European integration

European integration is the process of bringing together countries in Europe through politics, laws, society, regions, and the economy. This mostly happens through the European Union and its rules, but it can also involve sharing culture and making decisions together.

The idea of a united Europe goes back a long way, starting with the Roman Empire, which ruled much of Europe. Later, groups like the Holy Roman Empire, the Hanseatic League, and the First French Empire also tried to bring Europe closer. After the terrible damage of World War I, many people began to dream of a Europe that worked together in peace.

After World War II, the push for Europe to unite grew even stronger. In 1946, Winston Churchill spoke about the idea of a “United States of Europe.” During this time, people began studying why and how Europe could come together, looking at it from many angles. Groups like the Union of European Federalists and the European Movement International helped support this idea, showing how many layers of agreements and ties exist between European nations.

History

Further information: Ideas of European unity before 1948

Long ago, the Roman Empire helped bring many lands in Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea closer together. Later, many people looked back on this time as an early example of a united Europe. Some important moments in this history include the Holy Roman Empire, the Hanseatic League, the Peace of Westphalia, the Napoleonic Empire, and the joining together of Germany, Italy, and the Balkans.

After the terrible First World War from 1914 to 1918, many smart and thoughtful people started talking about the idea of a united Europe. They formed groups to work together across borders. One early leader was Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who wrote about a united Europe in 1923. Others, like Winston Churchill, also spoke about the need for a united Europe after World War II, hoping it would help prevent future wars and bring peace and prosperity.

Theories of integration

European integration scholars Thomas Diez and Antje Wiener suggest that theories about European integration can be grouped into three main phases, with an early period before these phases.

In the early days, people were mainly concerned with how to prevent wars between countries. Some ideas, like federalism and functionalism, focused on limiting the power of individual countries. For example, Altiero Spinelli wrote about creating a federal Europe, while David Mitrany thought that limiting countries' power would help prevent future wars.

Later, theories began to focus more on how new organizations and institutions could help countries work together better. One important theory is neofunctionalism, which suggests that as countries work together in one area, they will naturally want to cooperate in more areas. Another theory is intergovernmentalism, which says that countries remain in control, even when they work with each other.

More recent theories look at how the European Union governs itself and how it has grown and changed over time. These theories use ideas from many different areas of study to understand how the EU works today.

Citizens' organisations calling for further integration

Many groups have formed to support the idea of a united Europe. These include the Union of European Federalists, the Young European Federalists, the European Movement International, the European Federalist Party, and Volt Europa.

The Union of European Federalists works to promote a united Europe and has been active for over 50 years. The European Movement International helps coordinate efforts to support European unity. The European Federalist Party is a political group that wants more connection between European countries. Volt Europa is another group that works in many European countries to support European unity.

Overlap of membership in various agreements

Further information: List of European countries by membership in international organisations and Multi-speed Europe

Many countries in Europe are part of several different groups and agreements. Some countries join more of these groups than others.

Common membership of member states of the European Union

Every member state of the European Union also belongs to many other groups, such as:

• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
• The European Political Community (EPC)
• The Council of Europe (CoE)
• And many more groups that help with safety, rules, and trade

Membership in European Union agreements

Most countries in the European Union have joined all the main agreements. This helps them work together more closely.

Right now, 19 out of the 27 countries in the European Union have signed all the big agreements. These include using the euro currency, following rules for travel and safety, and more.

Some countries not in the European Union have also joined many of these agreements. For example, six of them use the euro, and four follow the rules for travel and safety.

The table below shows which countries are part of these different agreements. It includes all 27 European Union countries, plus others like candidate countries and small nations.

Most integrated countries

21 countries use the euro currency or are getting ready to use it. These countries also work together in groups like the European Union and the European Economic Area.

Geographic scope

Clickable map of Europe, showing one of the most commonly used continental boundaries
Key: blue: states which straddle the border between Europe and Asia;
green: countries not geographically in Europe, but closely associated with the continent

For this section, Europe includes countries that are completely inside Europe, countries that are partly in Europe and partly in Asia, and countries that are close to Europe in culture and geography.

Some agreements related to Europe also include countries and areas outside of Europe. For example, NATO includes the USA and Canada, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe includes several countries from North America and Central Asia.

There are also groups focused only on certain parts of Europe, like the Nordic countries, the Baltic region, and Central Europe. These groups work together on issues like trade, travel, and cooperation between governments.

Council of Europe

Main article: Council of Europe

After the big fights and sadness of the Second World War, people in Europe wanted to work together more closely. This led to the start of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in 1949.

One big achievement of the Council of Europe is the European Convention on Human Rights from 1950. This helps make sure that everyone in Europe is treated fairly and with respect. There is also a special court, the European Court of Human Rights, that looks after these important rules.

