European Unification : Germany

Ever since its founding in 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany has been one of the main advocates of European unification. The founders of the Federal Republic clearly recognized the following: European unification strengthens Europe’s position in the world and serves to promote peace, freedom and prosperity on the Continent. Through the process of European integration, a transparent system of close mutual consultation and cooperation has been created which aims to peacefully reconcile the interests of all.

This highly successful system did not appear overnight. Together with Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany formed the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1 952 and then established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) in 1957. Through the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (Merger Treaty) of 1965, the institutions of the ECSC, the EEC and EURATOM were merged with the aim of strengthening the political influence of the Council and the Commission and streamlining the work of the Community institutions.

With the Single European Act of 1 986, the Treaty on European Union signed in Maastrichton 7 February 1992 and the new Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997, further important steps have been taken towards the unification of Europe.

The Maastricht Treaty laid the foundations for economic and monetary union, the third and final stage of which ls to begin upon the adoption of a common currency, the euro, on 1 January 1999. Since the entry into force °f the Maastricht Treaty, moreover, the European Union (EU) has had a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and a common policy in the fields of justice and home affairs. Thus the preconditions have been created for the development of the EU into a truly comprehensive political union.