The flag of the European Union (EU) The European Union Historical Developments in integrating diversities 28 States together The identity of the EU 1
The EU on a global level The geography of Europe The world of the European States The territory of the EU 2
Language Diversity What is Europe? What is Europe? European Culture Common cultural background: the Greek- Roman heritage, the judaic and christian religion, common cultural phases: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism etc. Not for the members under Osmanic domination 3
Crete an island state (2000-1000 bc) The Palace of Knossos in Crete Greece city states, small but expanding (1000 100 b.c.) The Acropolis in Athens/Greece 4
Expansion of the greek cities Rome Rome an expanding city state Rome: Pantheon 5
The Roman Empire after Christ Invasions by the Northern and Eastern Tribes Paris: Panthéon Washington: Capitol 6
Baroque (ca. 1575-1720) Renaissance (15. / 16. century Rokoko (1730 1780) Classicism (Late 18th, 19th century 7
What is Europe? In 1821 Greece, that was 400 years occupied by the Ottomans in Turkey, freed itself by a revolution and returned to the European Culture, the culture it had such an important role in developing in and after the 1st century before Christ. Territorial organisation of settling tribes The Emperor Emperor Charlemagne 747 814 The ruler of the Francs Holy Roman Empire of German Nation 8
Asymetric Creation of States State structures aroung 1500 ac Around 1500 a.c. some bigger states had originated and developed as nation states. Only Germany remaind scattered with many small states Unifying and separating forces State structures after 1815 The common history The common culture Similar Mentalities The common religion (even after the Reformation) The belligerence of the feudal princes The persistent confrontations at the common borders The changing alliances of some states against the others The fight of the religious groups 9
Finally: Germany united German Empire 1871-1918 Only in 1871 a German Empire was created, in Versailles, but then without t Austria The first world war The enemy structures in WW 1 The tensions between the five main powers in Europe and the failure of diplomacy led to the first world war (1914-1918 10
The second catastrophe: WW 2 World war 1 Just 21 years after the end of World War I the second world war began with approximately 6 million dead victims (1939 1945) Europe at the beginning of WW 2 (1939) The end of WW 2 (1945) 11
WW 2 The Reichstag in Berlin today The desaster after WW 2 The world divided after WW 2 Europe, not only Germany was destroyed, and through the power of the Soviet Union for the next 45 years divided into two blocks, that threatened with nuclear destruction 12
Europe divided after WW 2 The beginning of integration Europe was tired of war after so many dead victims and so much destruction and wanted to do everything to prevent a new war (but the East-West conflict was acute) For defense: formation of NATO (1949), For the harmonisation of law: establishment of the Council of Europe For the reduction of the historical confrontations in Central Europe 1951 - European coal and Steel Community 1958 - European Economic Community European Atomic Energy Community at first only with six Central European Member States The European Communities in 1958 Signature of the treaties in Rome 1958 13
The six initial members The vocation of the integration Expanding the integration space by new Member States in Europe Deepening integration by development of Union law Enlargement From 6 to 28 member states 1981 Greece 1986 Spain and Portugal 1973 Great Britain Danmark Ireland 1995 Sweden Austria Finland 2004 Estnia Latvia Lithuani Poland Slovakia Tchechia Hungary Slovenia Malta Cyprus 2007 Romania, Bulgaria 2012 Croatia 14
Differences in income Unimployment figures Economic development of members Deepening 1967 Merger Treaty 1987 Single Europaen Act (European Political Cooperation) 1993 Treaty of Maastricht (EU with three pillars) European Communities (EC, ECSC, EAC), CFSP, EPC 1999 Treaty of Amsterdam 2003 Treaty of Nizza (EGKS expired) 2005-2007 Constitution not successful 2009 Treaty of Lisbon (only one single EU) 15
The treaty of Lisbon Integration in diversity There are still political differences, frictions and disputes between the European States, but against the background of the history, the integration in the EU is a milestone of historical development. It shows the will of the peoples of Europe to form progressively an integration and ensure that never again war emerges. Preventing and ending wars is not only theoretically possible, which show the conflicts in the Balkans, where at the end, the EU plays a key role in restoring peace. 16