Page 144 - Key to Social Studies 5

Why Did Countries Cooperate to Form the European Union?

• The idea of European cooperation started after the destruction of World War II. In the years that

followed, many European countries made agreements to deepen the cooperation among them,

including economic and free trade agreements, or selling products between countries with no tari s or

taxes or any other trade restrictions, or limits.

• On February 7, 1992, European nations signed the Maastricht Treaty to create the European Union.

Members of the treaty formed a uni ed market, agreed on governmental cooperation, and made it easy

for citizens of member countries to cross borders freely with no restrictions or visas. In 1999, the

European Union agreed to develop a currency that could be used by all of the member countries. In

2002, the countries began to use a new currency, called the euro. The EU has become a great economic

world power and one of the major trading partners of the US.

• One of the EU’s main objectives is to develop human rights both inside the Union and around the globe.

Human dignity, democracy, equality, freedom, the governance of law, and the respect of human rights

are important goals in the European Union.

• The European ag symbolizes both the European Union and the identity of the Union as well. It is a

circle of twelve gold stars on a blue background. The stars refer to unity and agreement among the

people of Europe.
Euro coins and notes

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