European integration is the process of political, legal, social,regional andeconomic integration of states wholly or partially inEurope, or nearby. European integration has primarily but not exclusively come about through theEuropean Union and its policies, and can includecultural assimilation andcentralisation.
The history of European integration is marked by theRoman Empire's consolidation of European and Mediterranean territories, which set a precedent for the notion of a unified Europe. This idea was echoed through attempts at unity, such as theHoly Roman Empire, theHanseatic League, and theNapoleonic Empire. The devastation of World War I reignited the concept of a unified Europe, leading to the establishment of international organizations aimed at political coordination across Europe. The interwar period saw politicians such asRichard von Coudenhove-Kalergi andAristide Briand advocating for European unity, albeit with differing visions.
Post-World War II Europe saw a significant push towards integration, withWinston Churchill's call for a "United States of Europe" in 1946 being a notable example. This period saw the formation of theories around European integration, categorizing into proto-integration, explaining integration, analyzing governance, and constructing the EU, reflecting a shift from viewing European integration as a unique process, to incorporating broaderinternational relations andcomparative politics theories.
Citizens' organizations have played a role in advocating further European integration, exemplified by theUnion of European Federalists and theEuropean Movement International. Various agreements and memberships demonstrate the web of relations and commitments between European countries, showing the multi-layered nature of integration.
In antiquity, theRoman Empire brought about integration of multiple European and Mediterranean territories. The numerous subsequent claims ofsuccession of the Roman Empire, even the iterations of the Classical Empire and its ancient peoples, have occasionally been reinterpreted in the light of post-1950 European integration as providing inspiration and historical precedents. Important examples include theHoly Roman Empire, theHanseatic League, thePeace of Westphalia, theNapoleonic Empire, and the unification ofGermany,Italy, andthe Balkans as well as theLatin Monetary Union.
Following the catastrophe of theFirst World War of 1914–1918, thinkers and visionaries from a range of political traditions again began to float the idea of a politically unified Europe. In the early 1920s a range of international organisations were founded (or re-founded) to help like-minded political parties to coordinate their activities. These ranged from theComintern (1919), to theLabour and Socialist International (1921) to theRadical and Democratic Entente of centre-left progressive parties (1924), to theGreen International of farmers' parties (1923), to the centre-right International Secretariat ofDemocratic Parties inspired by Christianity (1925).[1]While the remit of these international bodies was global, the predominance of political parties from Europe meant that they facilitated interaction between the adherents of a given ideology across European borders. Within each political tradition, voices emerged advocating not merely the cooperation of various national parties, but the pursuit of political institutions at the European level.
One of the first to articulate this view wasRichard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who outlined a conservative vision of European unity in hisPan-Europa manifesto (1923).[2] The FirstPaneuropean Congress took place inVienna in 1926, and the association possessed 8000 members by the time of the 1929Wall Street crash. They envisaged a specifically Christian, and by implication Catholic, Europe. The British civil-servant and future Conservative ministerArthur Salter published a book advocatingThe United States of Europe in 1933.[3]
In contrast the Soviet commissar (minister)Leon Trotsky raised the slogan "For aSoviet United States of Europe" in 1923, advocating a Europe united along communist principles.[4]
Among liberal-democratic parties, the French centre-left undertook several initiatives to group like-minded parties from the European states. In 1927, the French mathematician and politicianÉmile Borel, a leader of the centre-left Radical Party and the founder of the Radical International, set up a French Committee for European Cooperation, and a further twenty countries set up equivalent committees. However, it remained an élite venture: the largest committee, the French one, possessed fewer than six-hundred members, two-thirds of them parliamentarians.[5] Two centre-left French prime ministers went further. In 1929Aristide Briand gave a speech in the presence of theLeague of Nations Assembly in which he proposed the idea of a federation of European nations based on solidarity and in the pursuit of economic prosperity and political and social co-operation. In 1930, at the League's request, Briand presented aMemorandum on the organisation of a system of European Federal Union.[6] The next year the future French prime ministerÉdouard Herriot published his bookThe United States of Europe. Indeed, a template for such a system already existed, in the form of the 1921Belgian and Luxembourgish customs and monetary union.
Support for the proposals by the French centre-left came from a range of prestigious figures. Many eminent economists, aware that the economic race-to-the-bottom between states was creating ever-greater instability, supported the view: these includedJohn Maynard Keynes. The French political scientist and economistBertrand Jouvenel remembered a widespread mood after 1924 calling for a "harmonisation of national interests along the lines of European union, for the purpose of common prosperity".[7] The Spanish philosopher and politician,Ortega y Gasset, expressed a position shared by many withinRepublican Spain: "European unity is no fantasy, but reality itself; and the fantasy is precisely the opposite: the belief that France, Germany, Italy or Spain are substantive & independent realities."[8]Eleftherios Venizelos, Prime Minister ofGreece, outlined his government's support in a 1929 speech by saying that "theUnited States of Europe will represent, even without Russia, a power strong enough to advance, up to a satisfactory point, the prosperity of the other continents as well".[9]
Between the two world wars, the Polish statesmanJózef Piłsudski (1867–1935) envisaged the idea of a European federation that he calledMiędzymorze ("Intersea" or "Between-seas"), known in English asIntermarium, which was a Polish-oriented version ofMitteleuropa.
TheGreat Depression, the rise offascism andcommunism and subsequentlyWorld War II prevented[citation needed] the inter-war movements from gaining further support: between 1933 and 1936 most of Europe's remaining democracies became dictatorships, and Ortega's Spain and Venizelos's Greece had both plunged into civil war. But although the social-democratic, liberal or Christian-democratic supporters of European unity were out of power during the 1930s and unable to put their ideas into practice, many would find themselves in power in the 1940s and 1950s, and better-placed to put into effect their earlier remedies against economic and political crisis.
During World War II (1939–1945)Nazi Germany came to dominate –directly orindirectly – much of Europe at various times. The plans for German-oriented political, social, and economic integration of Europe – such as theNew Order, theGreater Germanic Reich andGeneralplan Ost – did not survive the war.
