Unit IV formation and enlargement of the european community

Task 1. Make sure you know the meaning of the words and their definitions below

enlargement	extension, consolidation
merge	unite, consolidate
be reluctant	not eager, unwilling
dissolution	disintegration, disorganization
framework	structure, limits
accommodate	adjust, provide
come into effect	come into action
with respect to	with regard to
backward	underdeveloped
cause strains	cause tension
disparate	incompatible
preliminary	occurring before
plethora	overabundance, excess
predominately	prevailing over
take account of	consider

Task 2. Read and translate the text

The EU was set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbors, which culminated in the Second World War.

The original members – France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – founded the community in 1951, when they created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

The aim of the first treaty signed, the treaty of Paris, was to create a political Unity within Europe and to prevent another world war.

The ECSC placed the production of steel and coal in all the member states under the authority of a single community organization in order to control the manufacture of arms and, therefore, help prevent war between member states.

Six years later they signed the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) which were designed to produce cooperative nuclear research and to improve Europe’s economic strength.

In 1967 all three communities fully merged as the European Community (EC).

The original group of six nations was joined by the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark (Northern enlargement) in 1973. (1)

The nine member Community was then expanded by the so-called Mediterranean enlargement with the addition of Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986 (2)

In 1992, the governments of the 12 member states signed the Treaty on European Union (TEU, also known as the Maastricht Treaty) which outlined the aims of a single currency, joint defense and foreign policies, and inter-governmental cooperation on justice and home affairs.

The Maastricht Treaty transformed the EC into the European Union.

In 1994 Austria, Finland and Sweden (neutral Enlargement) (3) joined the European Union, bringing the total membership to 15 members. One of the reasons why these countries had been reluctant to join the EU was their concern about maintaining ‘neutral status’, especially in the era of the Cold War. After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the USSR, this factor was reduced in importance, only Switzerland continues to maintain its neutral position. At that time it was expected that Norway would also join but, as a result of a slight majority ‘no’ vote, Norway has also remained outside the EU.

The Treaty of Amsterdam, which came into effect in May, 1999, was the most recent stage of the deepening process within the EU. The Treaty also provided a framework for the ‘broadening’ and enlargement of the EU, the latter concerning mostly the EU eastward expansion.

Objective criteria for countries in Central and Eastern Europe to join the EU were agreed at the Copenhagen Summit meeting in 1993:

Politically, a country seeking membership must be based on the rule of law and democracy; guarantee human rights and protection of minorities.

Economically, it must have a functioning market economy competitive within the EU.

To be admitted, a country is bound to accept the whole range of laws, principles, practices and obligations adopted and developed by the EU, and to incorporate them in its legislation before joining the EU.

In May, 2004 ten new countries joined the EU: Cyprus (Greek part), the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. (The Eastern enlargement ) (4).

On 1 January 2007 two more countries from Eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania, joined the EU, brining the number of states to 27 countries. Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey are also candidates for future membership.

Each enlargement has brought with it a particular set of problems.

In the Northern enlargement, especially with the respect to the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the main problem was one of regions requiring development aid. For that reason a new Common Regional policy had to be developed.

The Mediterranean enlargement created problems with accommodating the backward agricultural economies of the three new member states.

The most recent ‘neutral’ enlargement has been the least problematic because of the advanced and healthy economies of Austria, Sweden and Finland. However, even this enlargement has caused strains in the institutional framework, because of the extra size of the Union.

The Eastern enlargement has brought with it many new problems. Some of them result from the disparate economies: (a) none of the 10 new members have economies that can meet the economic criteria of the EU, b) besides, in order to accommodate 10 new member states, it is necessary to reform both the institutional framework of the EU and its core policies.

An official candidate to join the European Union - Turkey started preliminary negotiations on 3 October 2005. However analysts believe 2015 is the earliest date the country can join the Union due to a) the plethora of economic and social reforms it has to complete, and b) the fact that the 2007-2013 budget takes no account of the considerable costs Turkey’s accession will involve. Since it has been granted official candidate status, Turkey has implemented permanent policies on human rights, abolished the death penalty, granted cultural rights to its large Kurdish minority, and taken positive steps to solve the Cyprus question. However, due to its religious and cultural differences, Turkey faces strong opposition from governments of some member states. Pope Benedict XVI, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also opposes Turkey becoming a member state because of its predominately Muslim population.

Task 2. Answer the following questions using the information of the text.

1. Why was the EU set up?

2. What were the original countries to found the ECSC?

3. Why did the ECSC place the production of steel and coal in all the member states under the authority of a single community organization?

