The EU through the ages

A union evolving  in an atmosphere of continuous change and fresh challenges

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The first aim of this  building of  a UE was to cease with frequent bloody wars between neighbouring countries with culminated in the second world war. During the 1950s the European Community of the coal and steel started off to uniting European Countries politically and economically , furthermore to guarantee peace and economic co-operation among its members. The first six members to join a United Europe was Belgium, France, Germany ,Italy, Luxemburg and Holland.

In 1957 in Rome a treaty was signed that launched the EEC(Economic European Community or Common Market). In 1973 countries like Denmark, Ireland and UK reached the EU, in 1981 Greece, in 1986 Spain and Portugal, in 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden and in 2004 Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, finishing  with Bulgaria and Romania in 2007.

However ideas regarding the build of a United Europe began even before the second world  war thanks to those  minorities that has always pushed for changes to better the social and political life of individuals and long held ideas of a peaceful, united and prosperous Europe, in this case we are talking of groups and leaders in favour of federations.

From 1960 to 1969  a growth in the Economy of the members of EU it was visible also because of the absence of customs duties. They passed a regulation which allowed them to food production so that it could be affordable and was beneficial to farmers.

We see also to the birth of a “youth culture” and to musical bands such as the Beatles who put the seal on the differences between generations and started a cultural revolution. And personally I consider this event highly impactful on the  social union or mix of population that since then we have not seen anymore, indeed we notice the ever-growing populism(vox populi vox dei, in latin, which means that the voice of the people is the voice of God, but it’s not always so as the history shows)

Factors that influence this situation and which are now turning into a real issues are evident.

For instance the current issue that a EU is struggling has to be seen as a social-psychological factor. There is a tendency towards social conformity and groups dynamic influenced by the EU socio-economical deals , consequently this highlights the lack of optimism because people’s mind is fooled by the instinct-thinking approach enhanced from uncertainties and fears for the next future instead of a rational-thinking approach which is in keeping with problem solutions also on a large-scale avoiding negative effects on the entire socio-political system. The EU money has certainly strengthened the union of  those  European Countries who  stipulated and reached this agreement but they haven’t succeeded in increasing  social lifestyle and a real integration of the multi-ethnic population of Europe.

Each country has devolved to the EU only part of their sovereignty, each one stipulating an individual agreement in favour of their nation. They have thought always in a selfish way, probably influenced by their own feelings of national pride. However this remains the central issue that doesn’t allow Europe the prominence in the world that  should they have. They act as a confederation of state members and not as a federation as in the case of the United States of America.

Lack of leadership in the last twenty years , wisdom and sociology in the political class who lead nations, some also capable of dealing with Economics, often had failed and led to higher taxation on the middle-class enlarging the poverty range and consequently enhancing phenomena like populism, racism, protectionism and desire of breaking with a pressing EU always demanding changes in rules regarding the economy of each member.

Another factor to be considered is the allowing into the United Europe in 2004 of countries that once used to belong to the Soviet Republics with the aim of having a more powerful Europe, instead these new members who are initially really poor but with a burning desire to develop themselves socio-economically, they started to work harshly and more spurred on than the first EU members that were already wealthy but got into a growing laziness in business developments so that at a certain period they felt on the back of the neck the internal competition launched from this new EU countries, even supported by cheap labours.

In the end it is visible that there is not enough regulation for the Internal Market of EU and a lack of political leadership capable of making cohesion , to be cooperative, despite their origin, and unite them under a flag that EU citizens should consider of value , a status symbol.

 In support of this each town, residences, premises, regions, suburbs should display the flag of the EU that certainly will have an impact, consciously or unconsciously, mainly, on people feelings and perceptions on short or long term. However they will feel a sense of belonging to one nation.

Music also reflects the changing tastes and styles of music reflect the changing of Europe Politics and social ideas. It has moved from social and unity to individualism and disunity