At the end of World War II, the continental political climate favoured unity in democratic European countries, seen by many as an escape from the extreme forms ofnationalism which had devastated the continent.[10] In a speech delivered on 19 September 1946 at theUniversity of Zürich in Switzerland,Winston Churchill postulated aUnited States of Europe.[11] The same speech however contains remarks, less-often quoted, which make it clear that Churchill did not initially see Britain as being part of this United States of Europe:
We British have our own Commonwealth of Nations ... And why should there not be a European group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common citizenship to the distracted peoples of this turbulent and mighty continent and why should it not take its rightful place with other great groupings in shaping the destinies of men? ... France and Germany must take the lead together. Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations, mighty America[,] and I trust Soviet Russia—for then indeed all would be well—must be the friends and sponsors of the new Europe and must champion its right to live and shine.
We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only, will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living.
— Winston Churchill[12]
European integration scholars Thomas Diez and Antje Wiener identify the general tendencies in the development of European integration theory and suggest to divide theories of integration into three broad phases, which are preceded by a normative proto-integration theory period.[13] There's a gradual shift from theories studying European integration assui generis towards new approaches that incorporate theories of International Relations and Comparative politics.[14]
The question of how to avoid wars between the nation-states was essential for the first theories.Federalism andfunctionalism proposed the containment of the nation-state, whiletransactionalism sought to theorise the conditions for the stabilisation of the nation-state system. Early federalism was more like a political movement calling for European federation by various political actors, for example,Altiero Spinelli calling for a federal Europe in hisVentotene Manifesto, andPaul Valéry envisioning European civilization for unity.[15] State sovereignty was an issue for federalists who hoped political organizations at higher regional level would solve the issue.[13] A representative scholar of functionalism wasDavid Mitrany, who also saw states and their sovereignty as a core problem and believed that one should restrain states to prevent future wars. However, Mitrany disagreed with regional integration as he viewed it as mere replication of the state-model.[13] Transactionalism, on the other hand, sees increased cross-border exchanges as promoting regional integration so that the risk of war is reduced.[16]
European integration theory initially focused on explaining integration process ofsupranational institution-building.[13] One of the most influential theories of European integration isneofunctionalism, influenced by functionalist ideas, developed byErnst B. Haas (1958) and further investigated byLeon Lindberg (1963). This theory focuses on spillovers of integration, where well-integrated and interdependent areas led to more integration.[17][18] Neofunctionalism well captures the spillover from theEuropean Coal and Steel Community to the European Economic Community established in the 1957 Treaties of Rome. Transfers of loyalties from the national level to the supranational level is expected to occur as integration progresses.[19]
The other big influential theory in Integration Studies isIntergovernmentalism, advanced byStanley Hoffmann after theEmpty Chair Crisis by French PresidentCharles De Gaulle in the 1960s. Intergovernmentalism and later,Liberal Intergovernmentalism, developed in the 1980s byAndrew Moravcsik focus on governmental actors' impacts that are enhanced by supranational institutions but not restrained from them.[13] The important debate between neofunctionalism and (liberal) intergovernmentalism still remains central in understanding the development and setbacks of the European integration.
As the empirical world has changed, so have the theories and thus the understanding of European Integration. The second generation of integration theorists focused on the importance of institutions and their impacts on both integration process and European governance development.[13] The second phase brought in perspectives from comparative politics in addition to traditional International Relations theoretical references. Studies attempted to understand what kind of polity the EU is and how it operates.[13] For example, new theorymulti-level governance (MLG) was developed to understand the workings and development of the EU.
The third phase of integration theory marked a return of International Relations theory with the rise of critical and constructivist approaches in the 1990s.[13] Perspectives from social constructivists, post-structuralists, critical theories, feminist theories are incorporated in integration theories to conceptualize European integration process of widening and deepening.[13]
Various federalist organisations have been created over time supporting the idea of a federal Europe. These include theUnion of European Federalists, theYoung European Federalists, theEuropean Movement International, theEuropean Federalist Party, andVolt Europa. TheUnion of European Federalists (UEF) is a European non-governmental organisation, campaigning for a Federal Europe. It consists of 20 constituent organisations and it has been active at the European, national and local levels for more than 50 years. TheEuropean Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it. TheEuropean Federalist Party is apro-European, pan-European and federalist political party which advocates further integration of the EU and the establishment of a Federal Europe. Its aim is to gather all Europeans to promote European federalism and to participate in all elections all over Europe. It has national sections in 15 countries.Volt Europa is a pan-European and European federalist political movement that also serves as the pan-European structure for subsidiary parties in EU member states. It is present in 29 countries and participates in elections all over the EU on the local, national and European level.
There are various agreements with overlapping membership. Several countries take part in a larger number of agreements than others.
Eachmember state of the European Union (EU) is:
A small group of EU member states have joined all European treaties, instead of opting out on some. They drive the development of a federal model for the European integration. This is linked to the concept ofMulti-speed Europe where some countries would create a core union; and goes back to theInner Six references to the founding member states of theEuropean Communities.
At present, the formation of a formal Core Europe Federation ("a federation within the confederation") has been held off at every occasion where such a federation treaty had been discussed.[citation needed] Instead, supranational institutions are created that govern more areas in "Inner Europe" than existing European integration provides for.
Among the 27 EU state members, 18 states have signed all integration agreements: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The agreements considered include the fifth stage of economic integration orEMU, theSchengen agreement, and theArea of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ).
Thus, among the 27 EU countries, 20 have joined the Eurozone, 25 have joined Schengen, and also 25 have no opt-outs under AFSJ.
Further, some countries which do not belong to the EU have joined several of these initiatives, albeit sometimes at a lower stage such as theCustoms Union, theCommon Market (EEA), or even unilaterally adopting the euro, and by taking part inSchengen, either as a signatory state, orde facto.
Thus, 6 non-EU countries have adopted the euro (4 through an agreement with the EU and 2 unilaterally), and 4 non-EU states have joined the Schengen agreement officially.
