EU: the composition of the community will expand?

In 1992 in Maastricht, the Netherlands, the participants of the future euro zone signed the "Treaty on the European Union". So there was the European Union. The composition of this unique community today is calculated by 28 states. The EU was created to interact in the economic and political spheres. This step was designed to ensure greater growth in the well-being of citizens and a peaceful settlement of possible conflicts.

Everything started with coal and steel

Active integration processes in Europe developed in the fifties of the last century. In 1951, a community of six countries emerged (Italy, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands), which combined the three industrial sectors. It was still far from the common currency. The common market was erected on a strong foundation of the metallurgical and coal industry. In March 1957 this association, as well as another supranational branch alliance (nuclear power), became the first components of the EEC. It was an economic community. A decade will pass - and the process will go far beyond the industry boundaries. In the summer of 1985, the Schengen Agreement on the free movement of citizens, capitals and goods was swept away by customs barriers within this community. The final step in rallying the European powers was the European Union, whose membership was replenished at the beginning of the twentieth century at the expense of its neighbors from the east by the desire for unity of the part of the world.

And ten new members

States have entered the EU in turn for decades. By 2004, the composition of the EU countries was as follows: Italy, France, Malta, Great Britain, Cyprus, Germany, Poland, Luxembourg, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium. In 2004, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia joined these states. In 2007, two more countries - Romania and Bulgaria - joined the European Union. The composition of the community, thus, in a short time has greatly expanded. This was due to the collapse of the USSR. In 2013, Croatia joined the euro area.

EU: the composition is checked for strength

Today, a number of countries (for example, Turkey) are candidates for EU membership. Despite the fact that in some countries there are quite a lot of opponents of the eurozone, none of its members left the European Union. The composition of 2013 is not its final design. In a number of countries in Eastern Europe are considering joining the eurozone: not now, but in the distant future. To become a member of the EU, it is necessary to meet strict requirements concerning human rights, democracy and keep high the bar of economic achievements. Accession to the EU should be preceded by several years of association with him.

New members can bring new problems.

The discontent of the opponents of the European Union, as a rule, is connected with the conditions of financial markets, "debt slavery". Give voice and those who are concerned about the possible destruction of national identity. The further construction of Europe will depend on whether the European government can take into account the interests of each sovereign nation.