European Journal of Scientific Research (ISSN: 1450 ... - EuroJournals

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© European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol 7, No 5, 2005 in their advocacy of specific institutional frameworks (e.g., Spinelli was a committed federalist, Monnet was chiefly interested in forging cooperative structures which would end the threat of war), these three men and other advocates of European Union argued that integration was necessary to prevent future European wars, to achieve economic efficiencies, and to stave off domination by either of the two Superpowers (USSR, USA). While some analysts cite the Benelux Economic Union (accomplished during WWII, this treaty integrated the economies of three small political units - Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg) as the first step in European integration, most analysts trace the history of the E U to the 1952creationbf the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The creation of Jean, Monnet and Robert Schuman, the main purpose of the ECSC was to bind Germany into peaceful Europe through t the use of a common market around a critical industry (Michael, 1989). Although France was the major promoter, the ECSC also included the three Benelux countries, along with West Germany and Italy- the core "six" of the future EC. The early experience with the ECSC highlighted -both the opportunities presented by and the pitfalls inherent in regional cooperative programs. March 25, 1957 is an important date in the history of European Union. It was on this date that the representatives of the six nations' signed the Treaty of Rome, establishing the EEC or Common Market (effective January 1, 1958) (Mainuddin, Aicher and Elliot, 1996). In a separate treaty, the six also established EUROTOM, the European Atomic Energy Community, with the goal of forming a common market for the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The Treaty of Rome established the basic institutional framework for the modem-day EU (e.g., setting up the European Commission, Parliament, and Council of Ministers) and formalized the aim to create an "ever closer union of the peoples of Europe" (Rybezynski, 1993). The specific objectives of the Treaty of Rome were to remove trade barriers, to establish a single trade policy toward nonmember countries, to coordinate transportation systems and agricultural policies; to ease the movement of capital and labor across borders; and to remove obstacles to competition. Focused on the basic economic interest of the six members, the EEC in these early years had a "Western European counterpart in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which was comprised of the UK, Ireland, the three Scandinavian countries, Austria and Switzerland. The EEC always aimed towards much deeper integration efforts than the EFT A - seeking a customs union, building a common external tariff; eliminating the cause of trade distortions at the source, and establishing a common agricultural policy, etc. Most analysts note that the EE C was quite successful in the economic field (making more rapid progress than planned in building the customs union and establishing a common external tariff) but had only limited success in the political arena. (Middlemas, 1995). The EU. went into its second stage of development in July of 1967, when the administration of the three original EU "communities" (the ECSC, the EEC and Eurotom) merged to form a single body, later called the European Community (EC). For the next fifteen years or so - until the early 1980s – the principal focus of the EC was not so much on "deepening" the aspects of integration, but rather on "widening" its membership and dealing with problems of political differences and economic disparities among the member states. In 1973, Denmark, the UK and Ireland left the EFTA and became full members of the EC, Spain and Portugal was admitted in 1986. (Rybezynski, 1993).
© European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol 7, No 5, 2005 The EC broke out of its economic and institutional stagnation in the mid-19 80s. The turning point was the 1985 release of the Commission's, White Paper, "Completing the Internal Market." Based on the White Paper findings (which emphasized the continued existence of significant internal trade barriers and the resulting economic inefficiencies), the EC passed the Single Market Act of 1986 which aimed at removing all the barriers to trade and foreign direct investment in the EU Even after an initial slaw start, the EC made rapid progress on the creation of the Single Market - at the time of the January, 1993 deadline, the twelve 'members had complied on average with more than 94% of the Single Market measures applying to them. The Single Market program was very important for the EG. It served as an economic catalyst for the EU as a whole and for individual member states, driving huge increases in intra-EU trade, boosting member GDP growth through increased trade and investment levels, and enhancing the EU's position in the global economy (Colchester, 1992). Another important element in the European unification is spelled out in the Maastricht Treaty. Written as an amendment to the' initial Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht Treaty calls for the completion of European unification, - renaming the EC the EU, establishing a program of monetary unification, working on the program of political unification and the creation of a truly supranational Europe. The Maastricht Treaty, which was finally ratified in 1993, calls for the completion of economic and monetary union, with the establishment of a European central bank, a common monetary policy, and a common currency (Holms and Jenkins, 1996). Maastricht also includes specific provisions on the establishment of a common social and labor policy, as well as the completion of a common foreign policy. EU: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Although the EU, since the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, has a well-developed institutional framework and organizational structure, it is, as Caporaso notes, "a political entity that does not fit into any accepted category of government's (Caporaso, 1996). It is described as a "multi-level" government; the form of organization generally reflects the democratic political orientation and the reliance on Parliamentary, forms of government seen in most member states. The European Union has four main institutions: The "executive" body of EU government is the Brussels-based Commission, which is comprised of 20 Commissioners appointed by the EU countries for four- year terms, along 'With their respective" colleges" of civil servants. The President (who serves as the main public 'spokesperson for the Commission) of the Commission is appointed by the heads of the EU member governments. The Commission, which is designed as a relatively "transparent" organization (in terms of central governments, its organization and operations are very public), is charged with the duty of representing the interests of the larger European Community. (Middlemas, 1995). 23
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