The following table shows the status of each state membership to the different agreements promoted by the EU. It lists 47 countries, including the 27 EU member states, 9 candidate states, 3 members of theEEA and Switzerland, Kosovo which has applied for membership, 4 microstates, and the United Kingdom and Armenia as special cases.
Hence, this table summarises some components of EU laws applied in most European states. Some territories of EU member states also have aspecial status in regard to EU laws applied. Some territories of EFTA member states also have aspecial status in regard to EU laws applied as is the case with someEuropean microstates. For member states that do not have special-status territories the EU law applies fully with the exception of theopt-outs in the European Union andstates under a safeguard clause or alternatively some states participate inenhanced co-operation between a subset of the EU members. Additionally, there are various examples of non-participation by some EU members and non-EU states participation in particularAgencies of the European Union, the programmes forEuropean Higher Education Area,European Research Area andErasmus Mundus.
Notes:
21 states are part of theEurozone or in ERM II without Euro opt-out.
These are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
They are all members of or take part in:
| Eurozone since: | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 2001 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2014 | 2015 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benelux/ WU/ WEU/ EC/ EU since: | 1948 | 1948 | 1948 | 1948 | 1951 | 1951 | 1973 | 1986 | 1986 | 1995 | 1995 | 1981 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2013 | 2007 | ||||
| Rule not met | EU only | Comment | Qty | BE | LU | NL | FR | DE | IT | IE | ES | PT | AT | FI | GR | SI | CY | MT | SK | EE | LV | LT | HR | BG | |
| Quantity total: | 246 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 24 | 24 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | |||
| Eurozone | yes | BG meets the requirement to be two years in ERM II and coin design is approved |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| PESCO | yes |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| is a member state of theCouncil of Europe Development Bank | no |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| did implement theEUCARIS system | no | PT is preparing, AT is not party to the EUCARIS Treaty (2000) as such | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) | yes |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| AFSJ | yes | IE has flexible opt-in |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| usesUIC gauge for existing or planned high-speed rail | no |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| is part ofEUMETNET | no | BG is a partner state |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| is a member state of theEuropean Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC) | no | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Schengen Agreement | no | IE has an opt-out, CY is committed to join |  | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| is party to theRevised European Social Charter | no |  | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| did sign theAgreement on a Unified Patent Court | yes |  | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Istanbul Convention | no | SK, LT, BG signed but not ratified | _participation_map%2c_current.svg) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| is a member ofEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) | no | BG has been a prospect member since 2024 |  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| does use theLatin script for the main language resulting in "EURO" on Euro banknotes | yes | GR,CY use Greek "ΕΥΡΩ", BG uses Cyrillic "ЕВРО" |  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| is a member of theInternational Whaling Commission | no |  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| does use anIndo-European language as the main language | no | EE, FI finno-ugric, MT semitic |  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| right hand traffic | no |  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| OECD | no | BG and HR are applicants |  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| did join the RG Continental Europe of theEuropean Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, managing thesynchronous grid of Continental Europe (UCTE) | no |  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Finabel | no |  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| NATO | no |  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Property regimes of international couples | ? |  | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| is a member state of theInternational Energy Agency | no |  | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| is a member state of theNuclear Energy Agency (NEA) | no |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| is part ofEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) | no | SK, LV, LT, BG signed a co-operation agreement, MT, CY not |  | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| does participate in theEuropean Union Divorce Law Pact | yes |  | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| did sign the Declaration 52 onsymbols of the European Union | yes |  | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| is member of theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) | no | LV, LT, SK are associates |  | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| does have 1435 mm UICstandard gauge as the main railway track gauge if it does have operational railway | no | PT, ES use 1668 mm Iberian gauge, EE, LV, LT use 1520 mm Russian gauge, FI uses 1524 mm Russian gauge, IE uses 1600 mm; (CY, MT without operational railway) | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| did ratify theOviedo Convention | no | LU, NL, IT signed | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| is part ofEuropean Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) | no | CY, SL are associate states in the pre-stage to membership. HR is an associate state | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| did sign thePrüm Convention | yes |  | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| does use theCentral European Time (CET) | no | PT, IE are in WET, the others in EET |  | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) | no |  | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| is party to theTreaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe | no | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| is member of theInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea | no | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| does participate in theEuropean Southern Observatory (ESO) | no |  | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| is member of theParis Club | no | PT is an ad hoc participant |  | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| does participate in theInstitut Laue–Langevin (ILL) | no |  | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| does participate in theEuropean Gendarmerie Force | yes | LT is an associate member |  | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| is a member state of theEurocorps | ? | AT, GR, IT are associated states | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| does participate in theEuropean Maritime Force (Euromarfor or EMF) | no |  | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Clickable map of Europe, showing one of the most commonly usedcontinental boundaries[29]
Key:blue:states which straddle the border between Europe and Asia;
green: countries not geographically in Europe, but closely associated with the continent
_cropped.svg)
For the purpose of this section Europe is defined as territories of countries:
Some agreements that are mostly related to countries of the European continent, are also valid in territories outside the continent.
Not listed below are agreements if their scope is beyond geographic Europe only because the agreement includes:
List:
Severalregional integration efforts have effectively promoted intergovernmental cooperation and reduced the possibility of regional armed conflict. Other initiatives have removed barriers to free trade in European regions, and increased the free movement of people, labour, goods, and capital across national borders.
Since the end of the Second World War, the following organisations have been established in theNordic region:
TheNordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers is a co-operation forum for the parliaments and governments of theNordic countries created in February 1953. It includes the states ofDenmark,Finland,Iceland,Norway andSweden, and their autonomous territories (Greenland,Faroe Islands andÅland).
TheNordic Passport Union, created in 1954 but implemented on 1 May 1958, establishes free movement across borders without passports for the countries' citizens. It comprises Denmark, Sweden and Norway as foundational states; further, it includes Finland and Iceland since 24 September 1965, and the Danish autonomous territories ofFaroe Islands since 1 January 1966.
The following political and/or economic organisations have been in theBaltic region in thepost-modern era:
TheBaltic Assembly aims to promote co-operation between the parliaments of theBaltic states, namely the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The organisation was planned inVilnius on 1 December 1990, and the three nations agreed to its structure and rules on 13 June 1994.
