The European Union

Introduction

Problems Facing the European Union Sovereignty or Unity?

Expansion

The European Union?

E.U. members listed in order of membership:

Official languages of the E.U.

The E.U. Government Structure

History, How and Why?

The Views Against the E.U.

In Conclusion

Introduction

Europe made up more than 30 countries and even more distinct cultures;

it is now trying to adjust to new economic systems throughout the world. Today

with the trend toward big trading blocks like: N.A.F.T.A. or G.N.A.T.T. Europe

is trying to advance it's old Trading block called the European Economic

Community (EEC) to become the European Union. The current membership of 15

country's is ruled by one European Parliament. Under the E.U. each country will

be under one currency called the Euro dollar (which is to come into effect on

January 1st of 1999), one central banking system, and will be regulated with the

same set of laws. In effect the country's of the E.U. will eventually become

one. The way to a unified Europe is not a easy one; problems caused by

countries unwilling to give up their sovereignties, and by countries afraid of

the new Union continually slow it's progress.

Problems Facing the European Union Sovereignty or Unity?

This raises many conflicts with Europeans. For thousands of years

Europe has been torn time and again by wars which were largely fueled by ethnic

or religious differences. Today however Europeans are asked to put aside their

differences and become one. With nationalism still strong throughout Europe

many people are strongly against the E.U. Analysts strongly suggest, however,

that the E.U. is the only way Europe can improve it's economy. Unemployment in

most of Europe is running above 10 percent and countries like Germany and France

are suffering from net investment outflows, European economies are groaning

under the weight of rigid regulation, high labor costs, high taxes and generous

social services that have become too expensive to sustain. Meanwhile, labor

protests are on the rise, companies cut costs and governments try to slash

budget deficits.

Expansion

The E.U. causes another major problem for Europe and the rest of the

world that is the expansion of the Union. Countries from the former Warsaw Pact

are eager to join the European Union but Russia is opposing that move because of

their xenophobic fears. This poses an new question for the world; Are the

satellite countries of the former Soviet Union truly sovereign states or are

they still puppet states controlled by Russia? The view today has to different

sides: the European, who are willing to accept Warsaw Pact states into NATO and

the E.U. given they meet the requirements; And the U.S.