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The '''European Community (EC)''' is a economic intergovernmental regional organization that aims to promote economic integration and development, the rule of law, and human rights in Europe. It has 31 member states and a total population of over 900 million, and with a total GDP of $23.98 trillion, the European Community is the second-largest regional economy in the world after the [[Conference of American States]]. The organization uses five official working languages, which are {{W|English language|English}}, {{W|French language|French}}, {{W|German language|German}}, {{W|Russian language|Russian}}, and {{W|Spanish language|Spanish}}. It is also referred to as the '''Common Market''' in English-speaking countries.  
The '''European Community (EC)''' is a economic intergovernmental regional organization that aims to promote economic integration and development, the rule of law, and human rights in Europe. It has 31 member states and a total population of over 900 million, and with a total GDP of $23.98 trillion, the European Community is the second-largest regional economy in the world after the [[Conference of American States]]. The organization uses five official working languages, which are {{W|English language|English}}, {{W|French language|French}}, {{W|German language|German}}, {{W|Russian language|Russian}}, and {{W|Spanish language|Spanish}}. It is also referred to as the '''Common Market''' in English-speaking countries.  


The EC was founded in November 1977 by the [[Treaty of Sigmaringen]], in the aftermath of the [[Great War II|Second Great War]], initially for the purpose of creating a lasting peace in Europe. The organization developed from the Mitteleuropa system of satellite states that Germany maintained since the 1940s, and during the [[Cold War]] it became a geopolitical bloc of Nationalist authoritarian regimes led by [[Germany]], as one of the three poles of power along with the liberal democratic West led by [[Sierra]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]], and the Communist world led by the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[China]]. It was preceded by the European Economic Community (EEC) created in 1962 for the purpose of rebuilding Europe after the devastation of Great War II with German funding, an effort by Germany to stop British and [[Anglo-American]] financial influence from undermining German control over the continent. The nationalist authoritarian system in Europe lasted until the 1970s and 1980s, seeing a demise as Germany itself began to democratize its political system.
The EC was founded in November 1977 by the [[Treaty of Sigmaringen]], in the aftermath of the [[Great War II|Second Great War]], initially for the purpose of creating a lasting peace in Europe. The organization developed from the Mitteleuropa system of satellite states that Germany maintained since the 1940s, and during the [[Cold War]] it became a geopolitical bloc of Nationalist authoritarian regimes led by [[Germany]], as one of the three poles of power along with the liberal democratic West led by [[Sierra]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]], and the Communist world led by the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[China]]. It was preceded by the European Economic Community (EEC) created in 1962 for the purpose of rebuilding Europe after the devastation of Great War II with German funding, an effort by Germany to stop British and [[Anglo-America]]n financial influence from undermining German control over the continent. The nationalist authoritarian system in Europe lasted until the 1970s and 1980s, seeing a demise as Germany itself began to democratize its political system, also leading to further integration of EEC member countries.  


It established a {{W|common market}} among certain nations of {{W|Western Europe|Western}} and {{W|Eastern Europe}} during the 1970s, led politically and economically by [[Germany]], which is the largest economy in Europe. At first one of its main goals was to promote economic interdependence among the former warring powers, to prevent the outbreak of another major war in Europe, and to provide funds and resources for the reconstruction of nations devastated by the war. Germany has traditionally been regarded as the leader of the bloc, as the largest economic and military power, but since the 1990s its leading role has diminished somewhat. The organization's membership was expanded to include almost all of Europe, and after the end of the [[Cold War]] in 1999–2001, [[Spain]], [[Italy]], and the [[United Kingdom]] also joined the Community, making every European state a member of the organization.
The EEC established a {{W|common market}} among the German satellite states of {{W|Western Europe|Western}} and {{W|Eastern Europe}} during the early 1970s, leading to rapid economic growth and increasing the standard of living for the middle classes in Europe. It also led to the development of previously underdeveloped Eastern European economies. These factors contributed to democratic development in EEC member states, leading to the end of nationalist one-party autocracies by the mid 1990s. The organization's membership was expanded to include almost all of Europe, and after the end of the [[Cold War]] with the [[Revolutions of 2000]], [[Spain]], [[Italy]], [[Albania]], [[Croatia]], and the [[United Kingdom]] also joined the Community, making every European state a member of the organization.


