I will begin with some background information on the development of the European Union. The EU was established at the conclusion of the Second World War. The U.S. sponsored Marshall Plan of 1947 is commonly referred to as the precursor for the inter-state cooperation that led to the European Union. The plan was established as a financial aid in rebuilding Europe post World War II, and was also laced with U.S. hopes to create some element of cohesion between the nations of Europe to prevent future armed conflict. It was with this conc

The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It defines itself as neither a new State replacing existing ones, nor as comparable to other international organizations. The member states delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the interests of the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. The principal objectives of the Union are to establish European citizenship, ensure freedom, security and justice, promote economic and social progress, and assert Europe’s role in the world. From this I draw that the basic premise of the European Union is integration and unity, because without it the EU will never be able to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

In 1957, the same six nations formed a joint atomic-energy group to create the European Economic Community (EEC) to remove tariff barriers between them-yet another example of early movements toward unity as a result of the soon to be European Union. Ten years later, in 1967, the EEC officially becomes what is known as the European Community (EC). Between the years of 1973 to 1986 the EC saw the enlistment of six more states; Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. Finally in 1991, the twelve members signed a treaty in Maastricht, Netherlands that turned the European Community into the present day European Union.

Also of significance to this argument is the fact that in addition to its current 15 members there are 13 candidate countries awaiting admission at the present time. The addition of these Eastern European candidate countries would nearly double the size of the European Union- a fact which suggests an expanded future role of the EU in Europe by itself. Furthermore, in relation to this event’s contribution to a greater sense of European unity as a result of the EU, the prospect of these countries being admitted to the union is very probable and will signify a giant step forward in uniting east and west to create one Europe.

Further evidence to suggest a more significant role for the EU includes that more than 8 in 10 Europeans believe that it is important to be involved in creating a better society, and see the European Union as a vehicle for that purpose. Another relevant factor to consider is the opinion of the European youth in regards to the European Union. This publication finds that the large majority of young Europeans are in favor of the European Union. Concerning what the EU means to young people, the results indicate that it represents the freedom to move within the 15 member states, a better future and a better economic situation. The opinion of the youth is an excellent indicator to the future success of the EU, as the youth represent the future of Europe. This favorable opinion of the European Union and expectations for a better future as representative of what the EU means to them indicate that the European Union’s future will include a more significant role in Europe.

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