The Council of Europe also works on many other ideas to help countries work better together, like stopping bad things like money laundering and keeping sports fair by stopping doping in sport. They also help with internet crime.

After the Berlin Wall came down, many more countries in Europe joined the Council of Europe. Today, it includes 46 countries, working together to share good ideas and values like fairness and democracy.

European Political Community

Main article: European Political Community

The European Political Community is a group where leaders from many European countries meet to talk about the future of Europe. Their first big meeting happened on October 6, 2022, in Prague. Leaders from 44 European countries joined, along with the heads of the European Council and the European Commission.

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a group of countries working together to keep peace in Europe. It started in July 1973 as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe and became the OSCE in January 1995. The OSCE has 56 member states, covering most of the Northern Hemisphere.

The OSCE focuses on three main areas: keeping peace between countries, helping with economic and environmental issues, and protecting people’s rights and freedoms.

European Free Trade Association

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a group of European countries that work together on trade. It was created on May 3, 1960, for countries that chose not to join the EEC. Today, EFTA has four members: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Only Norway and Switzerland were part of EFTA when it started.

The EFTA agreement was signed on January 4, 1960, in Stockholm by seven countries: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Later, Finland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein joined. In 2001, a new agreement called the Vaduz Convention was signed and started in 2002.

Some countries left EFTA to join bigger groups. The United Kingdom and Denmark left in 1973, Portugal in 1986, and Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995.

European Broadcasting Union

Main article: European Broadcasting Union

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is a group of public media companies that work together. It started on February 12, 1950. As of 2022, it has 112 active members from 54 countries and 30 associate members from 19 more countries. Most countries in the European Union are part of this group. The EBU has taken part in important discussions, such as debates for the European Commission presidency during the 2014 elections, though it is not part of the European Union itself.

European Patent Convention

Main article: European Patent Convention

The European Patent Convention, also called the Convention on the Grant of European Patents from October 5, 1973, is an agreement between many countries. It created the European Patent Organisation and has its own rules for granting patents. As of 2022, 39 countries are part of this convention. The original agreement was signed on October 5, 1973.

European Communities

In 1951, six countries in Europe — Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany — decided to work together. They agreed to share control over their coal and steel production through something called the European Coal and Steel Community. This was part of the Treaty of Paris and started in 1952.

Coal and steel were very important after World War II because they were needed to rebuild the countries. These materials had also been used in wars before. By sharing control, the countries hoped to build trust and make it harder for wars to happen again. Later, in 1957, they created two more groups: the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community.

In 1967, these groups were combined into what was called the European Communities. Over time, more countries joined, starting with Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 1973. Jean Monnet was a key leader in helping these countries work together.

European Union

See also: Enlargement of the European Union and Potential enlargement of the European Union

The European Union (EU) is a group of 27 countries that work together to make rules and help each other in many ways. These countries agreed to share some of their powers with common groups, but they are still separate nations. The EU was officially started in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht based on older groups called the European Economic Community.

Twelve countries started the EU: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Later, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined in 1995. Many more countries joined after that, like Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Poland in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, and Croatia in 2013. The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020 after being a member for 47 years. There are also countries that want to join the EU, like Albania and Ukraine.

The EU has many groups and people who help it work, like leaders, judges, and workers. There are also many countries that work with the EU but are not members yet. These countries aim to share the EU's ideas about democracy and work together even if they are not full members.

Competences

Main article: Member state of the European Union

Most decisions are still made by each country, but some are made together by all EU members. Some decisions are only for the EU, some are shared, and some are just to help.

Economic integration

Further information: Economy of the European Union

Further information: Third country economic relationships with the European Union

The EU has one big market where goods and services can move freely. Many EU countries use the same money, called the euro. The EU also has trade agreements with countries outside the EU.

Free trade area

The EU makes sure that there are no taxes or barriers on goods between its members. The United Kingdom stayed in this agreement during a special time after leaving the EU. Many other countries have agreements to trade freely with the EU, like some countries in Africa and South America.

Customs union

The European Union Customs Union is an area where no taxes are charged on goods moving inside it. It includes all EU members. Some small countries like Andorra and San Marino also follow these rules. Turkey has a special agreement with the EU for customs.

European Single Market

Main article: European Single Market

One big goal of the EU is to have a single market where goods, services, money, and people can move freely. The United Kingdom stayed in this market for a while after leaving the EU. Some other European countries like Norway and Iceland can use the single market without being EU members.

Eurozone

The Eurozone is the group of EU countries that use the euro as their money. It started in 1999, and more countries joined over time. Some countries outside the EU also use the euro.

Fiscal union

Main article: European Fiscal Union

People sometimes talk about the EU becoming closer in how it manages money. After a big money problem in 2009, some wanted more shared rules, but it is still not happening soon.

