Unit 4 Business Environment - The importance of international trade
Introduction to the EU
Lessons of History
The Roman Empire
The Romans did try and unify Europe and were reasonably successful.
The Battle of Hastings
1066 saw the last invasion of mainland England by William the Conqueror.
Battle of Agincourt
One of the many battles of the many wars between France and England… illustrated by Shakespeare’s play Henry V
The Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon attempted to unify Europe but was eventually stopped by the Russian winter and Arthur Wellsley (later the Duke of Wellington).
Of course as we all know Sharpe won the Napoleonic Wars...
The Great War
The war to end all wars, saw major conflict across Europe, destruction, death and civilian casualties.
The Western Front was a hell of mud and explosions.
It also saw the use of aeroplanes, tanks, machines guns and submarines.
The Second World War
This time Adolf Hitler tried to unify Europe, the result was millions dead, destruction across Europe (and the rest of the world) and the invention of nuclear bombs.
In war torn Europe there was a growing movement for no more destruction, and many politicans realised that closer economic co-operation could be a catalyst for future secure peace.
From Coal to Paella
1945 ~ Benelux Customs Union
1952 ~ ECSC
1957 ~ Treaty of Rome
1960s ~ "Non"
1973 ~ six become nine
1981 ~ then ten
1986 ~ then twelve
Benelux Customs Union
Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg create a trade area, designed to reduce trade barriers and encourage trade between the three nations.
Treaty of Paris
The European Coal and Steel Community was set up to remove trade barriers between France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg for coal, steel and iron ore.
The UK joined in 1954.
Treaty of Rome
Well the ECSC worked so, the European Economic Community (EEC) was set up with the objective of creating a customs union and eventually a common market.
Euratom was set up to free atomic energy trade.
EC = EEC + ECSC + Euratom
The original six
The original six were:: France; West Germany; Italy; Belgium; Netherlands; Luxembourg
The 1960s
During this time the UK realised the folly of not joining the EC and made noises to see if they could join.
Charles De Gaulle (President of France) kept saying "non".
Six become nine...
In 1973, three countries joined the EC.
- Ireland
- Denmark
- United Kingdom
Norway thought about joining, but in a referendum, the people of Norway said no.
Six become ten…
In 1981, Greece joined the European Community.
Ten become twelve…
In 1986 Spain and Portugal join the European Community.
From Paella to EMU
1986 ~ Single European Act
1991 ~ unification of Germany
1992 ~ Maastricht Treaty
1993 ~ formation of European Union
1995 ~ twelve become fifteen
1997 ~ The Amsterdam Treaty
1999 ~ The Euro
Single European Act
The SEA was designed to achieve a unified market in the EC for goods, services, labour and capital by the beginning of 1993.
This was the most European legislation passed in the UK and paved the way for the single market.
Unification
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 resulted in the eventual unification of Germany.
The collapse of the Iron Curtain may eventually result in a enlargement of the European Union as countries such as Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic attempt to join.
Maastricht Treaty
Signed by all member states in 1993, officially known as the Treaty of European Union
The Treaty agreed to even closer economic co-operation between the member states and eventually the adoption of a single currency (which became a reality in 1999).
Opting Out
The UK originally opted out of the Social Charter and adoption of a single currency.
The Labour government under Tony Blair signed the social charter in 1997.
The Labour government is currently undecided about the single currency.
The Conservatives are definitely saying no.
Then there were fifteen
Sweden, Finland and Austria took the plunge and joined the EU in 1995.
Norway once more thought about joining, but once more in a referendum, the people of Norway said no.
The Amsterdam Treaty
1997 saw the signing of the Amsterdam Treaty whose main aims were
- reducing national vetoes,
- increasing the powers of the European Parliament
- dismantling of national borders
Euro and EMU
On the 1st January 1999 the single currency became a reality and the Euro was born.
The Euro is part of eventual Economic and Monetary Union.
Euro Timetable
January 1, 1999 to January 1, 2002
Changeover to the euro by the banking and finance industry
January 1, 2002
Start of circulation of euro banknotes and coins
Complete changeover to the euro in public administration
July 1, 2002
Cancel the legal tender status of national banknotes and coins
That's Nice!
Amsterdam was followed by the Treaty of Nice in 2001, which revised the Rome and Maastricht treaties to allow the EU to cope with further enlargement to the east.
Big Influx
The EU became even bigger in 2004 with the influx of ten new countries: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
Two more...
2006 saw another two countries join, Bulgaria and Romania.
Lisbon
2007 saw the signing of the Lisbon Treaty which should come into effect in 2009. It was developed to replace the Rome Treaty which was never ratified after France and Denmark rejected the treaty following referendum votes in those countries.
Links
