The document provides a brief history of the European Union from World War 2 to present day. Key events include the Yalta Conference in 1945 that discussed post-war Europe, the Marshall Plan in 1948 to rebuild European economies, the Schuman Declaration in 1950 proposing cooperation between France and Germany for coal and steel, and the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the European Economic Community and EURATOM in 1957 through the Treaties of Rome. The EU has since expanded to include 27 member countries and introduced the euro currency in 2002.

1. European Union: a brief history

2. World War II, 1939-1945
Europe in flames

3. Over 60,000,000 dead

4. Millions of refugees

5. Austria Belgium
Bulgaria Czech Republic

6. Denmark France
Germany Greece

7. Italy
Hungary
Lithuania
Latvia

8. Luxembourg
Malta
Norway
the Netherlands

9. Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Russia

10. Slovenia Spain
Sweden
The UK

11. The Yalta Conference, 1945
W. Churchill (UK), F.D. Roosevelt (USA), J. Stalin (USSR)
discussion on Europe’s post-war organization

12. European Recovery Programme
(The Marshall Plan), 1948
American programme to aid Europe rebuild European economies after the end of
the war

13. Map of Europe after World War II

14. Some of EU’s founding personalities

15. Jean Monnet (1888 - 1979), Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
French political economist and diplomat British politician
Robert Schuman (1886-1963) Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967),
French Foreign Minister German politician

16. The Schuman Declaration, 9 May 1950 (Europe Day)
a proposal to create a new form of organization of states in Europe, a supranational
community.
aim: to put the coal and steel industries of France, West Germany
and other countries under a common High Authority.

17. Belgium, France, West Germany
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands
Treaty of Paris, 1951
established the European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC)
aim: peace in Europe, economic cooperation and
prosperity

18. Treaties of Rome, 1957
established 1. the European Economic Community (EEC)
2. the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)
Capitoline
Museum, where they
signed the Treaties of
Rome

19. 1973
Denmark
Ireland
the United Kingdom

20. 1979, first direct elections to the European Parliament.
Elections are held every 5 years.

21. 1981
Greece
.
1985, the European flag was adopted by all EU
leaders as the official emblem of the EU
(European Economic Community at that time).
The stars symbolize the ideals of unity, solidarity
and harmony among the peoples of Europe.
The number of stars has nothing to do with the
number of member countries, though the circle is
a symbol of unity.

22. 1986
Spain
Portugal
1989, Fall of the
Berlin
Wall, reunification
of Germany

23. Treaty of Maastricht, 1992
Treaty on the European Union

24. 1993, creation of the single market
Free movement of goods, money, people and services

25. 1995
Austria
Finland
Sweden

26. Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997
Treaty of Nice, 2001

27. 2002, euro coins and banknotes enter circulation
All euro coins have a
common side and a
national side
Notes: no national side

28. EU countries using the euro
EU countries not using the euro

29. 2004 Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2007
Bulgaria
Romania

30. Treaty of Lisbon, 2007
Taking the EU into the 21st century. Stronger role
for the European Parliament.

31. 2009, The EU charter of fundamental rights
becomes legally binding for all the EU's activities
Dignity
Freedoms
Equality
Solidarity
Citizens' rights
Justice

32. 2009-2013
Economic Crisis
A new vision for Europe?
The greatest threat to European
unity for the last 60 years.
Crisis of confidence