History of the Community Formation and the Modem Union Development. Integration Ideas. Main Treaties

The origins of the European Union can be searched in the European Coal and Steel Community, established on 18 April 1951 by the treaty of Paris. The adoption of this treaty was the first step creating the Europe united and securing the peace between Europe’s powerful nations, namely, France and Germany. It is necessary to add, that a common market in coal and steel was set up by six countries: Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and its main aims were a promotion the welfare of inhabitants and economic growth, as well as increasing the employment level. The reasons why these six countries decided to create European Coal and Steel Community were fallowing: France wanted to prevent Germany’s hegemony in the Europe, with the help of ECSC France wished to promote Germany’s integration in the postwar Europe and the third reason for this country was to make its own positions stronger in this region, in its turn the main arguments why Germany took part in ECSC establishment was: economical reasons and a desire to become a lawful member of democratic Europe. Italy wanted to facilitate the political stability, but other three countries- Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium decided to join ECSC to continue ongoing integration process in the Europe.
In the next section of this essay the author will pay attention to the chronology of the Europe’s enlargement and will consider the main principles that set the enlargement process in the future. Particular facts are connected with complicated political and economical processes, which have fully changed the map of Europe.
It is really important to mention, that in 1957 six countries signed the treaties establishing the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, which came into the force in 1958. In its turn in 1967 the ECSC, European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community have united, creating European Community. …