THE EUROPEAN UNION AND IRELAND’S LINKS WITH EUROPE
27A The EU in 2021
The original founding six in 1958 Countries joined in 1973 (including the UK) Countries joined in 1981 Countries joined in 1986 Countries joined in 1995 Countries joined since 2004
NORWAY
SWEDEN
FINLAND USSR (RUSSIA) ESTONIA IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM NETHERLANDS BELGIUM FRANCE SWITZ. PORTUGAL SPAIN AUSTRIA WEST LUX. GERMANY
THE CZECH REPUBLIC
SLOVAKIA HUNGARY
SLOVENIACROATIA BOSNIA-
ITALY HERZOGOVINA SERBIA ALBANIA Mediterranean Sea MALTA GREECE TURKEY BULGARIA MACEDONIA ROMANIA Black Sea BELARUS
EAST GERMANY (since 1990)
POLAND UKRAINE DENMARK
LITHUANIA LATVIA
CYPRUS
(iii) Peace was secured between European Union countries, especially between France and Germany, after two world wars which both began in Europe.
These countries that had been enemies in both wars became friends. ● They worked together peacefully to achieve the aims of the European Union.
From EEC to EU
The name European Economic Community (EEC) was used from 1958 onwards. The name was later changed to European Community (EC), but since the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, the name European Union (EU) has been used.
(iv) The EU established common standards in metric scales, decimal currency, VAT rules and, for most EU members, the euro. ● These common standards have made it easier for people and trade to move between countries.
(v) The EU also made provision to recognise the different languages of the EU. 435