9.10 The European Union

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of European states that promotes integration—free trade, free movement, common rules, and some shared institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Council, Court of Justice). It began after WWII to prevent nationalist conflict and rebuild economies: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 pooled heavy industries, then the 1957 Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market). Over decades that grew into the EU with the Maastricht Treaty (1992) creating the EU framework, the single market (four freedoms), the euro for the Eurozone, and Schengen open borders. That integration boosted trade and political cooperation but raised sovereignty questions (e.g., euro, Parliament authority, Brexit). For AP exam prep, connect causation and continuity/change: link ECSC → EEC → EU and explain effects on economic development and national identity (Unit 9.10). Review the topic study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK), the unit overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9), and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

After WWII European countries chose cooperation because it reduced the chance of renewed conflict and sped economic recovery. Leaders used economic integration—starting with the European Coal and Steel Community—to bind key industries so rivalry would be costly and unlikely. That move grew into the EEC/Common Market and later the EU (Maastricht Treaty, single market, four freedoms), which boosted trade, reconstruction, and growth while encouraging a shared European identity (KC-4.4.IV; LO J). Politically, pooling sovereignty through institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Court of Justice) made collective problem-solving easier but created tensions over national control (LO K—think euro, Schengen, Brexit). For AP prep, you should link these developments to how the EU affected postwar economic growth and identity; the Topic 9.10 study guide on Fiveable covers this (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK). For more practice, try Fiveable’s AP Euro question bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Short version: they’re stages of the same integration project that got bigger over time. - European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, 1951): first postwar step. It pooled coal and steel production among six countries to prevent economic rivalry and help recovery. It’s primarily an economic, sector-specific alliance. - European Economic Community (EEC, 1957/Treaty of Rome): expanded integration into a broader Common Market—lowered tariffs, promoted the Single Market and the “four freedoms” (goods, services, people, capital). It’s more economic and institutional than the ECSC. - European Union (EU, Maastricht Treaty 1992): turned the EEC into a political and economic union. Added common foreign policy elements, created EU institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Court of Justice), and led to the Euro/Eurozone and Schengen. Membership, sovereignty questions, and identity issues (e.g., Brexit) are EU-level debates. For AP Euro, tie these to KC-4.4.IV and Learning Objectives J/K. See the Topic 9.10 study guide on Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK), the Unit 9 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9), and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history) to prep for exam examples about economic integration, institutions, and sovereignty.

It started as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 to pool coal/steel and prevent rivalry. That narrow economic link grew: the 1957 Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC)—the “Common Market”—lowering trade barriers and building the Single Market (four freedoms). Later treaties (notably Maastricht, 1992) turned the EEC into the European Union with political institutions (European Parliament, European Commission, Council, European Court of Justice), the euro for many members, and Schengen free-movement rules. Enlargement to Eastern Europe and deeper policy coordination expanded scope, while issues of national sovereignty (the euro, Parliament powers, and Brexit) show continuing tensions between national identity and integration. This trajectory matches AP CED goals (Topic 9.10) about economic integration and identity. For the Fiveable Topic study guide see (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice problems at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Think of the EU like a club of countries that agree to share rules and tools so goods, people, money, and services move more easily—this changes how individual countries run their economies and even how people see their identity. Key ways it affects countries: - Single Market (four freedoms): removes barriers for trade and labor, boosting growth but increasing competition for local firms. - Euro/Eurozone: a common currency lowers transaction costs for members but means countries give up independent monetary policy. - Schengen: free movement makes travel and work easier, but raises debates over border control and national security. - Policies & institutions (Common Agricultural Policy, European Commission, European Parliament, European Court of Justice): set rules, distribute funds, and resolve disputes—sometimes limiting national sovereignty. - Enlargement and Brexit show how joining or leaving reshapes economics and national identity. For AP: emphasize how integration influenced postwar economic development (LO J) and the tension between sovereignty and shared identity (LO K). Review this Topic 9.10 study guide for examples and exam tips (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK). For more practice, use Fiveable’s unit overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9) and 1000+ practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

