History of the European Union

The history of the European Union traces the postwar creation and expansion of institutions that bind European states through shared policies, law, and political cooperation.

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Schuman Declaration: A 1950 proposal to place French and West German coal and steel production under a common authority. It proposed the sectoral cooperation that launched the integration project.
European Union treaties: The foundational agreements that define the European Union’s powers, institutions, and policy rules. Successive treaties changed the scope and structure of integration.
Single European Act: A 1986 treaty that set a deadline for completing the European single market and expanded majority voting. It accelerated market integration and altered how common decisions were made.
Charles de Gaulle: The French president from 1959 to 1969, who favored cooperation among states over supranational authority. His policies challenged proposals to strengthen common institutions.
European Coal and Steel Community: A 1951 organization pooling the coal and steel industries of six European countries. It was the first supranational community built from the Schuman proposal.
European Commission: The EU institution that proposes legislation, implements policies, and oversees compliance with EU law. Its executive role helps turn treaty commitments into common policies.
Maastricht Treaty: The 1992 treaty that founded the European Union and set the path toward economic and monetary union. It transformed the communities into a broader political union.
Empty Chair Crisis: The 1965–66 dispute in which France boycotted European Community institutions over proposed changes to decision-making. It showed how national governments could stall integration by withholding participation.
Treaty of Rome: The 1957 treaties that established the European Economic Community and Euratom. They broadened integration beyond coal and steel into a common market.
European Parliament: The directly elected institution that shares legislative and budgetary powers within the European Union. Its growing authority marks the shift toward stronger democratic representation.