TheBaltic Free Trade Area (BAFTA) was a trade agreement between Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. It was signed on 13 September 1993 and came into force on 1 April 1994. The agreement was later extended to apply also to agricultural products, effective from 1 January 1997. BAFTA ceased to exist when its members joined the EU on 1 May 2004.
TheCouncil of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was founded in 1992 to promote intergovernmental cooperation amongBaltic Sea countries in questions concerning economy, civil society development, human rights issues, and nuclear and radiation safety. It has 12 members includingDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Iceland (since 1995),Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,Poland, Russia,Sweden and theEuropean Commission.
In 2009 theEuropean Council approved the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) following a communication from theEuropean Commission. The EUSBSR was the first macro-regional strategy in Europe. The Strategy aims to reinforce cooperation within the Baltic Sea Region, to address challenges together, and to promote balanced development in the Region. The Strategy contributes to major EU policies, includingEurope 2020, and reinforces integration within the Region.[32]
Since the end of the First World War the following unions have been set in theLow Countries region:
TheBenelux is an economic and political union between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. On 5 September 1944, a treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed. It entered into force in 1948, and ceased to exist on 1 November 1960, when it was replaced by theBenelux Economic Union after a treaty signed in The Hague on 3 February 1958. ABenelux Parliament was created in 1955.
TheBelgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) can be seen as a forerunner of the Benelux. BLEU was created by the treaty signed on 25 July 1921. It established asingle market between both countries, while setting theBelgian franc andLuxembourgian franc at a fixed parity.
Several regional organisations have been founded in theBlack Sea region since the fall of the Soviet Union, such as:
TheOrganization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) aims to ensure peace, stability and prosperity by encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations among the 12 state members, located mainly in the Black Sea region. It was created on 25 June 1992 in Istanbul, and entered into force on 1 May 1999. The 11 founding members were Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Serbia (then Serbia and Montenegro) joined in April 2004.
TheGUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organisation of four post-Soviet states, which aims to promote cooperation and democratic values, ensure stable development, enhance international and regional security, and stepping up European integration. Current members include the four founding ones, namely, Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. Uzbekistan joined in 1999, and left in 2005.
Since the end of the First World War, the following agreements have been signed in the United Kingdom and Ireland region:
TheBritish–Irish Council was created by theGood Friday Agreement in 1998 to"promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands". It was formally established on 2 December 1999. Its membership comprises Ireland, the United Kingdom, three of thecountries of the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), and three BritishCrown dependencies (Guernsey, theIsle of Man andJersey). Because England does not have adevolved parliament, it is not represented on the council as a separate entity.
TheCommon Travel Area is a passport-free zone established in 1922 that comprises Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. Under Irish law, all British citizens are exempt from immigration control and immune from deportation.[33] They are entitled to live in Ireland without any restrictions or conditions.[34] UnderBritish law, Irish citizens are entitled to enter and live in the United Kingdom without any restrictions or conditions. They also have the right to vote, work, study and access welfare and healthcare services.[35][36]
In January 2020,the United Kingdom left the EU, reversing most aspects of its 40+ years of participation in EU integration. Ireland continues to remain an enthusiastic member of the Union and participates in some elements of the Schengen Agreement other than the common visa policy [a position likely to remain for as a long asNorthern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom]. The Common Travel Area continues to operate though, as of June 2022[update], other aspects of the relationship areencountering difficulties.
The following cooperation agreements have been signed in Central Europe:
TheVisegrád Group is a Central-European alliance for cooperation and European integration, based on an ancient strategic alliance of core Central European countries. The Group originated in a summit meeting ofCzechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland held in the Hungarian castle town ofVisegrád on 15 February 1991. The Czech Republic and Slovakia became members after thedissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
In 1989, theCentral European Initiative, a forum of regional cooperation inCentral and Eastern Europe with 18 member states, was formed inBudapest. The CEI headquarters have been inTrieste, Italy, since 1996.
TheCentral European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is a trade agreement between countries in Central Europe and the Balkans, which works as a preparation for full European Union membership. As of 2013[update], it has 7 members:North Macedonia, Albania,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Moldova,Montenegro,Serbia and theUNMIK (asKosovo).
It was established in 1992 by Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland, but came into force only in 1994. Czechoslovakia had in the meantime split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Slovenia joined in 1996, while Romania did the same in 1997, Bulgaria in 1999, and Croatia in 2003. In 2004, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia left the CEFTA to join the EU. Romania and Bulgaria left it in 2007 for the same reason. Subsequently, North Macedonia joined it in 2006,[a] and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia andUNMIK (on behalf of Kosovo) in 2007. In 2013, Croatia left the CEFTA to join the EU.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein participate in acustoms union since 1924, and both employ theSwiss franc as national currency.
The effects of the EU integration process of the countries from the formerEastern bloc are still debated. As a result, the relationship between immigration levels and EU public support remains uncertain. Through the integration, the countries in Eastern Europe have experienced growth of the economy, benefits of the free market agreements and freedom of the labor movement within the EU.[37] However, the results of the empirical socioeconomic analyses[which?] suggest that inSpain,France,Ireland and theNetherlands, the immigration from CEE had negative effects on support for European integration in the host societies.[citation needed] The research[which?] also implies that the immigration from the CEE seems to undermine the long-term effects of the integration.[citation needed] There are theories[which?] for the programs of social development that range in views from: an extended contact with the immigrants fromEastern Europe might help forge a common European identity and it could also lead to a potential national isolation, caused by tightening support mechanisms for the labor immigration.[citation needed] Equal amount of research also implies that the internal migration of the countries within the EU is necessary for the successful development of its economic union.[38]
The EU Strategy for the Danube Region was endorsed by the European Council in 2011 and is the second macro-regional strategy in Europe. The Strategy provides a basis for improved cooperation among 14 countries along theDanube River. It aims to improve the effectiveness of regional integration efforts and leverage the impact of policies at the EU, national and local levels.[39]
TheCraiova Group, Craiova Four, or C4 is a cooperation project of four European states – Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia – for the purposes of furthering their European integration as well as economic, transport and energy cooperation with one another.