The euro is the EU’s single currency used by the Eurozone—currently 20 of the 27 EU member states—to deepen economic integration, simplify trade, and stabilize prices. It’s a key example of EU-level authority that affects national sovereignty (CED keywords: euro, Eurozone, Maastricht Treaty). Not all EU countries use it because: 1) some negotiated opt-outs (e.g., Denmark) or delayed adoption (the UK had one before Brexit); 2) new members must meet the Maastricht convergence criteria (inflation, debt/GDP, deficit, interest rates, exchange-rate stability) before joining; and 3) some governments prefer to keep monetary control for national economic policy. On the AP exam, the euro is an illustrative example of KC-4.4.IV and Topic 9.10’s tension between integration and sovereignty. For a focused review, check the Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

The European Parliament (EP) is the EU’s directly elected legislature—MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) are elected every five years and sit by political group, not nationality. Most EU laws are made under the ordinary legislative procedure: the European Commission proposes legislation, and the Parliament and the Council of the European Union must both agree. That gives the EP real powers: co-legislation (amend/approve laws), budgetary authority (share control of the EU budget), and democratic oversight (it approves the Commission and can pass a motion of censure to force its resignation). Limits: it can’t originate most bills (that’s the Commission) and has less formal power over foreign policy or taxation, so member states and the Council still protect national sovereignty. For AP Euro, link this to KC-4.4.IV and the “Challenges to national sovereignty” examples (European Parliament, euro, free movement). Review the Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history) to prep.

Brexit = Britain leaving the EU after a 2016 referendum (Leave ~52% vs Remain ~48%). It mattered because it’s a prime example of balancing national sovereignty vs. economic/political integration (CED Learning Objectives J & K). Why Britain voted Leave: - Sovereignty: many voters wanted UK laws, courts, and borders controlled in Westminster rather than EU institutions (European Parliament, European Court of Justice). - Immigration/free movement: concerns about EU free movement and public services after EU enlargement. - Economic grievances: complaints about EU regulations, the euro (UK kept the pound), and the UK’s net budget contribution. - Identity and politics: growing nationalism, distrust of elites, and populist appeals. Aftermath: UK formally left in 2020, with a trade deal but ongoing issues (trade frictions, the Northern Ireland Protocol) that show tradeoffs between sovereignty and economic integration—a good exam example for LEQ/DBQ about national identity and EU effects. For a focused review, check the Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Because most EU countries are part of the Schengen Area, people can cross internal borders without routine passport checks. Schengen is a separate agreement (built on the EU’s push for economic integration and the Single Market’s “four freedoms”) that removed fixed border controls to allow free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. That doesn’t mean no ID: travelers usually must carry national ID cards or passports and countries can temporarily reinstate border checks for security or public-health reasons. Free movement is a key example of how EU integration reduced barriers and challenged national sovereignty (see Maastricht Treaty, Single Market, Schengen Area in the CED). For AP review, link this to KC-4.4.IV and the “free movement across borders” illustrative example. For a quick recap, check the Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Start with a clear thesis that answers “how” European integration affected economies (cause → effect). Briefly contextualize post-1945 recovery and the ECSC → EEC → EU path (CED keywords). Organize body paragraphs by economic theme: 1) trade and growth—Single Market (four freedoms) boosted intra-EU trade, specialization, and GDP growth; 2) monetary integration—Maastricht Treaty and the euro encouraged price stability and easier cross-border investment for Eurozone members but also created asymmetric shocks and required fiscal coordination; 3) policy tools—Common Agricultural Policy and structural funds redistributed resources, aiding recovery and convergence but leaving regional disparities; 4) enlargement and globalization—Eastern enlargement expanded markets and labor mobility (Schengen), altering labor markets and supply chains; 5) limits—sovereignty tensions (e.g., Brexit) affected economic policy. For AP LEQ: include contextualization, 2+ specific pieces of evidence (ECSC, Maastricht, euro, CAP, enlargement, Brexit), and use causation and continuity/change. Use the Topic 9.10 study guide for facts and examples (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK). For practice, try problems at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

