After World War I, many people began tot talk about a politically unified Europe. The firs Pan-European Congress was held in 1926. In 1929, the French prime minister proposed a federation of European nations for economic and social co-operation. Many people supported this idea, but the star of World War II interrupted the process.
In 1957, the European Economic Community (EEC) was founded. It began with six members: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, luxembourg, West Germany and Italy. Their objective was to increase economic development and prevent another war.
In 1973, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark joined the EEC, making nine member states in all. Greece joined in 1981, and Spain and Portugal joined in 1986. The EEC now had twelve member countries and changed its name to the European Community (EC).
In 1992, the EC changed its name a third time and became the European Union (EU).
Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995. In 2002 most of the countries in the EU began using Europe's single currency, the euro.
By the year 2004, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus were also members of the EU, making a total of 25 member states. In the same year, Bulgaria and Romania completed their negotiations to joint teh Union in January 2007.
Today, the responsiblilities of the EU include agriculture, fishing, industrial and social development, culture, environmental issues, external trade, human rights, public health, justice and security.
1. Answer the questions.
1. Which were the first countries to crate a European Economic Community?
France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany and Italy.
2. Wat were the aims of the founding members of the EEC?
Their objective was to increase economic development and prevent another war.
3. How many member states did the EEC have in 1973?
EEC had nine members states.
4. What was significant about 2002?
EU, Europe single currency the euro.
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