Growth of the European Union (EU)

Question 1

How did the EU originally start?

Answer 1

1957 - Treaty of Rome.
Originally 6 members.
15 at the end of the 20th century.
Originally EEC.
Changed to EC.
Then EU.
Now 28 members.

Question 2

What were the original 6 EU members?

Answer 2

France.
Italy.
West Germany.
Belgium.
Netherlands.
Luxembourg.

Question 3

When did the UK join the EU?

What was the last member to join?

Answer 3

1973, along with Ireland and Denmark.

Croatia was the 28th member - 2013.

Question 4

Why was the 1957 treaty necessary?

Answer 4

To develop closer economic ties between member nations.

Important to tie West Germany to an economic union - could promote prosperity/guarantee future peace.

Question 5

How have the aims of economic integration been promoted by the EU? 4

Answer 5

1. Reduced tariffs/barriers.
2. Common external tariff on outside union imports.
3. Free movement of labour, capital.
4. Common policies on agriculture, fishing etc.

Question 6

What have been the positives of the EU?

Answer 6

Greater interdependence.
Integrated economies - increased living standards.
Encouraged competition.
Greater efficiency - producers have access to larger markets.

Question 7

What is the Treaty of Maastricht 1992?

Answer 7

Paved the way for a monetary union in 2002.
Members (except UK, Denmark and Sweden) adopted a common currency - the euro.
Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia then accepted into the euro zone.
Slovakia joined in 2009.

Question 8

What is likely to happen as a result of closer integration?

What would its aims be?

Answer 8

Establishment of a constitution.

1. Replace overlapping treaties of the EEC, EC and EU.
2. Codify human rights legislation.
3. Streamline EU decision-making process.

Question 9

Why couldn’t the EU constitution not come into force?

Answer 9

Rejected in French and Netherland referendums.

Question 10

What were the features of the Treaty of Lisbon? 5

Answer 10

2007.

1. Created of European president.
2. Creation of common foreign policy - increases the EU’s profile.
3. Commissioners number reduced from 27 to 18.
4. National vetoes removed in approx. 50 policy areas.
5. Voting weights between member states redistributed.