the EU

[Chaigidel]

who came up with the idea?

what group of people or nations originally began the legislation and in what year?

does the EU prevent tariffs between member states, or simply regulate them?

discuss the EU again, and why wont the brits join, or have they already?
for some reason I feel like they havent, even though london is becoming the new financial center.

[Panzerbear]

didnt it start from Benelux (union of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) countries? or at least greately inspired by it?

[Syron]

who came up with the idea?

Well it was a long time in the making but grew out of the Benelux, the ideal being to integrate the nations of Europe to create properity and so future conflict would be impossible.

what group of people or nations originally began the legislation and in what year?

The EU was formed out of the EC in 1992 by the Maastrict Treaty.

does the EU prevent tariffs between member states, or simply regulate them?

Free trade zone.

discuss the EU again, and why wont the brits join, or have they already?
for some reason I feel like they havent, even though london is becoming the new financial center.

The UK has been a member of the EU since it's inception, though it is not a member of the Single Currency or The Schengen Zone.

[LoZz]

Well it was a long time in the making but grew out of the Benelux, the ideal being to integrate the nations of Europe to create properity and so future conflict would be impossible.



The EU was formed out of the EC in 1992 by the Maastrict Treaty.



Free trade zone.



The UK has been a member of the EU since it's inception, though it is not a member of the Single Currency or The Schengen Zone.

correct, though the uk did not join right away into the EU, it wasnt one of the founding members.

[Razbojnik]

The EU was formed out of the EC in 1992 by the Maastrict Treaty.

I believe that the correct year is 1993.
1. of November,to be precise.

[Panzerbear]

Britain is hardly a member of European Union (only on paper). they have always been an independent country with independent policies, and will likely to remain this way.

[Syron]

The UK is very much tied to the EU, hence some of the negative feeling! it simply has opted out of a number of its pet projects.

[Tankfriend]

First things first: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union

who came up with the idea?
what group of people or nations originally began the legislation and in what year?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western...ipating_states

I think one can say that the "Western European Union" (WEU; don't confuse it, it was mainly designed as a defensive treaty that incorporated cooperation in economical etc. areas) represents a large step into the direction of today's EU (though not being the same) with the founding members being: Benelux, Great Britain and France, with other states joining in later.

does the EU prevent tariffs between member states, or simply regulate them?

As far as I remember, they prevent tariffs between member states completely, therefore creating a tariff-free zone inside the EU; some "associates" like members of the British Commonwealth or French "DomTom's" (Département et Territoires outre mer; mainly "ex-colonies that are under direct French legislation) are partially included in this as well I think.

and why wont the brits join, or have they already?
for some reason I feel like they havent, even though london is becoming the new financial center.

Britain has joined the EU in 1973, so is a member for quite some time. I guess you confuse the membership in the EU with the membership in the €-Zone (Euro-Zone) because GB has not joined it till now and probably won't do so for quite some time; that's the reason why the GB still has Pounds as their currency.

[Chaigidel]

very interesting, the Benelux was concieved by whom? I mean is anyone the "Father of the EU" ? who will be looked at by history as the founder of this? probably the Maastrict treatee signees?

yes I did confuse membership with the currency.

[Panzerbear]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benelux

I actually remember my dad getting a visa for Benelux countries a long time ago. One could freely travel between the tree countries, but not go to Germany, for example . we had to get a separate visa for every ing country. now we can get a visa to visit, lets say, Finland, and then end up traveling all the way to Portugal .

EU for the win!

[Каие]

who came up with the idea?
what group of people or nations originally began the legislation and in what year?
does the EU prevent tariffs between member states, or simply regulate them?
discuss the EU again, and why wont the brits join, or have they already?
for some reason I feel like they havent, even though london is becoming the new financial center.

lol Chag all these could have been answered by just hitting Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU#History

[Tajir]

The popular belief I had was that it was the league of worthless states (Spain, Italy, Portugal) that started the EU. They obviously had the worst economies in Western Europe, as well as god-awful currency. Even if they didn't start the EU, they benefited the most in Western Europe in my opinion since they contribute probably the least in terms of medical and technological advances -- my theory made sense in that respect. But I think the real answer is France and Germany if I'm correct.

[Chlodwig I.]

The popular belief I had was that it was the league of worthless states (Spain, Italy, Portugal) that started the EU. They obviously had the worst economies in Western Europe, as well as god-awful currency. Even if they didn't start the EU, they benefited the most in Western Europe in my opinion since they contribute probably the least in terms of medical and technological advances -- my theory made sense in that respect. But I think the real answer is France and Germany if I'm correct.

Yes the Real Answer is France and Germany
the French Foreignminister and the German Chancelor
Italy Netherlands Belgium and Luxemburg also joined the idea
and to gether they create the first Europe Economic Organisation

who came up with the idea?

what group of people or nations originally began the legislation and in what year?

does the EU prevent tariffs between member states, or simply regulate them?

discuss the EU again, and why wont the brits join, or have they already?
for some reason I feel like they havent, even though london is becoming the new financial center.

Okay so idea France and Germany
First Contract states Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, France, Germany, Italy


there are no tariffs between EU memberstates, Tarifs are completly regulated by the EU for all memberstates.
so for Import and Export the EU is one state.

[Hunter Makoy]

The popular belief I had was that it was the league of worthless states (Spain, Italy, Portugal) that started the EU. They obviously had the worst economies in Western Europe, as well as god-awful currency. Even if they didn't start the EU, they benefited the most in Western Europe in my opinion since they contribute probably the least in terms of medical and technological advances -- my theory made sense in that respect. But I think the real answer is France and Germany if I'm correct.

this is the idea i see behind it also. the EU is basically a "spreading the risk" state. They also have free movement for work between countries, so if someone in France isn't getting a job because the economy is bad, they can go to Germany where the economy might be better.

I also heard that Italy bearly made it into the currency atleast because theirs was so bad. (like 2,000:1 USD when i was there in 01.)

and with Britain not giving up the pound its my understanding its more based off the tradition and age of it, rather then stability factor. is that right?

[Aquilus]

The popular belief I had was that it was the league of worthless states (Spain, Italy, Portugal) that started the EU. They obviously had the worst economies in Western Europe, as well as god-awful currency. Even if they didn't start the EU, they benefited the most in Western Europe in my opinion since they contribute probably the least in terms of medical and technological advances -- my theory made sense in that respect. But I think the real answer is France and Germany if I'm correct.

Worthless states? Now... That's something very ignorant to say, and Btw Italy's economy was far from being among the weakest

[Syron]

It was a founding member of the EU, it wasn't a founding member of the EC.

The Benelux, ECSC, EC and EU tend to be regarded as different institutions because of the fundamental changes to their treaties when each was formed.

[LoZz]

im talking about back when it was the EC (same thing, different name)

[Syron]

EC =/= EU , they had quite different organizational structure.

[Каие]

EU is the successor to the EC

[Blau&Gruen]

1) Montan Union, Benelux
2) EC EFTA
3) EU EEA