Slide 1: Introduction
Historical Context: European nations have long sought
integration for collective defense and mutual benefit.
Focus: This presentation covers key stages of European
integration, from early efforts to the modern European
Union (EU).
Main Stages:
Early integration efforts: Congress of Vienna (1815),
Zollverein (1834), Council of Europe (1949), and Western
European Union (1954).
Treaties and efforts for deeper unity: European Coal and
Steel Community, Treaty of Rome, Maastricht Treaty, and
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
Slide 2: Congress of Vienna (1815)
Background: Held after the Napoleonic Wars to restore
balance of power in Europe.
Key Outcome: Major powers (Austria, UK, Prussia,
Russia) cooperated to end the war and create lasting
peace.
Significance: Marked early military and political
cooperation, laying groundwork for future European
integration.
Slide 3: Zollverein (1834)
Overview: Prussia led the formation of a customs union
among Germanic states to promote free trade.
Economic Cooperation: Established free trade across
member states, leading to long-term economic
integration.
Challenge: Tariff decisions were managed by the judicial
branches, reflecting the early governance issues in
economic integration.
Slide 4: Council of Europe (1949)
Formation: Founded by 10 European countries to
promote peace and cooperation post-World War II.
Members: Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK (later
Greece, Turkey, and West Germany joined).
Purpose: Strengthen European cooperation and rebuild
trust among nations.
Legacy: Remains part of the EU’s institutional framework
today, serving as a ministerial body.
Slide 5: Western European Union (1954)
Context: Established after the Paris Agreements and
Brussels Treaty to address political and military crises in
Europe.
Purpose: A defense alliance ensuring European self-
reliance in military matters, especially when US interests
diverged (as per Charles de Gaulle’s view).
Historical Parallel: Similar to military cooperation seen
in the Congress of Vienna and during the Napoleonic Wars
Slide 2: The European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC)
1950 Schuman Plan: Unify French-German coal and
steel production
Goal: Prioritize common interests over national agendas
Treaty of Paris (1951): Formalized the ECSC
Political Aim: End hostility between France and
Germany
Founding Members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands
The Treaty of Rome (1957)
Signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome.
Established:
European Economic Community (EEC): Created a
common market.
EURATOM: Cooperation on nuclear energy.
Member countries: Germany, France, Italy, and the
Benelux nations.
Aimed at:
Unifying tariffs and promoting free trade.
Boosting employment opportunities across Europe.
Significance: A major step toward the creation of
the European Union.
Slide 3: The European Economic
Community (EEC) & EURATOM
Treaty of Rome (1957)
EEC: Common market for goods, services, labor, capital
EURATOM: Cooperation in nuclear energy
Growth:
From 6 members to 9 (1973): Denmark, Ireland, UK
Later expanded to 12 (1981 Greece, 1986 Spain &
Portugal)
Renaming: EEC becomes European Community (EC)
Slide 4: The Maastricht Treaty (1992)
Context: Post-Cold War, fall of communism, German
reunification
Key Goals:
Economic & social progress (EMU)
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
EU citizenship rights
Protect EU’s legal framework (acquis communautaire)
Three Pillars of the EU:
European Communities
CFSP
Justice & Home Affairs (JHA)
Slide 5: The Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU)
Goal: Create a common currency (the euro)
European Monetary System (EMS): Stabilized
exchange rates (1979)
Delors Report (1990): Three-stage plan for EMU
Euro Introduction:
1999: Electronic transactions
2002: Coins and banknotes in 12 countries
Slide 6: Conclusion
Key Figures: Schuman and his ECSC plan
Institutions: EEC/EC and their impact
Treaties: Paris, Rome, Maastricht, and Lisbon shaped the
EU
Result: A unified Europe with political, economic, and
social integration
