As the membership grew, so did the level of integration. The set a deadline to remove all remaining trade barriers, but the true turning point was the Maastricht Treaty (1992) . This agreement officially created the European Union , introduced the concept of European citizenship, and paved the way for a single currency—the Euro. Modern Challenges and the 21st Century
Marked the first time a member state chose to leave, forcing a re-evaluation of the Union's value proposition. The EU Today The Origins and Development of the European Uni...
(e.g., academic, general interest, business) As the membership grew, so did the level of integration
Exposed the difficulties of a shared currency without a shared fiscal policy. Modern Challenges and the 21st Century Marked the
This led to the in 1951, where six founding members—Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—pooled their heavy industries. By 1957, the Treaty of Rome expanded this cooperation into the European Economic Community (EEC) , creating a "common market" for goods, services, and labor. The Widening and Deepening (1973–1992)