European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

328 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYIn 1950, on May 9 th to be precise, Robert Schuman, FrenchMinister of Foreign Affairs, suggested that, in order to guarantee themaintenance of peace, France and Germany create an organization,open to other European countries, where their coal and steel resources—two basic products that had been used for military purposes—would be put together. Thus, in 1951, the European Coal and SteelCommunity (ECSC) was born. Six were its members: Belgium, France,Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the Federal Republic ofGermany; that is, France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries (theheart of Europe at the time).Such organization was under the control of a parliamentaryassembly which already anticipated the future European Parliamentand, in 1957, the six member States of the ECSC signed the Treaty ofRome, with economic integration as its cornerstone. The EuropeanEconomic Community (E.E.C.) and the European Atomic EnergyCommunity (EURATOM) were, thus, born. From that moment onwards,the European Parliament had competence in the three areas includedin the three Treaties, hence known as E.E.C. (European EconomicCommunity or Common Market).On 25 March, 1957, when the Treaty of Rome was being signed inthe old capital of the Roman Empire, only a few probably imaginedthat the idea of integration would keep on advancing to the stage inwhich we find ourselves today. The foundations for the assertion of theEuropean utopia were being laid, which, to our knowledge, shouldconsist of the defence of a system of ethical and humanistic values,based on human rights, democracy, solidarity and the dignity of allpeoples. This should be Europe´s letter of introduction to the world.The process developed and in 1973, after countless obstacles wereovercome, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland joined in. TheE.E.C. now had nine member States. In 1981, the tenth State, Greece,joined in, and in 1986, the adhesion of Spain and Portugal took place,which rose the number of European countries to a dozen. Simultaneously,the European Single Act was signed, which implied the creation of thegreat internal market which would make the Community a moreintegrated economic space.In 1987, Turkey´s application was forwarded but fifteen years laterit is still on the waiting list. On 9 November, 1989, the fall of the Berlinwall occurred and the European Economic Community launched itsfirst aid programme in Central and Eastern European countries. On 3October, 1990, the reunification of Germany took place, whichconstituted a veritable landmark in the process of European constructionand highlighted the need to advance in social cohesion.