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Against the background of the devastation and human suffering during the Second World War as well as the need for reconciliation after the war, the idea of European integration led to the creation of theCouncil of Europe inStrasbourg in 1949.
The most important achievement of the Council of Europe is theEuropean Convention on Human Rights of 1950 with itsEuropean Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which serves as ade facto supreme court for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout Europe. Human rights are also protected by the Council of Europe'sCommittee for the Prevention of Torture and theEuropean Social Charter.
Most conventions of the Council of Europe pursue the aim of greater legal integration, such as the conventions on legal assistance, against corruption, againstmoney laundering, againstdoping in sport, orinternet crime.
Cultural co-operation is based on theCultural Convention of 1954 and subsequent conventions on the recognition of university studies and diplomas as well as on the protection of minority languages.
After the fall of theBerlin Wall, former communist European countries were able to accede to the Council of Europe, which now comprises 46 states in Europe. Therefore, European integration has practically succeeded at the level of the Council of Europe, encompassing almost the whole European continent, with the exception of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Russia, and the Vatican City.
European integration at the level of the Council of Europe functions through the accession of member states to its conventions, and through political coordination at the level of ministerial conferences and inter-parliamentary sessions. In accordance with its Statute of 1949, the Council of Europe works to achieve greater unity among its members based on common values, such as human rights and democracy.
The European Political Community (EPC) is anintergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe.[40] Theinaugural summit was held on 6 October 2022 inPrague, with participants from 44European countries, as well as thePresidents of the European Council and theEuropean Commission.[41]
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TheOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a trans-Atlanticintergovernmental organisation whose aim is to secure stability in Europe. It was established as theConference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in July 1973, and was subsequently transformed into its current form in January 1995. The OSCE has 56 member states, covering most of theNorthern Hemisphere.
The OSCE develops three lines of activities, namely thePolitico-Military Dimension, theEconomic and Environmental Dimension and theHuman Dimension. These respectively promote (i) mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution; (ii) the monitoring, alerting and assistance in case of economic and environmental threats; and (iii) full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
TheEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a Europeantrade bloc which was established on 3 May 1960 as an alternative for European states who did not join theEEC. EFTA currently has four member states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein; just Norway and Switzerland are founding members.
The EFTA Convention was signed on 4 January 1960 inStockholm by seven states: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Finland became an associate member in 1961 and a full member in 1986; Iceland joined in 1970 and Liechtenstein did the same in 1991. A revised Convention, theVaduz Convention, was signed on 21 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2002.
The United Kingdom and Denmark left in 1973, when they joined theEuropean Community (EC). Portugal left EFTA in 1986, when it also joined the EC. Austria, Finland and Sweden ceased to be EFTA members in 1995 by joining the European Union, which superseded the EC in 1993.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is an alliance of public service media entities, established on 12 February 1950. As of 2022[update], the organisation comprises 112 active members in 54 countries,[42] and 30 associate members from a further 19 countries.[43] Most EU states are part of this organisation, and therefore the EBU has been subject tosupranational legislation and regulation.[44] It also hosted debates between candidates for theEuropean Commissionpresidency for the2014 parliamentary elections, but is unrelated to the EU itself.[45]
The European Patent Convention (EPC), also known as the Convention on the Grant of European Patents of 5 October 1973, is a multilateraltreaty instituting theEuropean Patent Organisation and providing an autonomous legal system according to which European patents are granted. As of 2022, there are 39 parties to the European Patent Convention. The Convention on the Grant of European Patents was first signed on 5 October 1973.
In 1951, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany agreed to confer powers over their steel and coal production to theEuropean Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in theTreaty of Paris, which came into force on 23 July 1952.
Coal and steel production was essential for the reconstruction of countries in Europe after the Second World War and this sector of the national economy had been important for warfare in the First and Second World Wars. Therefore, France had originally maintained its occupation of theSaarland with its steel companies after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) in 1949. By transferring national powers over the coal and steel production to a newly created ECSC Commission, the member states of the ECSC were able to provide for greater transparency and trust among themselves.
This transfer of national powers to a "Community" to be exercised by its commission was paralleled under the 1957Treaty of Rome establishing theEuropean Atomic Energy Community (or Euratom) and theEuropean Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels.
In 1967, theMerger Treaty (orBrussels Treaty) combine the institutions of the ECSC and Euratom into that of the EEC. They already shared aParliamentary Assembly andCourts. Collectively they were known as theEuropean Communities. In 1987, theSingle European Act (SEA) was the first major revision of the Treaty of Rome that formally established the single European market and the European Political Cooperation. The Communities originally had independent personalities although they were increasingly integrated, and over the years were transformed into what is now called the European Union.
The six states that founded the three Communities were known as the "inner six" (the "outer seven" were those countries who formed theEuropean Free Trade Association). These were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. The first enlargement was in 1973, with the accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Greece joined in 1981, and Portugal and Spain in 1986. On 3 October 1990 East Germany and West Germany were reunified, hence East Germany became part of the Community in the new reunified Germany (not increasing the number of states).
A key person in the Community creation process wasJean Monnet, regarded as the "founding father" of the European Union, which is seen as the dominant force in European integration.
The European Union (EU) is an association of 27 sovereignmember states, that by treaty have delegated certain of their competences to common institutions, in order to coordinate their policies in a number of areas, without however constituting a new state on top of the member states. Officially established by theTreaty of Maastricht in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existingEuropean Economic Community.
Thus, 12 states are founding members, namely, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In 1995, Austria, Finland and Sweden entered the EU. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. Croatia acceded in 2013. The United Kingdom withdrew in 2020 after 47 years of membership. Official candidate states include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia,[a] Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. Morocco's application was rejected by the EEC. Iceland and Switzerland have withdrawn their respective applications. Norway rejected membership in two referendums. Themembership negotiations process between the EU and Turkey, which started on 3 October 2005, has been suspended since 2019.