The Community gained a set of common institutions to promote trade, and its main decision-making body is the [[Council of Europe]]. It consists of representatives from each member state, with a rotating Presidency. The [[European Court of Justice]] (ECJ) was also created as the main legal authority in the organization, helping coordinate law enforcement and settling disputes between states. The EC is not a federal structure and cannot make binding laws without the unanimous agreement of every member state, although the Council of Europe is permitted to take action to enforce European Court of Justice decisions in certain situations. Member states of the organization maintain their own individual currencies, border controls, defense and foreign policy. The EC has acted upon a unified foreign policy on occasion, and provides a forum for European nations to discuss international issues.  
The Community gained a set of common institutions to promote trade, and its main decision-making body is the [[Council of Europe]]. It consists of representatives from each member state, with a rotating Presidency. The [[European Court of Justice]] (ECJ) was also created as the main legal authority in the organization, helping coordinate law enforcement and settling disputes between states. The EC is not a federal structure and cannot make binding laws without the unanimous agreement of every member state, although the Council of Europe is permitted to take action to enforce European Court of Justice decisions in certain situations. Member states of the organization maintain their own individual currencies, border controls, defense and foreign policy. The EC has acted upon a unified foreign policy on occasion, and provides a forum for European nations to discuss international issues.  

Revision as of 03:25, 23 October 2021

 This article is a start-class article. It needs further improvement to obtain good article status. This article is part of Altverse II.
European Community
Communauté européenne (French)
Europäische Gemeinschaft (German)
Европейское сообщество (Russian)
Comunidad Europea (Spanish)
Flag of the European Union.svg
Flag
Headquarters Berlin, Germany
Working languages English, French, German, Russian, Spanish
Membership 31 member states
Leaders
• Council President
Netherlands Mark van Loon
• Secretary General
Italy Luigi Guido
Establishment
• Treaty of Sigmaringen signing
22 May 1977
• Treaty in effect
1 November 1977
Website
www.europa.eu

The European Community (EC) is a economic intergovernmental regional organization that aims to promote economic integration and development, the rule of law, and human rights in Europe. It has 31 member states and a total population of over 900 million, and with a total GDP of $23.98 trillion, the European Community is the second-largest regional economy in the world after the Conference of American States. The organization uses five official working languages, which are English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. It is also referred to as the Common Market in English-speaking countries.

The EC was founded in November 1977 by the Treaty of Sigmaringen, in the aftermath of the Second Great War, initially for the purpose of creating a lasting peace in Europe. The organization developed from the Mitteleuropa system of satellite states that Germany maintained since the 1940s, and during the Cold War it became a geopolitical bloc of Nationalist authoritarian regimes led by Germany, as one of the three poles of power along with the liberal democratic West led by Sierra and Britain, and the Communist world led by the United Commonwealth and China. It was preceded by the European Economic Community (EEC) created in 1962 for the purpose of rebuilding Europe after the devastation of Great War II with German funding, an effort by Germany to stop British and Anglo-American financial influence from undermining German control over the continent. The nationalist authoritarian system in Europe lasted until the 1970s and 1980s, seeing a demise as Germany itself began to democratize its political system, also leading to further integration of EEC member countries.

The EEC established a common market among the German satellite states of Western and Eastern Europe during the early 1970s, leading to rapid economic growth and increasing the standard of living for the middle classes in Europe. It also led to the development of previously underdeveloped Eastern European economies. These factors contributed to democratic development in EEC member states, leading to the end of nationalist one-party autocracies by the mid 1990s. The organization's membership was expanded to include almost all of Europe, and after the end of the Cold War with the Revolutions of 2000, Spain, Italy, Albania, Croatia, and the United Kingdom also joined the Community, making every European state a member of the organization.

The Community gained a set of common institutions to promote trade, and its main decision-making body is the Council of Europe. It consists of representatives from each member state, with a rotating Presidency. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) was also created as the main legal authority in the organization, helping coordinate law enforcement and settling disputes between states. The EC is not a federal structure and cannot make binding laws without the unanimous agreement of every member state, although the Council of Europe is permitted to take action to enforce European Court of Justice decisions in certain situations. Member states of the organization maintain their own individual currencies, border controls, defense and foreign policy. The EC has acted upon a unified foreign policy on occasion, and provides a forum for European nations to discuss international issues.

The EC has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where members have agreed to act as one. EC policies aim to ensure the free movement of member state citizens, goods, services and capital within the internal market; enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. As the EC has always been regarded as a loose association of member states, in recent years there have been discussions of creating a "European Union" that would include a common currency, less border controls, and possibly a unified military command, similar to the role of the Conference of American States in North America, but these discussions have not led to the implementation of any policy.

History

Institutions

Membership

List of member states

Flag State Accession Language(s) Currency Population
(2020)
Albania Albania
Armenia Armenia
Austria Austria
Belarus Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria Bulgaria
Croatia Croatia
Czech Republic Czech Republic
Estonia Estonia
France France
Georgia Georgia
Germany Germany
Greece Greece
Hungary Hungary
Italy Italy
Latvia Latvia
Lithuania Lithuania
Malta Malta
Monaco Monaco
Montenegro Montenegro
Netherlands Netherlands
Poland Poland
Portugal Portugal
Romania Romania
Russia Russia
Serbia Serbia
Slovakia Slovakia
Slovenia Slovenia
Spain Spain
Ukraine Ukraine
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Expansion

Aims and achievements

See also

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