The Continuing Evolution of the European Union

From the basic idea and structure set forth in the Treaty of Rome, the European Union has created itself and its actual structure and composition through a painful process of evolution. The origi­nal idea of union from such a diverse population and separate systems of government, with its violent history, was bound to be difficult. Yet, it is said that “nobody would have deliberately designed a government as complex and as redun­dant as the EU.4”

By 1986, the EC had grown to 12 member states.5

The European Union came into existence with the Treaty of Maastricht, signed in 1992. By 1995, the addition of Austria, Sweden, and Fin­land brought the number of countries in the EU to 15. In 2004, 10 more countries were admitted.6 By 2007, the total membership had risen to 27 with the addition of Bulgaria and Romania.

Along the way came the European Central Bank, which is the central bank for the countries that have adopted the Euro, the EU’s common cur­rency. It controls monetary policy for that currency and its subscribing countries. It has inherited a central and very important role as certain Member States of the EU have demonstrated financial insta­bility and weakness that threatens the very existence of the EU. This instability pits the more “indus­trious” Member States against those that might be termed “profligate” by some, the most glaring extremes of which are Germany (the world’s fourth largest national economy) and Greece.

Although the purposes of the community are increased economic stability, expansion of eco­nomic activities, securing an improved standard of living, and the creation of a genuine, barrier – free internal market, the nature of the culture and the people of the various countries in the Union are playing a divisive role as the EU attempts to accomplish its original goals. The result appears to be that some of the more industrious and effi­cient countries are being called upon to “bailout” other Member States that have accumulated sig­nificant debt and that do not have the financial strength to continue to operate their govern­ments, given their obligations. As of 2013, the EU is in crisis.