The institutions of the European Union, its parliamentarians, judges, commissioners and secretariat, the governments of its member states as well as their people, all play a role in European Integration. Nevertheless, the question of who plays the key role is disputed as there are different theories on European Integration focusing on different actors and agency.
The European Union has a number of relationships with nations that are not formally part of the Union. According to the European Union's official site, and a statement by Commissioner Günter Verheugen, the aim is to have a ring of countries, sharing EU's democratic ideals and joining them in further integration without necessarily becoming full member states.
Whilst most responsibilities ('competences') are retained by the member states, some competences are conferred exclusively on the Union for collective decision, some are shared pending Union action and some receive Union support. These are shown on this table:
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The European Union operates a single economic market across the territory of all its members, and uses a single currency between theEurozone members. Further, the EU has a number of economic relationships with nations that are not formally part of the Union through theEuropean Economic Area and customs union agreements.
The creation of the EEC eliminated tariffs, quotas and preferences on goods among member states, which are the requisites to define afree trade area (FTA). The United Kingdom remains part of the FTA during the transition period of theBrexit withdrawal agreement.
Numerous countries have signed aEuropean Union Association Agreement (AA) with FTA provisions. These mainly include Mediterranean countries (Algeria in 2005, Egypt in 2004, Israel in 2000, Jordan in 2002, Lebanon in 2006, Morocco in 2000,Palestinian National Authority in 1997, and Tunisia in 1998), albeit some countries from other trade blocs have also signed one (such as Chile in 2003, Mexico in 2000, and South Africa in 2000).
Further, many Balkan states have signed aStabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with FTA provisions, such as Albania (signed 2006), Montenegro (2007), North Macedonia[a] (2004), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia (both 2008, entry-into-force pending).
In 2008, Poland and Sweden proposed theEastern Partnership which would include setting a FTA between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,[47] Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.[48]
TheEuropean Union Customs Union defines an area where no customs are levied on goods travelling within it. It includes allmember states of the European Union. The abolition of internal tariff barriers betweenEEC member states was achieved in 1968.
Andorra and San Marino belong to the EU customs unions with third states. Turkey is linked by theEuropean Union–Turkey Customs Union.
A prominent goal of the EU since its creation by theMaastricht Treaty in 1992 is establishing and maintaining asingle market. This seeks to guarantee thefour basic freedoms, which are related to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and people around the EU's internal market.
The United Kingdom remained part of the single market during the transition period of theBrexit withdrawal agreement. TheEuropean Economic Area (EEA) agreement allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European Single Market without joining the EU. The four basic freedoms apply. However, some restrictions on fisheries and agriculture take place. Switzerland is linked to the European Union bySwiss-EU bilateral agreements, with a different content from that of the EEA agreement.
TheEurozone refers to the European Union member states that have adopted the eurocurrency union as the third stage of theEuropean Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Further, certain states outside the EU have adopted the euro as their currency, despite not belonging to the EMU. Thus, a total of 26 states, including 20 European Union states and six non-EU members, currently use the euro.
The Eurozone came into existence with the official launch of the euro on 1 January 1999. Physicalcoins andbanknotes were introduced on 1 January 2002.
The original members were Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Greece adopted the euro on 1 January 2001. Slovenia joined on 1 January 2007, Cyprus and Malta were admitted on 1 January 2008, Slovakia joined on 1 January 2009, Estonia on 1 January 2011, Latvia on 1 January 2014, Lithuania on 1 January 2015 and Croatia on 1 January 2023.
Outside the EU, agreements have been concluded with Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City for formal adoption, including the right to issue their own coins. Montenegro and Kosovo} unilaterally adopted the euro when it launched.
There has long been speculation about the possibility of the European Union eventually becoming afiscal union. In the wake of theEuropean debt crisis that began in 2009, calls for closer fiscal ties, possibly leading to some sort of fiscal union have increased; though it is generally regarded as implausible in the short term, some analysts regard fiscal union as a long-term necessity.[49][50] While stressing the need for coordination, governments have rejected talk of fiscal union or harmonisation in this regard.[51]
There are three main aviation related institutions present in Europe:
The transnational energy related structures present in Europe are:
The transnational standardisation organisations present in Europe are:
TheERASMUS programme (EuropeanRegionActionScheme for theMobility ofUniversityStudents) seeks to encourage and support free movement of the academic community. It was established in 1987.
A total of 33 states (including all European Union states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey) are involved.
TheEuropean Higher Education Area (EHEA) aims to integrate education systems in Europe. Thus, degrees and study periods are recognised mutually. This is done by following theBologna process, and under theLisbon Recognition Convention of theCouncil of Europe.
The Bologna declaration was signed in 1999 by 29 countries, all EU members or candidates at the moment (except Cyprus which joined later) and three out of four EFTA countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. Croatia, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, and Turkey joined in 2001. In 2003, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, theHoly See (a Council of Europe permanent observer), North Macedonia,[a] Russia, and Serbia signed the convention. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine followed in 2005. Montenegro joined in 2007. Finally, Kazakhstan (not a member of the Council of Europe) joined in 2010. This makes a total of 47 member states. Monaco and San Marino are the only members of the Council of Europe which have not adopted the convention. The other European nation that is eligible to join, but has not, is Belarus.
There are a number of multinational research institutions based in Europe.
TheEuropean Health Insurance Card (orEHIC) is issued free of charge and allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of theEEA countries andSwitzerland to receive medical treatment in another member state for free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during their visit (for example, due to illness or an accident), or if they have a chronicpre-existing condition which requires care such askidney dialysis.
TheepSOS project, also known asSmart Open Services for European Patients, aims to promote free movement of patients.[52] It will allow health professionals to electronically access the data from patients from another country, to electronically process prescriptions in all involved countries, or to provide treatment in another EU state to a patient on a waiting list.
The project has been launched by the EU and 47 member institutions from 23 EU member states and 3 non-EU members. They include national health ministries, national competence centres, social insurance institutions and scientific institutions as well as technical and administrative management entities.
