WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN UNION?
The devastation of two world wars on Western Europe prompted the formation
of the EU
Members wanted lasting peace and to hold their own on the world’s political and economic
stage
Forerunner was the European Coal and Steel Community (1951)
The European Economic Community (1957) was formed at the Treaty of Rome
with the goal of becoming a common market
The Single European Act (1987)
committed the EC countries to work toward establishment of a single market by December 31,
1992
was born out of frustration among EC members that the community was not living up to its
promise
provided the impetus for the restructuring of substantial sections of European industry allowing
for faster economic growth than would otherwise have been the case