The following visionary leaders inspired the creation of the European Union we live in

today. Without their energy and motivation we would not be living in the sphere of peace
and stability that we take for granted. From resistance fighters to lawyers, the founding
fathers were a diverse group of people who held the same ideals: a peaceful, united and
prosperous Europe. eyond the founding fathers described below, many others have
worked tirelessly towards and inspired the European pro!ect. This section on the founding
fathers is therefore a work in progress.
" #onrad $denauer
" %oseph ech
" %ohan eyen
" Winston &hurchill
" $lcide 'e (asperi
" Walter )allstein
" *icco +ansholt
" %ean +onnet
" ,obert *chuman
" -aul.)enri *paak
" $ltiero *pinelli
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/012 . /020
$ peaceful Europe 3 the beginnings of cooperation
The European Union is set up with the aim of ending the fre4uent and bloody wars
between neighbours, which culminated in the *econd World War. $s of /025, the
European &oal and *teel &ommunity begins to unite European countries economically
and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The si6 founders are elgium, France,
(ermany, 7taly, 8u6embourg and the 9etherlands. The /025s are dominated by a cold
war between east and west. -rotests in )ungary against the &ommunist regime are put
down by *oviet tanks in /02:; while the following year, /02<, the *oviet Union takes the
lead in the space race, when it launches the first man.made space satellite, *putnik /.
$lso in /02<, the Treaty of ,ome creates the European Economic &ommunity =EE&>, or
?&ommon +arket@.
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/0:5 . /0:0
The ?*winging *i6ties@ 3 a period of economic growth
The /0:5s sees the emergence of Ayouth culture@, with groups such as The eatles
attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to stimulate a
cultural revolution and widening the generation gap. 7t is a good period for the economy,
helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with
each other. They also agree !oint control over food production, so that everybody now has
enough to eat . and soon there is even surplus agricultural produce. +ay /0:B becomes
famous for student riots in -aris, and many changes in society and behaviour become
associated with the so.called ?:B generation@.
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/0<5 . /0<0
$ growing &ommunity 3 the first Enlargement
'enmark, 7reland and the United #ingdom !oin the European Union on / %anuary /0<C,
raising the number of member states to nine. The short, yet brutal, $rab.7sraeli war of
Dctober /0<C result in an energy crisis and economic problems in Europe. The last right.
wing dictatorships in Europe come to an end with the overthrow of the *alaEar regime in
-ortugal in /0<1 and the death of (eneral Franco of *pain in /0<2. The EU regional
policy starts to transfer huge sums to create !obs and infrastructure in poorer areas. The
European -arliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in /0<0 all citiEens can, for
the first time, elect their members directly.
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/0B5 . /0B0
The changing face of Europe . the fall of the erlin Wall
The -olish trade union, *olidarnoFG, and its leader 8ech Walesa, become household
names across Europe and the world following the (dansk shipyard strikes in the summer
of /0B5. 7n /0B/, (reece becomes the /5th member of the EU and *pain and -ortugal
follow five years later. 7n /0B: the *ingle European $ct is signed. This is a treaty which
provides the basis for a vast si6.year programme aimed at sorting out the problems with
the free.flow of trade across EU borders and thus creates the ?*ingle +arket@. There is
ma!or political upheaval when, on 0 9ovember /0B0, the erlin Wall is pulled down and
the border between East and West (ermany is opened for the first time in HB years, this
leads to the reunification of (ermany when both East and West (ermany are united in
Dctober /005.
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/005 . /000
$ Europe without frontiers
With the collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, Europeans become
closer neighbours. 7n /00C the *ingle +arket is completed with the the Afour freedomsA of:
movement of goods, services, people and money. The /005s is also the decade of two
treaties, the ?+aastricht@ Treaty on European Union in /00C and the Treaty of $msterdam
in /000. -eople are concerned about how to protect the environment and also how
Europeans can act together when it comes to security and defence matters. 7n /002 the
EU gains three more new members, $ustria, Finland and *weden. $ small village in
8u6embourg gives its name to the ?*chengen@ agreements that gradually allow people to
travel without having their passports checked at the borders. +illions of young people
study in other countries with EU support. &ommunication is made easier as more and
more people start using mobile phones and the internet.
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H555 3 H550
Further e6pansion
The euro is the new currency for many Europeans. // *eptember H55/ becomes
synonymous with the AWar on TerrorA after hi!acked airliners are flown into buildings in
9ew Iork and Washington. EU countries begin to work much more closely together to
fight crime. The political divisions between east and west Europe are finally declared
healed when no fewer than /5 new countries !oin the EU in H551, followed by two more
in H55<. $ financial crisis hits the global economy in *eptember H55B, leading to closer
economic cooperation between EU countries. The Treaty of 8isbon is ratified by all EU
countries before entering into force on / 'ecember H550. 7t provides the EU with modern
institutions and more efficient working methods.
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H5/5 3 today
$ decade of opportunities and challenges
The new decade starts with a severe economic crisis, but also with the hope that
investments in new green and climate.friendly technologies and closer European
cooperation will bring lasting growth and welfare.