TheCharter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is a document enshrining certainfundamental rights. The wording of the document has been agreed at ministerial level and has been incorporated into theTreaty of Lisbon. Poland has negotiated an opt out from this Charter, as had the United Kingdom before the latter'swithdrawal from the European Union.
The European integration process has extended theright of foreigners to vote. Thus, European Union citizens were givenvoting rights inlocal elections by the 1992Maastricht Treaty. Several member states (Belgium, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Slovenia) have extended since then the right to vote to all foreign residents. This was already the case in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. Further, voting and eligibility rights are granted among citizens of theNordic Passport Union, and between numerous countries through bilateral treaties (i.e. between Norway and Spain, or between Portugal and Brazil, Cape Verde, Iceland, Norway, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina), or without them (i.e. Ireland and the United Kingdom). Finally, within theEEA, Iceland and Norway also grant the right to vote to all foreign residents.
The main purpose of the establishment of theSchengen Agreement is the abolition of physical borders among European countries. A total of 30 states, including 26 European Union states (all except Ireland, which is part of theCommon Travel Area with the United Kingdom) and four non-EU members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), are subject to the Schengen rules. Its provisions have already been implemented by 29 states, leaving just Cyprus to do so among signatory states.
Further, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City arede facto members.
European Union has visa-free regime agreements with some European countries outside EU and discussing such agreements with others; Armenia,[53] Russia,[54][55] Ukraine,[56] and Moldova.[57] Matters concerning Turkey have also been debated.[58][59] Ireland maintains an independent visa policy in the EU.
There are a number of multi-national military and peacekeeping forces which are ultimately under the command of the EU, and therefore can be seen as the core for a future European Union army.[60] These corps include forces from 26 EU states (all except Malta, which currently does not participate in any battlegroup), Norway and Turkey. Denmark used to have an opt-out clause in its accession treaty and was not obliged to participate in the common defence policy, but in 2022 decided to abandon its stance. Further, theWestern European Union (WEU) capabilities and functions have been transferred to the European Union, under its developingCommon Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) andEuropean Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).[61]
The EU also has close ties with theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to theBerlin Plus agreement. This is a comprehensive package of agreements made between NATO and the EU on 16 December 2002. With this agreement the EU is given the possibility to use NATO assets in case it wanted to act independently in an international crisis, on the condition that NATO does not want to act itself – the so-called "right of first refusal".[62]
In fact, many EU member states are among the 32 NATO members. TheTreaty of Brussels is considered the precursor to NATO. TheNorth Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., in 1949. It included the five Treaty of Brussels states, as well as the United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Greece and Turkey joined the alliance in 1952, and West Germany did the same in 1955. Spain entered in 1982. In 1999, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland became NATO members. Finally, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia joined in 2004. In 2009, Albania and Croatia joined. In 2008, Ukraine and Georgia were told that they will also eventually become members. Montenegro and North Macedonia joined in 2017 and 2020 respectively. In 2023 and 2024, Finland and Sweden joined. Thus, 23 out of 32 NATO states are among the 27 EU members, another two are members of the EEA, and one more is an EU candidate and also a member of theEuropean Union Customs Union.
On 22 May 2007, the member states of the European Union have agreed to create a common political framework for space activities in Europe by unifying the approach of theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) with those of the individual European Union member states.[63]
However, ESA is an intergovernmental organisation with no formal organic link to the EU; indeed the two institutions have different member states and are governed by different rules and procedures. ESA was created in 1975 by the merger of the two pre-existing European organisations engaged in space activities,ELDO andESRO. The 10 founding members were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Ireland joined on 31 December 1975. In 1987, Austria and Norway became member states. Finland joined in 1995, Portugal in 2000, Greece and Luxembourg in 2005, the Czech Republic in 2008, and Romania in 2011. Currently, it has 20 member states: all the EU member states before 2004, plus Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Switzerland. In addition, Canada has had the special status of a Cooperating State under a series of cooperation agreements dating since 1979.[64][65]
In 2007 the political perspective of the European Union was to make ESA anagency of the EU by 2014.[66] ESA is likely to expand in the coming years with the countries which joined the EU in both 2004 and 2007. Currently, almost all EU member states are in different stages of affiliation with ESA. Poland[67] has joined on 19 November 2012. Hungary[68] and Estonia[69] have signed ESA Convention. Latvia and Slovenia have started to implement a Plan for European Cooperating State (PECS) Charter. Slovakia, Lithuania and Bulgaria have signed a European Cooperating State (ECS) Agreement. Cyprus,[70] Malta and Croatia have signed Cooperation Agreements with ESA.
There is no fixed end to the process of integration. The discussion on the possible final political shape or configuration of the European Union is sometimes referred to as the debate on thefinalité politique (French for "political purpose").[72] Integration andenlargement of the European Union are major issues in thepolitics of Europe, each at European, national and local level. Integration may conflict with nationalsovereignty andcultural identity, and is opposed byeurosceptics. To the east of the European Union, the countries ofBelarus,Kazakhstan and Russia launched the creation of theEurasian Economic Union in the year 2015, which was subsequently joined byArmenia andKyrgyzstan. Other states in the region, such asMoldova andTajikistan may also join. Meanwhile, the post-Sovietdisputed states ofAbkhazia,Artsakh,South Ossetia, andTransnistria have created theCommunity for Democracy and Rights of Nations to closer integrate among each other. Some Eastern European countries such asArmenia have opted to cooperate with both the EU and the Eurasian Union. On 24 February 2017Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of theEurasian Economic Commission stated that Armenia's stance was to cooperate and work with both theEuropean Union and theEurasian Economic Union. Sargsyan added that although Armenia is part of the Eurasian Union, a newEuropean Union Association Agreement between Armenia and the EU would be finalized shortly.[73]
Several countries inEastern Europe have engaged the EU with the aim to grow economic and political ties. TheEuronest Parliamentary Assembly, established in 2003, is the inter-parliamentary forum in which members of theEuropean Parliament and the national parliaments ofUkraine,Moldova,Belarus,Armenia,Azerbaijan andGeorgia participate and forge closer political and economic ties with the European Union.[74] All of these States participate in the EU'sEastern Partnership program. TheOrganization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and theCommunity of Democratic Choice are other organizations established to promote European integration, stability, and democracy. On 12 January 2002, theEuropean Parliament noted that Armenia and Georgia may enter the EU in the future.[75] On 2 March 2024, Armenian Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan advised that Armenia would officially "apply to become a candidate for EU membership in the coming days, within a month at most".[76][77] On 5 March, Pashinyan stated that Armenia would apply for EU candidacy by autumn 2024 at the latest.[78] On 12 March 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution confirming Armenia meetsMaastricht TreatyArticle 49 requirements and may apply for EU membership.[79] TheNational Assembly of Armenia approved the matter in January 2025 to start theaccession of Armenia to the European Union and the matter will be put to a referendum for confirmation or rejection by the Armenian people.[80] On 9 January 2025, theArmenian government approved the bill to launch a bid for the country to join the European Union.[81] Currently,Georgia is the only country in theCaucasus actively seeking EU membership.
