Economic and political integration between the member states of the European Union means that these countries have to take joint decisions on many matters. So they have developed common policies in a very wide range of fields - from agriculture to culture

The first 200 words of this essay...

EUROPE

Europe has always shown instability as countries have always fought and invented each other. Many European countries were convinced that the only way to secure peace between countries was to unite them economically and politically. On the 19th September 1946 Winston Churchill calls for Untied States of Europe. This was seen as response to what already America was doing. Four years later on the 9th May 1950 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposes creation of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). Countries like Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands ('the Six') sign Treaty establishing European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris) in 18th April 1951. This cooperation was going extremely well and on the 1st of January 1958 in Italy, Rome the Treaty of Rome was formed, six countries signed the treaty setting up European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Another treaty was signed by France and Federal Republic of Germany called the Treaty of Friendship (Elysee Treaty) in 22nd January 1963. The member states were very pleased on how things were running, further more they removed trade barriers between them and forming a "common market". In