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The European Union. “United in Diversity”. There are 27 countries in the EU with Romania and Bulgaria as the last to officially join in 2007 Note some of the candidate countries. The Timeline. 1945-1959: Beginnings of Cooperation
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The European Union “United in Diversity”
There are 27 countries in the EU with Romania and Bulgaria as the last to officially join in 2007 • Note some of the candidate countries
The Timeline • 1945-1959: Beginnings of Cooperation • European Coal and Steel Community unite European countries economically and politically to keep peace • Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands • 1960-1969:“The Swinging Sixties” a Period of Economic Growth • “Youth Culture” emerges during this time and the generation gap widens • Strong period for the economy
1970-1979: A Growing Community- the First Expansion • Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom join the European Union on 1 January 1973, raising the number of member states to nine. • The European Parliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the first time, elect their members directly.
The Timeline • 1990-1999: The Changing Face of Europe • In 1993 the Single Market is completed with the Four Freedoms: • Freedom of movement of goods • Freedom of services • Freedom of people • Freedom of money • In 1995 the EU gains three more new members, Austria, Finland and Sweden
The Timeline • 2000- Today: A Decade of further Expansion • The euro is the new currency for many Europeans • The political divisions between eastern and western Europe are finally declared healed when no fewer than 10 new countries join the EU in 2004. • Many people think that it is time for Europe to have a constitution but what sort of constitution is by no means easy to agree, so the debate on the future of Europe rages on.
Perspective of EU Citizens • Tax • The EU government’s main source of revenue is a high sales tax. • Many complain that the cost of EU governance has significantly increase the cost of many items in Europe.
Perspective of EU Citizens • Justice • European courts have threatened the sovereignty of national and local courts and laws.
Perspective of EU Citizens • Crime • Open borders have made it difficult to control crime and terrorism. • Once someone gets inside the EU’s borders, they can move around freely regardless of citizenship, making it difficult to stop and apprehend criminals.
Perspective of EU Citizens • The Fortress of Europe? • The EU has had to strengthen its borders against immigration against illegal immigration and flow of contraband • The term “Fortress of Europe” has been used to describe the concept of sealing EU borders.
Your Perspective • Putting it together • We have examined many areas within the EU. What do you think of it? It the organization beneficial? Has it lost sight of its original focus?
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory and Spykman’s Rimland Theory. Mackinder wanted to define the geopolitical landscape and predict the future areas of conflict. • Even upon revisions, Mackinder predicted that areas of future conflict would be on the boundaries between the Heartland and the Rimland. • Battle Lines of Eastern Front during WWI • Invasion of Manchuria in 1931
Shatterbelt Theory. Mackinder died in 1947 but his legacy lived on in geopolitical theory. In 1950 American geography Saul Cohen proposed the Shatterbelt Theory and predicted that most Cold War Conflicts would take place in the “Inner Crescent” .
