History of europe britannica encyclopedia britannica. Danish withdrawal from the european union wikipedia. Eu is a confederation of 27 member countries in europe established by the maastricht treaty in 19921993. Europe, second smallest of the worlds continents, composed of the westwardprojecting peninsulas of eurasia the great landmass that it shares with asia. The collapse of europes fixed exchange rate system, the erm, into which he had, as chancellor of the exchequer, brought the pound, led to recriminations with germany. It is founded upon numerous treaties and has undergone expansions and secessions that have taken it from 6 member states to 27, a majority of the states in europe. The european union eu is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are. Now in its third edition, the concise encyclopedia of the european union provides an excellent, thorough and inexpensive response to those needs from charlemagnes aachen to bismarcks zollverein, via all the key modernday institutions, people and ideas that anyone studying or dealing with the eu is ever likely to come across. Meeting in messina italy, the foreign ministers of belgium, france, germany, italy, luxembourg and the netherlands agree upon economic integration.
The areas that benefit are environmental protection. Encyclopedia of the european union the european union. European union eu, international organization comprising 27 european countries and governing common. The history of the european union in three minutes. Britannica online includes thousands of articles not in the print edition.
The eu helps its member countries with issues such as trade, security, and the rights of citizens. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Then when humans finally evolved, much of europe was defined by the roman empire, the byzantine empire, the frankish empire, and the holy roman empire, which was like the roman empire but a bit more pious. It occupies nearly onefifteenth of the worlds total land area. European union encyclopedia and directory 2017 17th edition. The european union as we know it started its journey over half a century ago. The first thing to unify europe was tectonic shift.
The european union a brief outline to this union of twentyeight european states overview european union history pre1945 ideas on european unity history of the european communities 19451957. Western european union weu, former association 19552011 of 10 countries belgium, france, germany, greece, italy, luxembourg, the netherlands, portugal, spain, and the united kingdom that operated as a forum for the coordination of matters of european security and defense. The eu transmits stateoftheart technologies to its members. A great deal of additional information on the european union is available on the internet. Encyclopedia britannica, frances cultural and historical legacies are numerous and diverse. It has long played a dominant role on the world stage, and as one of the largest countries of the european union, its global influence shows no signs of dying down. The eu grew out of the european economic community eec which was established by the treaties of rome in 1957.
History of europe, history of european peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. However, many aspects of the union existed before that date through a series of predecessor. This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total. But despite its cultural, economic, governmental, and historical achievements, france has experienced trials and tribulations, perhaps. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates. Steamship agents office in european port circa 1900. The immediate objective of the danish eurosceptics is to have a referendum on their. The european union eu is a group o 27 memmer states that are locatit primarily in europe. The united kingdom was a major member state of the european communities after joining it in 1973. New england 1911 encyclopedia britannica bible encyclopedia. Its western frontiers seem clearly defined by its coastline, yet the position of the british isles remains equivocal. European union simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The eu was created by the maastricht treaty, which entered into force on november 1, 1993.
Europes total geographical area is about ten million square kilometres. European union member state simple english wikipedia. Additionally, each of the three boasts rich histories, and what they lack in size or population, they make up for in. Eu european union article about eu european union by. The largest happened on 1 may 2004, when ten member states joined.
Wikimedia commons has media related to european union subcategories. Considerations on a definition of nanomaterial for regulatory purposes. It contributed to the creation of the north atlantic treaty organization nato and worked in cooperation with that. European union eu, name given since the ratification nov.
European commission ec, an institution of the european union eu and its constituent entities that makes up the organizations executive arm. Danish withdrawal from the european union eu colloquially danexit or daxit, a portmanteau of danish and exit refers to the hypothesis that denmark might leave the eu. European union eu, international organization comprising 27 european countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies. From an original membership of six states, there have been five successive enlargements. The european parliament, ap, encyclopedia britannica, bfm tv. Jurgen habermas and andrew moravcsik college of europe. The general atmosphere of the continent, reflected in the romantic, realist, and modernist movements that swept through its nations, reflected a growing cognizance of previously neglected social realities that. European economic community map showing the composition of the european economic community eec from 1957, when it was formed by the members of the european coal and steel community ecsc, to 1993, when it was renamed the european community ec and was subsumed under the european union eu. Eftir the cumin thegither o germany in 1990, the umwhyl territorie o the gdr jynd the european union croatie wul lyk jyn the eu in 2009, north macedonie wis makkit a candidate kintra in 2006, an turkey haes been a canidate kintra in 1999 altho thay didna corrieneuch till 2005. The britannica guide to countries of the european union.
This series examines each of these countries in fullcolor detail, tracing the evolution of each region from its diverse beginnings to the present day. Encyclopedia of the european union the european union series. The european union or the eu is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 european countries, known as member states. The history of the european union 1955 european union. The european union eu is an economic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in europe. For help with technical and access issues, call 180062900 ext. The european union is a unified trade and monetary body of 28 member countries. Article 50 of the treaty on european union sets out the procedures to be followed if a member state decides to leave the european union. Relations between the european union eu and the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland uk date back to the foundation of the european communities, the european union s predecessor, in 1957.
