New countries strive to get into the European Union, because favorable economic and political conditions are created there for each state. However, rumors about the possible collapse of the countries of the European Commonwe alth are alarming. Therefore, the question of the prestige of joining the Eurozone becomes relevant. To figure this out, you need to find out who is in the European Union and how people in European countries actually live.
EU countries
The idea of creating the European Commonwe alth arose in 1950. It was put forward by Robert Schuman - Minister of Foreign Affairs (France).
In 1951, in Paris, an agreement on the European Coal and Steel Community was signed by 6 countries: Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands. In 1973, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark were added to them; in 1981 - Greece; in 1986 - Spain, Portugal; and in 1995 - Austria, Sweden and Finland.
2004 saw the largest accession ever, with 10 more states joining the European Community.
The Maastricht Treaty, which provided for the formation of the European Union, wassigned in 1993. There are currently 28 countries in the Eurozone.
List of EU countries in 2013:
- Belgium;
- Germany;
- Italy;
- Luxembourg;
- Netherlands;
- France;
- UK;
- Denmark;
- Ireland;
- Greece;
- Portugal;
- Spain;
- Austria;
- Finland;
- Sweden;
- Hungary;
- Cyprus;
- Latvia;
- Lithuania;
- M alta;
- Poland;
- Slovakia;
- Slovenia;
- Czech Republic;
- Estonia;
- Bulgaria;
- Romania;
- Croatia.
EU flag and anthem
The blue flag of the European Union is decorated with gold stars (12 pieces). The history of its creation looks paradoxical, because the flag itself appeared before the formation of the EU.
Almost every economically savvy person knows who is in the European Union, but not everyone knows why there are 12 stars on its flag. In fact, this number symbolizes the integral form of the universe, the number of months in a year and the number of digits on the watch dial. And the circle is the personification of unity.
For the first time such an emblem was introduced by the European Council, which de alt with human rights and cultural issues. And in 1986, the starry blue flag was declared the emblem of the EU.
In 1972, the anthem of the European Union was chosen. They became the ode "To Joy", which in 1985 received official approval. The European anthem hasfamous authors - Beethoven and Schiller.
EU Crisis
Today the European community combines the features of an international organization and a supranational state. Many countries apply for entry into the EU. Among them are Bosnia, Albania, Turkey, Montenegro. It is still not clear whether Switzerland is a member of the European Union or not. The state has an agreement on a visa-free regime, but it is not part of the common economic space. That is why customs control is maintained at the Swiss border.
Despite the seeming cloudlessness, many EU member states are undergoing an economic crisis. There are difficulties with the euro currency, which is strongly supported by Germany. Relations between the UK and the EU are escalating. The balance of payments surplus between EU states continues to widen.
Financier George Soros (USA) warns that the Eurozone is in danger of disintegration. The gulf between creditor states and EU debtors is widening, and economic improvements are not yet in sight.
Will Ukraine join the EU?
Now many are concerned about the question of who enters the European Union within the framework of the agreed EU enlargement program. Today it is the Western Balkans, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina.
Not so long ago, Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister who presides over the EU, said that Moldova is not a priority for the European Union.
Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, claims that Ukraine is not ready to join the European Union. And the European Community has not yetready to accept the country into its ranks. EU member states do not express unanimity on the issue of Ukraine's accession. They believe that the country needs to carry out a number of reforms, including the fight against corruption, and increase the degree of accountability of the authorities to the society. In the meantime, this has not happened, the state cannot apply for EU membership. In addition, Ukraine at this stage needs to solve many other problems.
Ways to overcome the European crisis
The 2014 EU countries are engulfed by the economic crisis. Even large states, such as France, could not resist the negative changes in the Eurozone. And the UK is increasingly announcing its exit from the EU.
In order to preserve the European Union, it is necessary to take economic measures of a radical nature: to return states to national currencies, provided that the euro is preserved, or to strengthen the supranational role of the Eurozone.
The question of who is in the EU is giving way to the growing problem of overcoming the economic crisis in Europe. If we manage to normalize the political and economic situation in the EU and keep the euro, it is possible that other applicant countries will be able to become members very soon.
