national heads of state or government and the President of the Commission, it meets for a few days at a time at least every 6 months.
Law-making There are 3 main institutions involved in EU legislation: the European Parliament, which represents the EU’s citizens and is directly elected by them; the Council of the European Union, which represents the governments of the individual member countries. Together, these three institutions produce through the "Ordinary Legislative Procedure" (ex "co-decision") the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. Decision-making in the EU – more on EU law-making procedures List of Presidencies of the Council of the EU – 2011-2020 Other EU institutions Two other institutions play vital roles: European Institutions - useful links. Glossary - Qualified majority. Treaty of Lisbon - Library.