Benefits and disadvantages of European expansion

Audrey Plessas 1S5

Geography Essay

The benefits brought about by the European Union outweigh the disadvantages. Discuss.

In 1957, the European Union was created in order to construct a more united Europe, strengthening its war-affected members. The Union brought to its countries not only economic boosting, but also social and political benefits. However, disadvantages to this unification have also been discovered since. Nowadays, being in the EU is both a boon and a drawback in all three departments. Therefore, is it still advantageous for a country to be a member of the European Union?

Primarily, the European union has caused the economy of its members to considerably increase. This effect was mostly due to the creation of a single market, engendering more competition amongst companies and lower prices. Free trade in the Schengen area for example allowed companies making business in other member countries to reduce the cost of exporting across Europe as custom taxes were suppressed. The single currency also favored trade by suppressing currency exchange taxes and reducing monetary instability. Thus, by standardizing national regulations, the single market makes it easier to do business in the EU and contributes to faster economic growth. Moreover, the Common Agriculture Policy, with its subsidies, helped increase productivity and provide consumers with food at reasonable prices, once again boosting the economies. To add on to these facts, tourism in the European Union has also been promoted, generating jobs hence economic activity. Not only did countries like Ireland, Portugal and Spain for instance see themselves economically develop radically after joining the EU, but also throughout the unity of market, the union saw itself strong against the biggest worldwide economies.

Never the less, the free movement within the Schegen area created a mass movement of qualified eastern labor towards the western countries in which the wages are higher. Hence, inequalities are found within the EU, this being reinforced by the economies not being close enough, jeopardizing the Euro.

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Secondly, the EU also brought political advantages to European countries. The idea of a union brings the member states to a term of peace, reducing political tensions and war probability. Another important factor to the stability within the union is the obligatory maintain of democracy in all countries in the EU. Furthermore, considering the 27 countries it represents, it’s voice is more largely heard on the international scale, thus giving the EU much more political influence. Consequentially, a country like Romania that has, on its own, not very much political power, achieved more weight internationally by joining the EU. Also, the North Atlantic Treaty organization, which is an organization between 23 of the members of the EU promising to each other military support in case of any external offensive, endorses a gain of political authority, as the EU and it’s members are stronger against any possible rival.

On the other hand, negative effects such as the loss of sovereignty are linked to joining the Union. Indeed, the European Institutions ask of countries to yield some of their sovereign powers, meaning these governments loose some of the control they have over their nation. In addition to this, all of the decision making of the EU takes place Brussels, far away for most of the Unions population, making citizens feel excluded. Therefore, on a political level, the European Union takes away a lot of power upon countries but also some of the influence the population has on decisions, jeopardizing democracy.

Finally, the EU has proven itself to be quite advantageous on the social level. Indeed, laws such as the freedom of movement within the EU have brought great cultural mixes. Nowadays, it is very frequent for students to go to university or for businessmen to have conference meetings in another European country. This socializing between populations from different nationalities induces a broader culture of the citizens. There is also a common culture that has been set, especially laws that give the people of the EU the same rights. For example, a charter protecting the Europeans from discrimination and racism was made as well as employment regulations. The people of the European nations are therefore protected from many injustices. In addition, there is also security traffics such as drugs or immigration. Although there are no more frontiers inside of the European Union, all the countries have participated in making the borders of the union very protected and a more secure life inside these boundaries.

However, this idea of standardizing social policies to all of Europe and mixing more and more can be seen as the reducing of the individuality each country has. This also often endorses the dilemma of governments having to choose whether they should take decisions for the good of the EU or only their country. Thus, citizens now belong to a larger nation state in a sense, possibly harming the civil rights, the economy or other facets down the road.

The EU brings to its member countries, on one hand, economical, political and social power but on the other hand inequality, and a threat to the individual governmental power. Consequently, the advantages over through the minor disadvantages, which can be dealt with. However, these deficiencies could become more serious with time and the expansion of the European Union.