EU countries face several tensions when balancing national identity with EU membership. Politically, member states cede parts of sovereignty to EU institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Court of Justice), which can clash with national laws or popular preferences—think disputes over courts or migration rules. Economically, adopting the euro (for Eurozone members) means losing independent monetary policy, which can fuel resentment during recessions. Socially and culturally, free movement and enlargement (Eastern enlargement) challenge ideas of national identity and strain public services, prompting anti-EU or nationalist backlashes (Brexit is a clear example). Policymakers try to balance these by negotiating opt-outs, protecting key domestic policies (e.g., Common Agricultural Policy support), and emphasizing a shared European identity while respecting national traditions. For AP prep, link this to CED Learning Objective K (national sovereignty vs. union responsibilities) and use Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and unit overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9). Practice more with Fiveable’s practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Short answer: Yes—but not alone. After WWII European states used economic integration (starting with the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the Treaty of Rome creating the EEC in 1957) to stabilize and revive growth by removing trade barriers, coordinating key industries, and attracting investment. The Single Market’s “four freedoms,” the Common Agricultural Policy, and later the euro and Schengen rules deepened trade, labor mobility, and price stability so economies could grow faster and recover more sustainably. That said, the Marshall Plan, national reconstruction, and Cold War aid were also vital—the EU institutions complemented those efforts rather than replacing them. For AP essays, emphasize causation and use specific developments (ECSC → EEC → EU, Maastricht Treaty 1992, Single Market, euro) as evidence (see the Topic 9.10 study guide on Fiveable) (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK). For practice, try problems at Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

EU membership reduced some national sovereignty by shifting decision-making from purely national governments to shared EU institutions and rules. Examples: joining the Eurozone means giving up independent monetary policy; the Single Market and Schengen limit border and trade controls; the European Parliament, Commission, Council, and European Court of Justice can override or shape national laws (CED keywords). At the same time states keep core powers—taxation, fiscal choices (outside euro rules), and foreign policy—so sovereignty is pooled, not erased. Tensions show up in enlargement and Brexit: members weigh economic/political benefits against loss of unilateral control (CED illustrative examples). For AP essays/SAQs, use these institutions and cases (Euro, ECJ rulings, Schengen, Brexit) as specific evidence and link them to KC-4.4.IV about integration (see the Topic 9.10 study guide for examples) (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK). For broader review and practice, check Unit 9 (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

After WWII many European states chose to give up parts of their sovereignty to join the European Union mainly to prevent future wars and speed economic recovery. Starting with the European Coal and Steel Community, leaders tied key industries together so no single country could unilaterally rearm—this lowered nationalist rivalries (CED KC-4.4.IV). Economic goals—reconstruction, a single market (four freedoms), and later the euro/Eurozone—encouraged pooling monetary and trade policy to boost growth and stability. Cold War politics and the desire for cooperation (Marshall Plan-era integration, plus later Maastricht Treaty) also pushed states to accept supranational institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Court of Justice) even though that meant ceding some decision-making. Member states trade off sovereignty for benefits like free movement (Schengen), common policies (CAP), access to a bigger market, and political influence. For AP study, this ties to Learning Objectives J and K—know how integration affected economies and national identity. See the Topic 9.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and the Unit 9 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9). For extra practice, check Fiveable’s practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

After WWII the EU (starting as the ECSC → EEC → EU) pushed states to set aside rivalries for economic and political integration, which encouraged a pan-European identity through the Single Market (four freedoms), shared policies (Common Agricultural Policy), common institutions (European Parliament, Commission, Court of Justice), symbols (EU flag, euro), and enlargement to include Eastern Europe. That built habits of cooperation and gave people practical reasons to think “European” (study/work across borders, travel in Schengen). But integration also provoked nationalist pushback: worries about loss of sovereignty (euro, EU laws, Parliament), migration and cultural concerns, and major outcomes like Brexit show enduring national attachments. For the AP exam, use these points for Unit 9 prompts on identity or sovereignty (Learning Objective K), and cite examples (eurozone, Schengen, enlargement, Brexit). Review Topic 9.10 on Fiveable (study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).