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The EU is a political and economic union between 27 European Countries.

The EU has its roots in several different treaties signed after World War 2. Its based on the idea that there is likely to be less conflict if countries are economically interdependent. The EU has delivered peace, stability and prosperity. The EU's goal is to be transparent and democratic.

This Padlet presentation will explain the different treaties and the development of the European Union.

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Signed in 1951 by France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, this treaty created the European Coal and Steel Community, bringing these nations together as equals.

The main purpose of this treaty was to create interdependence in coal and steel so that no country could assemble their armed forces without the others knowing. This mollified distrust after World War II.

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Robert Schuman is credited as the founding father of the European Coal and Steel Community

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Only 6 years prior, each of these countries had taken part in a World War that left Europe with devastating consequences. This treaty gave way to a continent which was to be united economically and socially.

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This established the European Economic Community (Belgium, West Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), the customs union, CAP and the principles of equality and an "ever closer union".  It created a single market based on the free movement of goods, people, services and capital.

As stated in the linked video, this treaty was signed in hopes of reducing future conflicts by establishing a mutual economic co operation and reliance.

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25th March 1957: Treaty of Rome signed, which laid foundations for the European Economic Community

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Ireland, UK and Denmark joined the EEC in 1973. This was the first enlargement of the EEC, bringing the total member states from six to nine.

This was the most significant step Ireland had taken on its journey in asserting independence from the UK. The removal of tariffs and customs checks launched Ireland into the single market and we were introduced to the four freedoms and an open economy.

Economically, Ireland has benefited enormously from joining the EU. Ireland has received €40 billion in EU funds throughout the years and now we are a net contributor, contributing €377 million from 2018-2020. The benefits of being part of the single market is estimated to be more than €30 billion.

Although Ireland is a small nation among bigger nations such as France and Germany, Ireland still has a voice and each member state is on equal footing.

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This treaty was dedicated to establishing a single European market, establishing the four freedoms (goods, capital, services, people) and abolishing non tariff barriers. This eventually became known as the European Union.

The Single European act was brought in due to the fact that EU nations were not happy with the lack of free trade. They wanted to streamline the laws of member countries in order to increase co operation and to rectify discrepancies in the policies of member nations.

They wanted to reform the institutions in preparation for Spain and Portugal joining- bringing the total of EEC countries to 12.

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Treaty on European Union- Maastricht Treaty, 1992

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Treaty on European Union- Maastricht Treaty, 1992

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The Maastricht Treaty treaty effectively established the European Union, lay the foundations for the single currency and created EU citizenship. It laid the foundations of an economic and monetary union.

The euro is now the world's second most traded currency. The euro means more choices, stable prices within the EU, more security and opportunities for businesses, stability, and growth.

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Signed in 2001, this treaty amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome. It partially reformed the institutional structure of the EU to withstand the challenges of EU expansion to include eight central and eastern European States, Cyprus and Malta. With the treaty, Parliament's legislative powers were increased and qualified majority voting was extended to more areas within the Council.

During the first referendum, Ireland rejected the Treaty of Nice as they believed that it marginalised smaller states and others questioned the impact of the Treaty on Irish neutrality.

Campaigners warned that Ireland risked being bossed around by larger European member states, having to subsidise poorer applicant states, and having its tiny military forced to take part in Nato-inspired peacekeeping operations.

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In 2002, 10 years after the Maastricht treaty was signed, the Euro notes and coins were launched. The euro became the legal in 12 different EU countries- it's 19 now.

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The Treaty of Lisbon was an attempt to make the EU more democratic, more transparent and more efficient. This meant more power for the Parliament, a permanent president of the European Council (currently Charles Michel) and changes in the voting procedures in the Council. Following the Lisbon Treaty, there was a merger of the EC and the EU, forming what we now know as the European Union.

As stated in the video, this treaty reduced the ability of member states to block laws in the Council.

This treaty, alongside the Amsterdam treaty and the Treaty of Nice were made in hopes of reforming the European Union to allow more expansion and integration.

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The Brief: 10 years of The Lisbon Treaty

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The treaty was rejected by 53.6% of the total voters. The rejection of this treaty was largely due to the failure from EU officials to effectively communicate how this would strengthen European powers. At the time, Irish did not trust the global military intentions of some of Europe's leaders.

In 2009, there was another referendum held in Ireland and the Lisbon Treaty was accepted.

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The Constitution in Ireland can only be amended if the amendment has been approved by the people of Ireland in a referendum. This gives the people the opportunity to decide whether or not the law will change- this is why we have so many referendums.

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The Treaty of Lisbon famously includes Article 50- the right to leave the EU. The article states: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.”

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In January 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became members of the European Union in the fifth wave of EU enlargement. This brought the number of member states to 27.

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The Europe Sovereign Debt Crisis refers to the financial crisis that began in 2008 after Iceland's banking system collapsed, spreading to several other EU countries. This was largely due to high government debt and many institutional failures.

Member states such as Ireland and Greece were unable to repay their government debt. Following this, unemployment rates in Ireland rose from 4% in 2006 to 14.5% in 2010.

The EU established a Banking Union to ensure safer and more reliable banks.

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Following the Eurozone Crisis, the Fiscal Stability Treaty was introduced in 2012. This treaty was designed to strengthen the rules designed to make governments balance what they spend and what they earn- meaning countries must not spend beyond their means.

This treaty was put into force to prevent another financial crisis and to maintain the stability of the Euro.

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Croatia applied for EU membership in 2003 and negotiations took place from 2005 until 2011. In 2013, the succession treaty was signed and Croatia joined the EU- bringing the total member states to 28.

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Croatia Joins EU With An Official Ceremony

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Signed in 2015, the Paris Agreement is legally binding international treaty on climate change, in which the EU plays a crucial role. It was adopted by 196 Parties.

Its goal is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The EU pledged to reduce EU emissions by at least 55%.

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In June 2016, the UK held a referendum on it's membership of the EU. 52% voted to leave the EU and 48% voted to remain in the EU.

This is where article 50 in The Lisbon Treaty came to life. The UK had to give two years notice to negotiate withdrawal terms with the European Commission.