Aviation

Europe has groups that help with flying, like Eurocontrol and others.

Energy

Europe works together on energy, with groups for electricity, gas, and other energy matters.

Standardisation

Groups in Europe make rules for technology and other standards, like for phones and machines.

Social and political integration

Education

The ERASMUS programme helps students and teachers travel and study in different EU countries. It started in 1987 and includes many countries.

The European Higher Education Area tries to make education systems easier to understand across Europe. Countries follow rules from the Bologna process to make degrees and studies work together.

Research

Europe has many groups for science and research, like the European Space Agency and others for weather and medicine.

Health

The European Health Insurance Card lets people from EU countries get medical help when they travel. There is also a project to share health records and prescriptions online between countries.

Charter of Fundamental Rights

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is a document that protects important rights. Poland has some special rules about this charter.

Right to vote

EU citizens can vote in local elections in any EU country. Some countries also let non-EU people vote in local elections.

Schengen Area

Main article: Schengen Area

The Schengen Agreement lets people travel between many European countries without showing passports. 30 countries follow these rules, including 26 EU members and some others like Iceland and Norway.

Visa policy in EU

Main article: Visa policy of the Schengen Area

The EU has agreements with some countries that let people travel without visas. Ireland has its own rules.

Defence

Main articles: Common Security and Defence Policy, NATO, and European Union–NATO relations

Some EU countries work together on defence and peacekeeping. The EU also works closely with NATO, another group for defence. Many EU countries are also in NATO.

Space

Further information: European Space Agency, European Space Agency Science Programme, Enlargement of the European Space Agency, European Union Agency for the Space Programme, European Union Space Programme, European Union Satellite Centre, European Cooperation for Space Standardization, Copernicus Programme, and Ariane (rocket family)

In 2007, EU countries agreed to work together more on space activities. The European Space Agency is a group that works on space but is not part of the EU. Many EU countries are members of this agency.

Future of European integration

Main articles: Enlargement of the European Union, Potential enlargement of the European Union, Federal Europe, Eurosphere, Eurasian Economic Union, and Enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union

The process of European integration has no fixed end, and discussions continue about what the European Union might look like in the future. This topic is called the finalité politique, meaning "political purpose" in French. Integration and enlargement of the European Union are important issues in European politics, affecting many levels of government. Sometimes, integration can clash with national sovereignty and cultural identity, and some people oppose it.

To the east of the European Union, countries like Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia started the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015, with Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joining later. Other countries in the region, such as Moldova and Tajikistan, might join too. Some Eastern European countries, like Armenia, work with both the EU and the Eurasian Union. In 2017, Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission, said Armenia wants to cooperate with both groups.

Several countries in Eastern Europe have worked with the EU to strengthen economic and political ties. The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, started in 2003, brings together members of the European Parliament and national parliaments from Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to build closer links with the EU. These countries also take part in the EU's Eastern Partnership program. Other groups, like the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Community of Democratic Choice, aim to support European integration, stability, and democracy. In early 2024, Armenia announced plans to apply for EU membership, and by January 2025, the National Assembly of Armenia approved starting the process to join the EU. This will be put to a vote by the Armenian people.

European Security Treaty

In 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggested creating a new security pact for all of Europe, including countries from the CIS and the United States. In 2009, he shared a draft of this idea in Berlin. French President Sarkozy supported the plan, hoping for stronger security and economic ties between Europe and Russia.

Common space from Lisbon to Vladivostok

In 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed creating a common economic area from Lisbon to Vladivostok. He thought Russia might join the eurozone someday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also believed that within 10 to 15 years, there could be a shared economic space between the EU and Russia.

Concept of a single legal space for the CIS and Europe

In 2002, Russian legal expert Oleg Kutafin and economist Alexander Zakharov suggested creating a single legal space for the CIS and Europe. This idea was supported at the 2003 Moscow Legal Forum. They proposed four steps to make this happen: adopting EU legal standards in CIS countries, harmonizing laws, aligning judicial practices with the rule of law, and exploring ideas from the Roerich Pact for protecting cultural and scientific sites.

Beyond Europe

Main article: Greater Europe

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership or Barcelona Process was created by the European Union to build stronger ties with countries in the Mashriq and Maghreb areas. It began in 1995 with the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference and has grown through yearly meetings.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a group where many former Soviet republics work together. Members can travel between countries without visas, and they plan to create a free-trade area. Ukraine is not a formal member but has taken part in the group. Some members, like Russia and Belarus, are more closely linked. In 2015, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan created the Eurasian Economic Union, and Armenia and Kyrgyzstan later joined.

The European Union also works with other countries and areas through groups like ASEM, which includes Asian nations, and the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly with African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. These meetings help promote development, democracy, and human rights.

European languages such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese are widely used around the world, often because of history and cultural ties.