0% found this document useful (0 votes)
27 views4 pages

Project File Content

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
27 views4 pages

Project File Content

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

PROJECT FILE CONTENT:

EUROPEAN UNION AND BREXIT


Introduction to the European Union

The European Union (EU) is a union of 27 member countries (states) located in Europe. The total
population of the EU is 447 million. Its main purpose was to establish a single standardised system in
Europe. The European Union made a single common currency called the Euro, and most of the
member countries use this as their main currency. The EU contains 5.8 per cent of the population of
the world as of 2020. The nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of the European Union is USD 17
trillion. These countries come on top of the human development index list, and have a high GDP per
capita too. The Noble Peace Prize was awarded to the EU in 2012. The European Union is a member
of the world organisations like G7, G20, UN and NATO. The EU is considered an emerging global
superpower alongside Russia, China, India, and Brazil.

History of the European Union

Since 1900’s, Europe has been considered a global superpower. It had a major role in shaping the
world we live in right now. Some empires ruled the world for a significant amount of time. This
includes The French Empire, The British Empire, The Dutch Empire, and The German Empire. Some
notable empires of Europe include The Roman Empire, Charlemagne’s France, The Byzantine Empire,
and The Holy Roman Empire, among others. Europe, in the 20th century, was in a power struggle.
The British and the French Empires ruled at least 50 per cent of the earth’s landmass. The German
Empire was getting stronger after the unification. The Russian Empire was eyeing the Eastern
European borders.

Technology has come a long way. World War I started in 1917 and lasted up to 4 years. After two
decades, World War II took place. This war was the costliest in terms of both life and money. Western
Europe was in a recovery stage after the war. Eastern Europe was under the occupation of Soviet
Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, war broke out on the eastern front. Yugoslavia disintegrated
and was split into parts. Many treaties like the Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Lisbon
Treaty were signed. These treaties ensured peace and oneness amongst the European countries.
Hence, this oneness led to the foundation of the European Union.

Member States of the European Union

Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, France, and Luxembourg were the founding nations
of the European Union. The member countries must follow the Copenhagen criteria. It should accept
most of the laws and systems decided in the treaties. The United Kingdom were the first country to
leave the European Union in 2020. Greenland is an autonomous province of Denmark that left the
EU in 1985. The candidates for becoming member countries are Albania, Iceland, North Macedonia,
Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.
Monaco, Vatican City and San Marino are non-EU states that use the Euro.

Impact of the European Union

The European Union had a crucial impact on the member countries. The EU was responsible for the
post-war economic recovery of many countries. The overall GDP of the European countries has
increased since they joined the EU, and they avoided many major financial crises. The financial
situation in Greece is excluded here. Democratic governments were formed in eastern Europe after
the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The European Union has strengthened their muscles as a
geopolitical superpower. It has the third-largest GDP in the world, behind the United States of
America and China. The EU has provided hostility to people in ongoing war countries. Most of the
migrants are from the middle east. Some member countries like Germany, France and Italy are in the
top ten economies globally.

Conclusion

The European Union is a political and economic coalition of European countries. There is a total of 27
members in the EU. Its main aim is to promote peace, security, and justice in the EU borders. The
total population of the EU is 447 million. Its main purpose was to establish a single standardised
system in Europe. The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union is USD 17
trillion. The Noble Peace Prize was awarded to the EU in 2012. The European Union is a member of
the world organisations like G7, G20, UN and NATO. Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany,
France, and Luxembourg were the founding nations of the European Union.

The role of the EU in global politics can be


identified from the following points:
a. Economic role-
The EU is the world’s largest economy with a
GDP of over US$ 17 trillion (2013 data). Its
share in the world trade is three times larger
than that of the US, which gives it more
economic leverage to be assertive in trade-
related disputes and matters.
b. Political role-
The EU has been able to extend its political
and diplomatic influence across the globe.
With France and Britain being the
permanent members of the UN Security
Council and many being the non-permanent
members, the EU has been able to influence
the UN’s decisions and policies and has also
taken an independent stand with regard to
the US policy. Furthermore, it has been able
to pressure countries like China with regard
to human rights issues.
c. Military influence-
With a high defence spending, the EU’s
combined forces are the second largest in
the world . France and Britain are nuclear
powers and collectively have over 550
nuclear warheads. Moreover, the region is
advanced in terms of space and
communication technology.
LIMITATIONS
d. There are certain limitations in the
functioning of the EU. For example, the EU
has failed to adopt a common constitution
and not all member states have adopted a
common currency. Further, the member
states stood divided with regard to the US
invasion of Iraq, with France and Germany
resisting such a decision. However, the
underlying importance of the EU’s increased
influence in global politics cannot be
ignored. One may cite the example of the EU
imposed economic sanctions in Syria in the
wake of the civil war.

You might also like