Question

Explain the structure of the European Union.

Answer 1

1. The Second World War followed by the Cold War gave rise to constant instability which has always motivated the European countries to come together.
2. It is on this basis that European Union was established. The European Union began as an organisation that wanted to foster economic cooperation. The idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict.
3. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and European Economic Community (EEC) were created for this purpose in 1951 and 1957 respectively.
4. Later these various organisations merged together and were referred to as the European Community.
5. In 1973 an agreement was signed to create a European Parliament. The process of creating a single market for the European Union began in the 1980s and was completed in 1993.
6. The ‘Maastricht’ Treaty was signed on 7th February 1992 to create the European Union (EU). This treaty led to the expansion of spheres of cooperation which now included internal affairs, judicial matters, foreign and defence policies.