The Swinging(vivaci) Sixties a period of economic growth The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall

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1 The EU The European Union (EU) is not a federation like the United States. Nor is it simply an organisation for co-operation between governments, like the United Nations. It is, in fact, unique. The countries that make up the EU (its member states ) remain independent sovereign nations but they pool (mettono insieme ) their sovereignty in order to gain a strength and world influence none of them could have on their own. ( A peaceful Europe the beginnings of cooperation The European Union is set up (costituita)with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. As of 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founders are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s are dominated by a cold war between east and west. Protests in Hungary against the Communist regime are put down by Soviet tanks in 1956; while the following year, 1957, the Soviet Union takes the lead in the space race, when it launches the first man-made space satellite, Sputnik 1. Also in 1957, the Treaty of Rome creates the European Economic Community (EEC), or Common Market The Swinging(vivaci) Sixties a period of economic growth The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture, with groups such as The Beatles attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to stimulate a cultural revolution and widening the generation gap. It is a good period for the economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production, so that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and many changes in society and behaviour become associated with the so-called 68 generation A growing Community the first Enlargement On 1 January 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Union, raising the number of member states to nine. The short, yet brutal, Arab-Israeli war of October 1973 result in an energy crisis and economic problems in Europe. The last right-wing dictatorships in Europe come to an end with the overthrow(rovesciamento) of the Salazar regime in Portugal in 1974 and the death of General Franco of Spain in The EU regional policy starts to transfer huge sums to create jobs and infrastructure in poorer areas. The European Parliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the first time, elect their members directly The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall The Polish trade union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household names (nomi familiari)) across Europe In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU and Spain and Portugal follow five years later. In 1987 the Single European Act is signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a

2 vast six-year programme aimed at sorting out (sistemare) the problems with the free-flow (libera circolazione) of trade across EU borders and thus creates the Single Market. There is major political upheaval (subbuglio) when, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the border between East and West Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years, this leads to the reunification of Germany when both East and West Germany are united in October A Europe without frontiers With the collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, Europeans become closer neighbours. In 1993 the Single Market is completed with the the 'four freedoms' of: movement of goods, services, people and money. The 1990s is also the decade of two treaties, the Maastricht Treaty on European Union in 1993 and the Treaty of Amsterdam in People are concerned about how to protect the environment and also how Europeans can act together when it comes to security and defence matters. In 1995 the EU gains three more new members, Austria, Finland and Sweden. A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to the Schengen agreements. In 1985 the Schengen agreements were signed. They gradually allow people to travel without having their passports checked at the borders. Millions of young people study in other countries with EU support. Communication is made easier as more and more people start using mobile phones and the internet today A decade of further expansion The euro becomes the new currency for many Europeans in On September New York and Washington undergo terrorist attacks. The World Trade Center (WTC) in Lower Manhattan, New York City is destroyed. This date becomes synonymous with the 'War on Terror' after hijacked(dirottamento) airliners are flown into buildings. EU countries begin to work much more closely together to fight crime. The political divisions between east and west Europe are finally declared healed (rimarginate, superate) when no fewer than 10 new countries join the EU in January 2002 Euro notes and coins arrive. Printing, minting and distributing(stampa, conio e distribuzione) them in 12 countries is a major logistical operation. More than 80 billion coins are involved. Notes are the same for all countries. Coins have one common face, giving the value, while the other carries a national emblem. All circulate freely. Using Finnish (or any other) euro coin to buy a Madrid metro ticket is something we take for granted. 31 March 2003 As part of its foreign and security policy, the EU takes on peace-keeping operations in the Balkans, firstly in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and then in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In both cases, EU-led forces replace NATO units. Internally, the EU agrees to create an area of freedom, security and justice for all citizens by 2010.

3 1 May 2004 Eight countries of central and eastern Europe the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia join the EU. Cyprus and Malta also become members. 29 October 2004 The 25 EU countries sign a Treaty establishing a European Constitution. It is designed to streamline(ottimizzare) democratic decision-making and management in an EU of 25 and more countries. It also creates the post of a European Foreign Minister. It has to be ratified by all 25 countries before it can come into force. When citizens in both France and the Netherlands voted 'No' to the Constitution in referendums in 2005, EU leaders declared a "period of reflection". The EU has consistently taken the lead in efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. In fact, it plays an important role in fighting global warming. It takes part to the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty to limit global warming and cut emissions of greenhouse gases. The United States is not a party to the protocol. The communications revolution continues. Many schools and homes now have high-speed access to the Internet. Text messages and SMS are the favourite way for young people to stay in constant contact with each other. Wide-screen and flat-screen TV sets and DVDs set the pace for home entertainment. 1 January 2007 Two more countries from eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania, now join the EU, brining the number of member states to 27 countries. Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey are also candidates for future membership. 13 December 2007 The 27 EU countries sign the Treaty of Lisbon, which amends(trasforma, modifica) the previous Treaties. It is designed to make the EU more democratic, efficient and transparent, and thereby able to tackle(fronteggiare) global challenges such as climate change, security and sustainable development update January 1 Estonia adopts the euro as its currency, becoming the 17th member of the euro area. Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) become the European Capitals of Culture for Hungary takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Its programme focuses on four priority areas: inclusive growth and employment; stronger food, energy and water policies; a citizen-friendly Union; and enlargement and neighbourhood policy. Three new European financial supervisory authorities begin operating: the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority.

4 18 The first "European semester" gets under way( da inizio a ) a six-monthly cycle of economic policy coordination between EU countries which is meant to help prevent economic crises like the one in February 4 The European Council offers its full support for a peaceful transition to democracy with its neighbours in the southern Mediterranean region. 17 The European Parliament approves a resolution granting EU political and financial support for Egypt s transition to democracy, also reiterating the solidarity with the Tunisian 'Jasmine Revolution', deploring the violence that claimed several lives. March 11 The European Union activates its Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate an EU assistance and solidarity response following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. 17 A joint statement from Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative, welcomes the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 to halt the suffering of Libyan civilians affected by the conflict with Gaddafi s government. 25 A comprehensive package of measures to strengthen the European economy is finalised at the spring European Council in Brussels. The Euro Plus Pact was set up to reinforce economic policy coordination in the Economic and Monetary Union. April 7 The European Parliament adopts a resolution on the repression of protests in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. It condemns the use of violence against protestors and urges the authorities to listen to their calls for more freedom th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. The EU maintains its commitment to strengthening nuclear safety.

5 Approfondimento The Treaty of Maastricht (formally, the Treaty on European Union, (TEU)) was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9 10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted(operò sulla stesura) the treaty. [2] Upon its entry into force on 1 November 1993, it created the European Union and led to the creation of the single European currency, the euro. The Maastricht Treaty has been amended to a degree by later treaties. The Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty of the European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, commonly known as the Amsterdam Treaty, was signed on 2 October 1997, and entered into force on 1 May 1999; it made substantial changes to the Treaty on European Union, which had been signed at Maastricht in The Amsterdam Treaty meant a greater emphasis on citizenship and the rights of individuals, an attempt to achieve more democracy in the shape of increased powers for the European Parliament, a new title on employment, a Community area of freedom, security and justice, the beginnings of a common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the reform of the institutions in the run-up to enlargement.