CH3 Flashcards
1945
The European states confronted the ruin of their economies and the destruction of the assumptions and structures on which Europe had been founded.
European integration after 1945 was aided by
Cold War
America and EU after 1945
America extended massive financial help for reviving Europe’s economy under what was called the Marshall plan
The US also created a new a new collective security structure under NATO
Marshall Plan
Under the Marshall Plan the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation OEEC was established in 1949 to channel aid to the west European states.
It became a forum where the western European states began to cooperate on trade and economic issues
1949
The Council of Europe established - another step forward in political cooperation
The process of economic integration of European capitlasit countries
proceeded step by step leading to the formation of the European Economic Community in 1957
Acquiring a pol dimension
This process (Economic Community) acquired a pol dimension with the creation of the European Parliament.
European Union
The collapse of the Soviet Bloc put Europe on a fast track and resulted in the establishment of the European Union in 1992
What was the foundation that was laid? (3)
for a common foreign and security policy
for cooperation on justice and home affairs
and the creation of a single currency
Evolution of European Union
EU has evolved over time from an economic union to an increasingly political one
The EU has started to act more as a nation state while the attempts to have a Constitution for the EU have failed, it has its own
flag
anthem
founding date
currency
Also has some form of a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations.
The European Union has tried to expand areas of cooperation while acquiring new members, especially from the erstwhile Soviet Bloc. The process has not proved easy for people in many countries are not very enthusiastic in giving the EU powers that were exercised by the government of their country. There are also reservations about including some new countries within the EU
Which influences does EU have?
Economic
Political
Diplomatic
Military
Economic influence of EU
1) Is the world’s second biggest economy with a GDP of more than 17 trillion dollars in 2016 next to that of United States of America
2) Its currency the euro can pose a threat to the dominance of the US dollar.
3) Its share of world trade is much larger than that of the United States allowing it to be more assertive in trade disputes with the US and China
4) Its economic power gives it influence over its closest neighbours as well as in Asia and Africa.
5) It also functions as an important bloc in international economic organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
The EU has also political and diplomatic influence
1) Two members of the EU Britain and France hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council
2) The EU includes several non - permanent members of the UNSC This has enabled the EU to influence some US policies such as the current US position on Iran’s nuclear programme
3) Its use of diplomacy economic investments and negotiations rather than coercion and military force has been effective as in the case of its dialogue with China on human rights and environmental degradation
Military influence of EU
1) The EU’s combined forces that is the 2nd largest in the world
2) The total spending on defence is 2nd after the US
3) 2 EU member states Britain and France also have nuclear arsenals of approximately 550 nuclear warheads
4) It is also the worlds 2nd most important source of space and communications technology
EU’s foreign relations
As a supranational organisation
The EU is able to intervene in economic, political and social areas.
But in many areas its member states have their own foreign relations and defence policies that are often at odds with each other
Thus, Tony Blair was America’s partner in the Iraq invasion and many of the EU’s newer members made up the US- led ‘coalition of the willing’ whereas Germany and France opposed American policy
There is also a deep - seated ‘Euro-skepticism; in some parts of Europe about the EU’s integrationist agenda.
Thus for eg Britain’s former pm Margaret Thatcher kept the UK out of the European Market
Denmark and Sweden have resisted the Maastricht Treaty and the adoption of the euro the common European currency. This limits the ability of the EU to act in matters of foreign relations and defence
