History of the EU
From the ruins of World War II to a global economic power - the history of the European Union is a narrative of visions, challenges, and constant evolution.
It was the dream of a peaceful Europe that drove the founding fathers in the late 1940s. Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, and others recognized that only through economic integration could future conflicts be prevented. Thus, in 1951, the European Coal and Steel Community was born - the cornerstone of today's united Europe.
However, the path was rocky. Each round of enlargement brought new challenges. When the UK, Ireland, and Denmark joined in 1973, different political cultures had to be reconciled.
The southern enlargement in the 1980s presented economic challenges to the community. And the great eastern enlargement in 2004 was a feat of integration.
Milestones like the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 drove political integration forward. The euro was introduced, borders disappeared. But the ambitions also had their downsides. The 2008 financial crisis revealed structural weaknesses in the monetary union. The 2015 refugee crisis revived national egoisms. And Brexit was a bitter setback for the European idea.
Nevertheless, the EU has repeatedly proven to be crisis-resistant. During the Corona pandemic, European solidarity was evident in vaccine procurement. And in the face of the Ukraine war, Europe is moving closer together.
Today, the EU faces enormous tasks: climate change, digitalization, geopolitical tensions. At the same time, it must strengthen internal cohesion. But its history shows: The EU can change and learn from crises. Thus, it remains a unique peace project - with all its ups and downs.