For help with britannica cdroms and dvds, visit our online technical support site. The maastricht treaty significantly modified the eecs institutions and decision. Pages in category european union the following 37 pages are in this category, out of 37 total. Applicants must be european states among borderline cases turkey qualifies but morocco does not, respecters of the rule of law and the european convention on human rights, willing to accept the acquis communautaire and democratic. Monie kintras in the union bruiks the same siller, the euro. Macron, merkel and the battle for the future of europe podcast. European union be mainly perceived as a supranational undertaking, or should it. Individual cultural traditions, societies, economic achievements, and key. Entry for new england 1911 encyclopedia britannica one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this resource contained over 40 million words in nearly 40,000 articles written by 1,500 respected authors.
Eu an economic and political union established in 1993 after the ratification of the maastricht treaty by members of the european community and since. Entry for calabar 1911 encyclopedia britannica one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this resource contained over 40 million words in nearly 40,000 articles written by 1,500 respected authors. It aims to improve urban life through more sustainable integrated solutions and addresses cityspecific challenges from. Encyclopedia britannica, beginning with the industrial revolution, europe was seized by the spirit of political and social innovation and reform that has continued into the 21st century. European commission european organization britannica. The european union is the worlds largest confederation of independent states, established under that name in 1992 by the treaty on european union the maastricht treaty. The benelux economic union, which sought economic integration between the three countries, in fact served as the model for the european union. The european union eu was formed to bring together the countries of europe. Some states marked are only partially located in europe. Those are ranked according to the size of their european part only. However, in 2016, one memberthe united kingdomvoted to leave the eu. European union encyclopedia and directory 2017 17th. The cornerstone of this service, the complete encyclop.
It is founded upon numerous treaties and has undergone expansions and secessions that have taken it from 6 member states to 27, a majority of the states in europe apart from the ideas of federation, confederation, or customs union such as winston churchills 1946 call for a united states of. Relations between the european union eu and the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland uk date back to the foundation of the european communities, the european unions predecessor, in 1957. Thoroughly updated, this extensive reference source provides indepth information on all matters relating to the european union eu. Rene mayer is elected president of the ecsc high authority.
Encyclopedia britannica, created by the maastricht treaty in 1993, the european union consists of 27 countries with common economic, social, and security policies. However, many aspects of the union existed before that date through a series of. The european union was established under that name in 1992 by the treaty on european union the maastricht treaty. The european union is a vast subject and, as the editor admits, refuses to stand still. France and germany have been central to the european union project ever.
A european union member state is any one of the twentyseven countries that have joined the european union eu since it was found in 1958 as the european economic community eec. Eastern european immigrants stand at counter reenactment 22. Approximately 430 articles were rewritten or updated, including censorship, computer, education, european union, nato, and olympic games. Britannica recommends including the schools britannica cookie within the deep freeze refresh itself, so that the computer will automatically be logged in when it is refreshed. The european union is a geopolitical entity covering a large portion of the european continent. Be on the look out for the britannica for parents newsletter to deliver insightful facts for the family right to your inbox. Belgium, luxembourg, and the netherlands encyclopedia. The european union synonyms, the european union pronunciation, the european union translation, english dictionary definition of the european union. The european union eu is a supranational and intergovernmental union of 25 27 as of 1st january 2007 independent, democratic member states. Calabar 1911 encyclopedia britannica bible encyclopedia. The european communities ec, sometimes referred to as the european community, were. Encyclopedia britannica, despite being known as the low countries, belgium, luxembourg, and the netherlands are far from insignificant. Despite these handicaps, the encyclopedia provides detailed and authoritative accounts of more than seven hundred concepts, issues, developments, institutions, policies, events, negotiations, treaties, national interests, and personalities. Visionary leaders came together to create economic and political stability to ensure long term peace in europe.
That allows the free flow of goods and people, except for random spot checks for crime and drugs. The term also commonly refers to the european communities, which comprise. Cite subscriber feature the member countries of the european union joined at different times. The people of the united kingdom vote to withdraw from the european union by a margin of 52 % to 48 % in a referendum. Pre columbian america, empires of the new world the britannica guide to ancient civilizations feb. The european union definition of the european union by. Withdrawal is advocated by danish eurosceptics and opposed by danish proeuropeanists. It has created a common economic area with europewide laws allowing the citizens of eu countries to move and trade in other eu countries. Below is a list of most states in europe, in order of geographical area. From then on, many others have followed in their footsteps, striving to build on this vision through successive treaties. European union member state simple english wikipedia, the. Members will also receive britannica store discounts. The european innovation partnership on smart cities and communities eipscc is an initiative supported by the european commission that brings together cities, industry, small business smes, banks, research and others. The general atmosphere of the continent, reflected in the romantic, realist, and modernist movements that swept through its nations, reflected a growing.