L'Europe (document en anglais)

General Information

Creation of the European Union

The European community dates back to the beginning of European integration.

Since the European Coal and Steel Community. It did have a common meeting spot 78 members of national parliaments.

The European community is founded in 1952. The first European elections took place in 1979.

Now it has real legislative powers.

I) Geography

2- The countries of the European Union

There are currently 28 countries in the European Union :

- Allemagne/ CAPITAL : Berlin → Founding member - 1952

- Belgique/ CAPITAL : Bruxelles → Founding member - 1952

- France/CAPITAL : Paris → Founding member - 1952

- Italie/CAPITAL : Rome → Founding member - 1952

- Luxembourg/CAPTITAL : Luxembourg → Founding member - 1952

- Pays-Bas/CAPITAL : Amsterdam → Founding member - 1952

- Danemark/CAPITAL : Copenhague - 1973

- Irlande/CAPITAL : Dublin - 1973

- Royaume-Uni/CAPITAL : Londres - 1973

- Grèce/CAPITAL : Athènes - 1981

- Espagne/CAPITAL : Madrid - 1986

- Portugal/CAPITAL : Lisbonne - 1986

- Autriche/CAPITAL : Vienne - 1995

- Finlande/CAPITAL : Helsinki - 1995

- Suède/CAPITAL : Stockholm - 1995

- Chypre/CAPITAL : Nicosie - 2004

- Estonie/CAPITAL : Tallinn - 2004

- Hongrie/CAPITAL : Budapest - 2004

- Lettonie/CAPITAL : Riga - 2004

- Lituanie/CAPITAL : Vilnius – 2004

- Malte/CAPITAL : La Valette

- Pologne/CAPITAL : Varsovie - 2004

- République Tchèque/CAPITAL : Prague - 2004

- Slovaquie/CAPITAL : Bratislava - 2004

- Slovénie/CAPITAL : Ljubljana - 2004

- Bulgarie/CAPITAL : Sofia - 2007

- Roumanie/CAPITAL : Bucarest - 2007

- Croatie/CAPITAL : Zagreb – 2013

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3- The larger and smaller member states of the EU in terms of population

States the largest members of the EU (in population) are :

- Allemagne

- Royaume-Uni

- France

- Italie

States the smallest members of the EU (in population) are :

- Luxembourg

- Lettonie

- Estonie

- Slovénie

4- The larger and smaller member states of the EU in terms of size

States the largest members of the EU (by area) are :

- France

- Espagne

- Suède

- Allemagne

States the smaller members of the EU (by area) are :

- Chypre

- Malte

- Luxembourg

- Slovénie

5- Different places of the U.E

The European Court of Justice The European Commission

The Council of the European Union The European Parliament

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Luxembourg

Belgique

Belgique

France and Belgique

II) History

1- The four leaders considered the founding fathers of the European Union

2- The various stages of the construction of the European Union

1945, the end of World War II. Europe is destroyed and many people killed. We must rebuild everything and prevent her again. The question was how to create the conditions for lasting peace. Between former enemies, how to start with a good foundation?

The main problem then lies in the relationship between France and Germany. Enemies for decades. The goal was to create a lasting bond between the two countries. To then be able to gather around them, all the countries of Europe. Together to build a community.

9 May 1950, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Schumann says :

"Europe will not happen all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements. Which first create a de facto solidarity".

It was at this time that will be signed, April 18 1951, the Treaty of Paris.

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