In 2008, Russian PresidentDmitry Medvedev announced a new concept for Russian foreign politics and called for the creation of a common space in Euro-Atlantic and Eurasia area "from Vancouver to Vladivostok".[82] On 5 June 2009 in Berlin he proposed a new all-European pact for security that would include all European,CIS countries and the United States.[83][84] On 29 November 2009 a draft version of the European Security Treaty appeared.[85][86][87] French president Sarkozy spoke positively about Medvedev's ideas and called for closer security and economic relation between Europe and Russia.[88][89][90][91]
Russian Prime MinisterVladimir Putin in a German newspaper in 2010 called for common economic space, free-trade area or more advanced economic integration, stretching fromLisbon toVladivostok.[92][93][94][95][96] He also said it is quite possible Russia could join the eurozone one day.[97] French presidentNicolas Sarkozy in 2010 said he believed in 10 or 15 years there will be common economic space between EU and Russia with visa-free regime and general concept of security.[98]
Instead Russia has chosen economic policy of self-sufficiency and economic autarky. Russia has been unable to compete with the EU economy, so integration might be at the cost of its own political and socio-economic stability.[99]
Russian legal scholar Oleg Kutafin and economist Alexander Zakharov produced a Concept of a Single Legal Space for theCIS and Europe in 2002. This idea was fully incorporated in the resolution of the 2003 Moscow Legal Forum. The Forum gathered representatives of more than 20 countries including 10 CIS countries. In 2007 both the International Union of Jurists of the CIS and the International Union (Commonwealth) of Advocates passed resolutions that strongly support the Concept of a Single Legal Space for Europe and post-Soviet Countries.
The concept said: "Obviously, to improve its legislation Russia and other countries of CIS should be oriented toward the continental legal family of European law. The civil law system is much closer to the Russian and other CIS countries will be instrumental in harmonising legislation of CIS countries and the European Community but all values of common law should be also investigated on the subject of possible implementation in some laws and norms.It is suggested that the introduction of the concept of a Single legal space and a single Rule of Law space for Europe and CIS be implemented in four steps:
TheEuro-Mediterranean Partnership orBarcelona Process was organised by the European Union to strengthen its relations with the countries in theMashriq andMaghreb regions. It started in 1995 with theBarcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference, and it has been developed in successive annual meetings.
The European Union enlargement of 2004 brought two more Mediterranean countries (Cyprus and Malta) into the Union, while adding a total of 10 to the number of Member States. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership today comprises 43 members: 27 European Union member states, and 15 partner countries (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia, as well as the Palestinian Territories). Libya has had observer status since 1999.
TheEuro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (EU-MEFTA) is based on theBarcelona Process andEuropean Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). It will cover the EU, theEFTA, theEU customs unions with third states (Andorra, San Marino, and Turkey), theEU candidate states, and the partners of theBarcelona Process.
TheUnion for the Mediterranean is a community of countries, mostly bordering theMediterranean Sea, established in July 2008.[101]
Morocco already has a number of close ties with the EU, including an Association Agreement with FTA provisions, air transport integration, or the participation in military operations such as ALTHEA in Bosnia.
Further, it will be the first partner to go beyond association by enhancing political and economic ties, entering the Single Market, and participating in some EU agencies.[102][103][104][105]
TheCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a loose organisation in which most former Soviet republics participate. A visa-free regime operates among members and a free-trade area is planned. Ukraine is not an official member, but has participated in the organisation. Some members are more integrated than others, for example Russia and Belarus form aUnion State. In 2010, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan formed acustoms union and asingle market (Common Economic Space) commenced on 1 January 2012. The Presidents of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan established theEurasian Economic Union with a Eurasian Commission in 2015, subsequently joined byArmenia andKyrgyzstan. Acommon currency is also planned, potentially to be named "evraz". Some other countries in the region, such asMoldova are potential members of these organisations.
The post-Sovietdisputed states ofAbkhazia,South Ossetia, andTransnistria are all members of theCommunity for Democracy and Rights of Nations which aims to forge closer integration.
The European Union cooperates with some other countries and regions via loose organisations and regular meetings. TheASEM forum, consisting of the EU and some Asian countries, has been held every two years since 1996. The EU andAfrican, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States form theACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, promotingACP–EU development cooperation, democracy and human rights. The EU and Latin American countries form theEuro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly.TAFTA is a proposed free-trade area between EU and United States.
European countries like the United Kingdom,France,Spain,Portugal have made organisations with other countries in the world with which they have strong cultural and historical links.
English is considered to be the globallingua franca. European languages like English,French,Spanish,Portuguese,Italian,Russian andGerman are official, co-official or widely in use in many countries with acolonial past or with aEuropean diaspora.
[...] forerunners of contemporary Christian Democracy had pioneered transnational cooperation beginning in 1925 with the International Secretariat of Democratic Parties of Christian Inspiration.
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{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)The establishment of a fiscal union would require such a massive change in the European treaties that it is hard to see how it could be done.
Yet almost all political and legal experts who specialise in the European Union believe a fiscal union is Utopian. If both are right a fiscal union is simultaneously necessary and impossible.
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