The european union: road to an unified europe

I. INTRODUCTION - (In the past years, the European Union has increased almost twice its original number, adding also the Eastern Europe countries. This has led to a series of debates and events that put the West and East against each other.)
II. BODY – European Union
A. Origins
1. The Organization
a. Basis
b. Principles
B. Enlargement1. First enlargements
2. Eastern enlargements
a. 2004 enlargement
b. 2007 enlargement
C. Future enlargements
1. Turkey and the Western Balkans
III. CONCLUSION
A. Analytical conclusion
B. Thesis reworded

I. Introduction

Expansionism consists of expansionist policies of governments and States. Whilesome have linked the term to promoting economic growth, more commonly expansionism refers to the doctrine of a nation's expanding its territorial base usually, though not necessarily, by means of military aggression.

Irredentism, revanchism or reunification are sometimes used to justify and legitimize expansionism, but only when the explicit goal is to reconquer territories that have been lost, orto take over ancestral lands. A simple territorial dispute, such as a border dispute, is not usually referred to as expansionism.

Geographic enlargement of the United States has been classed as expansionism; geographic enlargement of the European Union has not, perhaps because the EU is viewed as an organization rather than nation, despite the centralization of some governmental functions inthe organs of the EU.

Expansionism is the “doctrine of expanding the territory or the economic influence of a country” (Word Reference)[1], and it is what has been happening in Europe with the European Union. In the past years, the European Union has increased almost twice its original number, adding also the Eastern Europe countries. This has led to a series of debates and events that put theWest and East against each other. Does the European Union expansionism desires is bigger than the real want of unity and cooperation?

II. European Union

A. Origins

1. The Organization

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastrichton 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the European Communities. With over 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share (US$ 18.4 trillion in 2008) of the nominal gross world product and about 22% (US$15.2 trillion in 2008) of the PPP gross world product (International Monetary Found, 2008)[2].

The EU has developed a single market through a standardized system oflaws which apply in all member states, ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Sixteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro, constituting the “Eurozone”. The EU has developed a limited role in foreign policy, having representation at the World Trade Organization, G8,G-20 and at the United Nations.

As an international organization, the EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. In certain areas, decisions are made through negotiation between member states, while in others, independent supranational institutions are responsible without a requirement for unanimity between member states. Important institutions of the EUinclude the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank. The European Parliament is elected every five years by member states' citizens, to whom the citizenship of the European Union is guaranteed.

The European Union is composed of 27 sovereign Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,...