The European Dis-Union

The European Union is an economic and political union established in 1993 after the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty by members of the European Community, which includes twenty-five member states (Gillingham 4).   The European Union expanded the political range of the European Community, especially in the areas of foreign and security policy.   The Union also created a central European bank and the adoption of a common currency by the end of the 20th century, known as the Euro (Gillingham 63).   The main purposes of the European Union include promoting economic and social progress, declaring the identity of the European Union on the international scene, introducing European citizenship, developing an area of freedom, security and justice, and maintain and build on established European Union law (Cafruny and Ryner 300).   The purposes seem fair and well said, but there are many disagreements and conflicts within the European Union.   Issues and factors currently facing the EU that may impede further integration include its structure, economics, policies and procedures.
Many disagreements arise within the European Union regarding its structural makeup and way of governing.   There are no clear boundaries between its main institutions, including the European Commission, European Council, and the European Parliament, and between their powerful affiliated bodies such as the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank (Soetendorp 83-84).   These discrepancies are the cause of endless jurisdictional conflict between central authorities and the states, and among the states themselves.
There are several policies and procedures the European Union has established that raise disagreements though out all its members.   One of the many concerns is the membership requirements a country needs to have in order to become a part of the Union.   Membership criteria requires that the country wanting to join has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the... [continues]

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