The European Union’s Single Market: An Introduction
1. Introduction
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU has a single market which allows for the free movement of people, goods, services, and money between countries that are a part of it. The EU was established after World War II in order to prevent another war from happening in Europe. The first step towards integration was taken with the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which created the European Economic Community (EEC). This was followed by the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which led to the creation of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty, which was signed in 2007, made further changes to the EU and renamed it the “European Union”.
2. The European Union’s single market
– What is the single market?
The single market is an agreement between countries that are a part of the European Union. This agreement allows for the free movement of people, goods, services, and money between these countries. The single market was created in order to make it easier for people and businesses to trade within the EU.
– Origins of the single market
The origins of the single market can be traced back to the post-World War II period. In 1957, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Rome, which created the European Economic Community (EEC). This treaty allowed for the free movement of goods between these countries. In 1968, a customs union was established which eliminated tariffs on goods traded between member states. In 1986, the Single European Act was signed which removed many barriers to trade between member states and paved the way for the creation of a single market.
– The Single European Act
The Single European Act (SEA) was signed in 1986 and came into effect in 1987. The SEA removed many barriers to trade between member states and paved the way for the creation of a single market. The SEA also increased cooperation between member states on matters such as environmental protection and consumer protection.
– The treaty of Amsterdam
The treaty of Amsterdam was signed in 1997 and came into effect in 1999. This treaty made changes to the Single European Act and added new policies on areas such as immigration and asylum.
The treaty also created new institutions such as the European Police Office (Europol) and the European Court of Human Rights.
– The treaty of Nice
The treaty of Nice was signed in 2001 and came into effect in 2003. This treaty made changes to voting procedures in order to make them fairer for smaller member states. It also introduced new policies on areas such as immigration and asylum seekers.
– Enlargement of the European Union
The European Union has undergone several enlargements since its inception. The first enlargement occurred in 1973 with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Greece joined in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, and Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995. The most recent enlargement occurred in 2004 with the addition of ten new member states: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. Croatia became the 28th member state in 2013.
– The Lisbon Treaty
The Lisbon Treaty was signed in 2007 and came into effect in 2009. This treaty made changes to the way the EU is run and how decisions are made. It also created new institutions such as the European Council and the European Court of Justice.
3. Conclusion
The European Union’s single market is an agreement between countries that are a part of the EU. This agreement allows for the free movement of people, goods, services, and money between these countries. The single market was created in order to make it easier for people and businesses to trade within the EU.