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$Unique_ID{COW04098}
$Pretitle{373}
$Title{Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
The Federal Republic of Germany and the European Community}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{German Embassy, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{German Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{european
community
ec
union
economic
co-operation
council
members
common
act}
$Date{1988}
$Log{}
Country: Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
Book: Pamphlets on Germany
Author: German Embassy, Washington DC
Affiliation: German Embassy, Washington DC
Date: 1988
The Federal Republic of Germany and the European Community
The European mission
After experiencing the devastation and suffering of World War II, the
nations of Europe sought to unite in order to prevent the recurrence of such
disasters. This desire for change was coupled with the conviction that the
West Europeans could master the challenges of the future only in unison.
Hence the Western democracies formed the Council of Europe (1949) and Western
European Union (1955). Other organizations that were founded were the European
Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC), and
the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), these three today having the
common designation European Community (EC).
With the accession of Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland (1973) and the
southern enlargement (through the accession of Greece in 1981, Spain and
Portugal in 1986), the Community became an economic area with 320 million
inhabitants and the largest trading partner in the world. The establishment of
European Political Co-operation (EPC) in 1970 also gave the Community more
scope for action in the field of foreign policy. The introduction of direct
elections for the European Parliament in 1979 was another important step on
the path of political integration, that is, towards European Union. The Single
European Act, which came into force on 1 July 1987, reaffirmed that goal and
pledged the members to a time-table for economic; political and institutional
progress.
Nearly two thirds of the Community's total population hope that in the
year 2000 they will be living in the "United States of Europe". Over half
of them expect that by that time there will be a common European constitution
and a common head of government. European Union is a dictate of national,
European and global responsibility. Its purpose is to help build in Europe and
worldwide the foundations of security and peace in freedom, stability and
progress to defend democracy, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human
rights in Western Europe, and hence to maintain our prosperity.
The EC safeguards one in six jobs in the Federal Republic of Germany,
where one in three depends on exports, by purchasing half of all its exports.
Strengthening and expanding the Community with the ultimate goal of European
Union is one of the Federal Republic's foremost objectives. In the autumn of
1986, three fifths of the population spoke favourably of the European
Community. The Federal Government has constantly emphasized that there is
no alternative.
Speaking on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the
Treaty of Rome (see "Milestones on the road to union") on 27 March 1987,
Chancellor Helmut Kohl said:
"The path taken by the members of the EC after the war has been exemplary. The
Federal Government will not relax its efforts to attain step by step the goal
of European Union as laid down in the Single European Act."
Much has been achieved in the past 30 years, but customs union, economic
and monetary union, agricultural union and social union will remain incomplete
without the protective roof of political union. The members of the EC
therefore adhere to the goal of a European Union.
Milestones on the road to union
May 1950
Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposes the establishment
of a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The signing of the treaty on 18
April 1951 marks the birth of the "Europe of the Six" (Belgium, Federal
Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands).
September 1952
The Assembly of the ECSC meets in Strasbourg.
March 1957
The European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy
Community (Euratom) are founded in Rome. The treaties enter into force on 1
January 1958.
March 1958
Twelve months after the enlargement of the Community to include the EEC
and Euratom the joint assembly renames itself the "European Parliament".
July 1968
Customs duties within the Community of the Six are abolished, thus
creating a customs union.
October 1970
The Luxembourg Report prepared by Foreign Ministers at the instance of
the Hague summit lays the foundations for European Political Co-operation
(EPC).
October 1972
At the Paris summit the heads of state or government create the
conditions for further expansion of the Community (joint environmental policy,
common social and regional policies, economic and monetary union, scientific
and technological co-operation).
January 1973
The accession of Denmark, Britain and Ireland increases the number of EC
members to nine.
December 1974
At the Paris summit the heads of state or government decide to meet three
times a year in future, together with their Foreign Ministers and the
President of the Commission, as the European Council. A Regional Fund is set
up to rectify structural and regional disparities within the Community.
February 1975
The Lome Convention concluded between the EC and 46 African, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP) developing countries sets new standards for relations
between industrial nations and the Third World.
July 1975
The member countries sign a treaty widening the budgetary powers of the
European Parliament and establishing a European Court of Auditors.
November 1976
The Council of Ministers decides to extend on 1 January 1977 the
fisheries zones in the North Sea and the North Atlantic to 200 miles and
create an EC fisheries zone.
The European University Institute is opened in Florence.
March 1979
The European Monetary System (EMS) comes into effect.
June 1979
First direct elections to the European Parliament are held in the nine
member countries.
January 1981
The accession of Greece increases the number of EC members to ten.
March 1982
An Act is signed establishing the European Foundation.
January 1983
The Council of Ministers agrees on the basic elements of a common
fisheries policy.
June 1983
At the European Council meeting in Stuttgart, the heads of state or
government sign the solemn Declaration on European Union reaffirming the aim
of co-ordinating members' positions on the political and economic aspects of
security.
February 1984
The European Parliament (EP) adopts a draft treaty on European Union
setting out its own ideas on the function and rights of the EP in a Community
that has become a Union.
June 1984
Second direct election for the EP.
The European Council meeting in Fontainebleau takes decisions aimed at
creating a "people's Europe".
June 1985
The European Council, meeting in Milan, adopts the Single European Act to
achieve progress towards European Union through modification of the EEC
Treaty.
October 1985
First informal meeting of EC and ASEAN economic ministers in Bangkok.
They agree that relations should be further developed.
EC ministers meet with representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council
(GCC) to discuss the possibilities of a co-operation agreement.
November 1985
At the second meeting with the foreign ministers of Central America and
the Contadora Group, the EC signs a co-operation agreement with Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
January 1986
Spain and Portugal accede to the EC.
February 1986
Signing of the Single European A