Fundamentals of the European Union

Member States, milestones and key figures in European integration, citizenship, symbols, values...
What is the European Union?

From Europe of conquests to Europe of alliances between peoples

Beyond and before the European Union, Europe is a geographical and historical reality with very varying contours.

From Europe shaped by ancient Rome to Napoleonic conquests and then to the pan-European expansionism of Nazi Germany, Europe was first built by wars and the domination of a people over their neighbours.

However, since the Enlightenment century, thinkers have made emerge from the ideas for peaceful rapprochement of peoples as the Abbot of Saint Peter who evokes a union of European states to avoid wars, or Jean-Jacques Rousseau who advocates an association of European states for the same reasons.

Against war, in 1795 Emmanuel Kant advocated a federation of free states, while Victor Hugo in 1870 preferred to create a pan-European state.

A multiple and multilevel Europe

Europe remains a set of states, nations, peoples, cultures, geographical entities and diverse landscapes that seek to unite in their diversity.

Europe by what constitutes it: states, peoples, their cultures, traditions, monuments...

Nor is political Europe one and not just the European Union: Council of Europe, European Free Trade Association, European Economic Area, Schengen Area, Eurozone, etc. are all alliances of European states formed around different objectives and political issues with different geographical boundaries.

The founders and architects of the European Union

Some personalities have worked throughout their lives for European integration and the building of the European Union as we know it today.

The stages of European integration: the Treaties

Cooperation between States within the European Union is governed by treaties, adapted or amended to coincide with the deepening of European integration.

Treaty « founders »

Treaty of Paris (1951):

Creation of the Coal and Steel Economic Community (ECSC)
Removal of customs duties

Treaties of Rome (1957):

Establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC)

Establishment of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom or EAEC)

Maastricht Treaty (1992):

Birth of European citizenship
Decision on the creation of a single currency: the euro

Reform treaties

Single European Act (1986):

Preparation of the single market: removal of obstacles to free movement and reduced customs duties

Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and Nice (2001):

EU competences strengthened: areas of public health, asylum and immigration

Lisbon Treaty (2007):

Establishment of a Presidency post for the European Council for a two-and-a-half year term
Establishment of the post of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

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The stages of European integration: successive enlargements

States whose candidature is recognized and the accession procedure is under way:

Turkey
Serbia
Macedonia
Albania
Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
Moldova
Ukraine

Population

The five most populous countries Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland) account for two thirds of the EU population.

Malta is the least populated member country with 542,000 inhabitants.

$448.4 million as at 1 January 2023

The European population represents 5,6% of the world population.

It's the third most populous groupfar behind India (1.43 billion) and China (1.41 billion) but ahead of the United States (335 million), Russia (143.1 million) or Japan (124.5 million).

For learn more on the representation of citizens in the European institutions:

Each Member State of the European Union is represented in the European Parliament by MEPs.

The number of Members is proportional to the population of each State.

European citizenship

Any person having the nationality of a Member State is automatically recognised as a citizen of the Union.
European citizenship complements national citizenship without replacing it. It is a so-called citizenship « Overlay« .

European Union values

The European Union is based on values set out in Article 2 of the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

In 2012, the Union received Nobel Peace Prize for promoting "peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe".

Respect for human dignity

Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected, and constitutes the very basis of fundamental rights.

Freedom

Freedom of movement gives citizens the right to move and reside freely within the Union.

Individual freedoms, such as privacy and freedom of thought, religion, assembly, expression and information, are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Democracy

The functioning of the Union is based on representative democracy.

A European citizen automatically enjoys political rights. Every adult citizen of the Union has the right to stand for election and to vote in elections to the European Parliament.

Citizens of the Union shall have the right to vote and to stand for election in their country of residence or country of origin.

Equality

Equality is that of all citizens before the law. The principle of equality between women and men underpins all European policies and underpins European integration.

This equality applies in all areas. The principle of equal pay for the same work was incorporated into the Treaty of Rome of 1957.

Rule of law

The European Union is based on the rule of law. All actions of the Union are based on treaties, to which all Member States adhere democratically and voluntarily. Law and justice are guaranteed by an independent judiciary.

The EU countries have granted the Court of Justice of the European Union jurisdiction to rule as a last resort and its decisions must therefore be respected by all.

Respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities

Human rights are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

They include the right not to be discriminated against on grounds of sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, as well as the right to personal data protection and access to justice.

Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, the six values European Union.

A community of interests and destiny: the five symbols of common citizenship in the European Union

The common membership of citizens in the European Union is reflected in five symbols.

A European Flag

Adopted in 1955, this circle of 12 golden stars on azure blue background embodies perfection and ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

A currency

« United in diversity »used for the first time in 2000.

A hymn

It is the last movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, composed in 1823, entitled « Ode to joy ».

A Day of Europe

May 9.

Considered as the founding text of the European Union, the Schuman Declaration, delivered on 9 May 1950, proposes the creation of a European organisation to pool French and German coal and steel production.

Europe Day was established in 1985 by the European Council.

A single currency

Euro. This is the main tangible sign of European identity. Monetary union was established by the Maastricht Treaty in December 1991. The Euro was first launched on the 1stand January 1999 as invisible currency for electronic payments. Coins and banknotes were put into circulation on 1 January.and January 2002.

Five symbols of common citizenship in the European Union.