Exploring the European Union: Evolution, Brexit, and Solutions

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the European Union, tracing its evolution from the European Coal and Steel Community to its current structure. It highlights key historical moments, including the establishment of EU citizenship in 1993, the economic growth of the 1960s, and subsequent expansions. The essay also examines the impact of the Eurozone crisis and, particularly, Brexit on the design and functioning of European institutions, noting the significant decrease in EU population and GDP following the UK's departure. Furthermore, it proposes potential solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of Brexit, such as funding for peace programs in Northern Ireland and the implementation of the EU Settlement Scheme, while also emphasizing the reintroduction of custom borders damaging both countries economically and politically. Desklib offers this document along with a wide array of study resources for students.

European Union
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Table of Contents
Evolution and structure of European Union................................................................................3
How Brexit relate to the design of European institutions along with solutions..........................4
Potential solutions of reducing impacts of Brexit on EU............................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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Evolution and structure of European Union
Background: In the context of establishment of EU citizenship it can be said that it
established in the year of 1993 when Maastricht treaty came into forces. It is mainly famous for
coal and steel industry and this European Economic Community by 2 treaties name by the 1951
Treaty of Paris and 1957 Treaty of Rome.
The main aim of establishment and setting of this European Union is to end the frequent and
bloody war between neighbours. This European coal and steel community started to unite all
these EU countries in all economic and political manners for bringing peace and improving
economy (Bolea, Duarte and Chóliz, 2018).
History: There are some leaders who inspired the creation of European Union as they
motivate it to the great extent. It can be understood in detailed manner such as:
1949-1959: Beginning of cooperation: It is already stated that it is created in the year of
1993 for bringing peace among neighbour countries. 1950 was dominated year by cold war
among all of its countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg
1960-1969: These years is known with economic growth because EU countries stopped
charging custom duties while trading with each others. It improved economy and
everybody was having food to eat.
1970-1979: In the year of 1973, UK joined this EU countries and that is why it is called the
first enlargement. Short wars between Arab Israeli brought energy crisis and economic
problems. For protecting itself against pollution and other problems, this country adopts
several laws.
1980-1989: Greece Become the 10th member of the EU in the year of 1989 the Berlin wall
was pulled down and border between East and West Germany was opened for the first time
in around 28 years.
After the year of 1989, expansions have been done and come challenges were being faced
by EU countries (History of the European Union, 2020).
Single European act: 1957 Treaty of Rome of EU was established with the main aim of
establishing a single market.
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Legislative: There are main 3 institutions that are involved in EU legislation such as: European
parliament, the council of the European Union (Judge and Thomson, 2019). European parliament
represents its citizenship and council of the EU represents the governments of the individual
member countries.
Euro zone crisis: In this regard it can be said that it was the world’s greatest threat for EU in
2011 and 2012. This crisis started in the year of 2009 and EU realized that Greece could default
on its debts. It was mainly caused by balance of payment crisis and it happened because states
were not much able to resort to devaluation. So, experience of collapse of financial institutions
and high government debt caused to this Union to the great extent an it was never end as it was
only forgotten (Dinan, Nugent and Paterson, 2017).
How Brexit relate to the design of European institutions along with solutions
Brexit affected EU countries to the great extent and it is related to the design of European
institutions. It made changes in social and economic factors and these effects remained the same
until post Brexit relationship of UK with EU becomes clear. Due to Brexit EU population
decreased by 13% and it has also lose 5% of the total budget after exit of the UK fro, EU
countries. GDP per capita was also decreased by 1000 Euro as in the year of 2018 it was 31000
Euro and after the exit of the UK it became 30,000 Euro (De Ville and Siles-Brügge, 2019).
So, from this changes and impacts it can clearly be said that UK was a major player in the
EU because it contributes to EU in improving economy as an asset. After Brexit, EU becomes
EU’s main trading partner and UK becomes EU’s third biggest trading partner. Reintroduction of
custom borders was damaging both countries politically and economically.
Potential solutions of reducing impacts of Brexit on EU
Funding for bilateral peace programme in Northern Ireland can help this EU country of
reducing negative impacts and reconciliation process started by the Good Friday agreement.
There are some items that can be exported by UK firms that may be used for civilian and military
purposes to the UK. It is also stated that EU applies EU settlement scheme for UK if they want
citizenship of EU and want to stay here. It is also found that EU has rights to get financial aid
from EU solidarity fund. It has sent a proposal that requires to be approved by the Parliament and
the council before coming into force (Brexit: Plans in Place to Mitigate Impacts of No Deal,
2019).
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bolea, L., Duarte, R. and Chóliz, J.S., 2018. From convergence to divergence? Some new
insights into the evolution of the European Union. Structural Change and Economic
Dynamics. 47. pp.82-95.
De Ville, F. and Siles-Brügge, G., 2019. The impact of Brexit on EU policies. Politics and
Governance. 7(3). pp.1-6.
Dinan, D., Nugent, N. and Paterson, W.E., 2017. The European Union in Crisis. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Judge, A. and Thomson, R., 2019. The responsiveness of legislative actors to stakeholders’
demands in the European Union. Journal of European Public Policy. 26(5). pp.676-695.
Online
History of the European Union.2020. [Online]. Available through < https://europa.eu/european-
union/about-eu/history_en>
Brexit: Plans in Place to Mitigate Impacts of No Deal. 2019. [Online]. Available through
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20190313STO31215/
brexit-plans-in-place-to-mitigate-impact-of-no-deal>
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