4. What were the EEC and Euratom designed to produce?

5. What communities merged as the EC?

6. What countries joined the group of 6 original nations that formed the ECSC?

7. How did the EC expand in 1986?

8. What Treaty transformed the EC into the EU?

9. When did the Neutral enlargement take place?

10. Why were the Neutral countries reluctant to join EU?

11. What events gave an impetus to the Northern countries to join the EU?

12. What developed European countries still remained outside the EU?

13. When did the Treaty of Amsterdam come into effect?

14. What did the Treaty of Amsterdam provide?

15. What were the objective criteria agreed at the Copenhagen Summit meeting?

16. How many countries joined the EU in the framework of the Eastern enlargement?

17. What was the particular set of problems the Northern enlargement brought with it to the EC?

18. What was the particular set of problems the Mediterranean enlargement brought with it to the EC?

19. What was the particular set of problems the Neutral enlargement brought with it to the EC?

20. What was the particular set of problems the Eastern enlargement brought with it to the EC?

21. Why do you think Turkey is a potential but contentious candidate to the EU?

Task 3. Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.

single currency reluctant framework dissolution expansion criteria minorities competitive respect to development aid caused strains bloody affairs rule of law came into effect core policies disparate account of faces preliminary meet the economic criteria accommodate abolished culminated plethora merged under the authority of Summit meeting prevent was set up backward political

1. The EU_____with the aim of ending the frequent and _____wars between neighbors, which_____in the Second World War.

2. The aim of the first treaty signed, the treaty of Paris, was to create a _______Unity within Europe and to ______ another world war.

3. The ECSC placed the production of steel and coal in all the member states _____of a single community organization.

1. In 1967 all three communities fully ______ as the European Community (EC).

2. The Treaty on European Union, also known as the Maastricht Treaty outlined the aims of a_____, joint defence and foreign policies, and inter-governmental cooperation on justice and home_______.

3. One of the reasons why these countries had been _______to join the EU was their concern about maintaining ‘neutral status’, especially in the era of the Cold War.

4. After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the ______of the USSR, this factor was reduced in importance,

5. The Treaty of Amsterdam, which ______ in May, 1999, was the most recent stage of the deepening process within the EU.

6. The Treaty also provided a_______for the ‘broadening’ and enlargement of the EU, the latter concerning mostly the EU eastward________.

7. Objective_______for countries in Central and Eastern Europe to join the EU were agreed at the Copenhagen ________in 1993.

8. Politically, a country seeking membership must be based on the_______ and democracy; guarantee human rights and protection of _______.

9. Economically, it must have a functioning market economy______within the EU.

10. In the Northern enlargement, especially with the _______the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the main problem was one of regions requiring ______.

11. The Mediterranean enlargement created problems with accommodating the ______ agricultural economies of the three new member states.

12. However, even Neutral enlargement has _______ in the institutional framework, because of the extra size of the Union.

13. Some problems result from the ______economies: (a) none of the 10 new members have economies that can _______ of the EU, (b) besides, in order to _______ 10 new member states, it is necessary to reform both the institutional framework of the EU and its _________.

14. An official candidate to join the European Union – Turkey – started ______ negotiations on 3 October 2005.

15. Analysts believe 2015 is the earliest date the country can join the Union due to a) the _______of economic and social reforms it has to complete, and b) the fact that the 2007-2013 budget takes no _______ the considerable costs Turkey’s accession will involve.

16. Turkey has implemented permanent policies on human rights, ________the death penalty.

17. Due to Turkey’s religious and cultural differences, it _______ strong opposition from governments of some member states.

Task 4. Mark the sentences as True or False

1. The EU was set up to produce cooperative nuclear research and to improve Europe’s economic strength.

2. The original members – France, West Germany, Italy, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – founded the community in 1951, when they created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

3. In 1967 all three communities fully merged as the European Community (EC).

4. The Treaty of Paris transformed the EC into the European Union.

5. Objective criteria for countries in Central and Eastern Europe to join the EU were agreed at the Amsterdam Summit meeting in 1993.

6. Politically, a country seeking membership must be based on the rule of law and democracy; guarantee human rights and protection of majority.

7. Economically, a country must have a functioning market economy competitive within the world.

8. To be admitted, a country is bound to accept the whole range of laws, principles, practices and obligations adopted and developed on its own, and to incorporate them in its legislation before joining the EU.

9. On 1 January 2007 tree more countries from Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia joined the EU, bringing the number of states to 27 countries.

10. Each enlargement has brought with it a particular set of proposals.

11. In the Northern enlargement, especially with the respect to the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the main problem was one of accommodating the developed agricultural economies.

12. The Mediterranean enlargement created problems with regions requiring development aid.

13. The most recent ‘neutral’ enlargement has been the least problematic because of the advanced and healthy economies of Austria, Sweden and Finland.

14. The Eastern enlargement has brought with it a few new problems.

15. Turkey faces strong opposition from governments of some member states due to its religious and agricultural differences.

Task 5. Translate the following

To set up, кровавые войны, to grant, достигать наивысшей точки, under the authority, сливаться, enlargement, plethora, единая валюта, cooperation on justice and home affairs, to be reluctant, to maintain "neutral status", распад, framework, eastward expansion, объективные критерии, summit meeting, the rule of law, конкурентноспособный, to be admitted to, to be bound to, incorporate in, with the respect to, development aid, to accommodate, advanced and healthy economies, соответствовать критериям, preliminary negotiations, to take an account of, accession, отменять, to face opposition, преимущественно.

Task 6. Match the words and word combinations with their Russian equivalents

authority	соответствовать критериям
merge	столкнуться с сопротивлением
plethora	принимать в расчет
to be reluctant	полномочие
dissolution	вход, принятие
eastward expansion	быть принятым
competitive	конкурентноспособный
to be admitted	расширение на восток
to be bound	отменять
with the respect to	приспосабливать
meet the criteria	неохотный
accommodate	относительно
take an account of	множество
accession	распад
abolish	быть связанным обязательствами
face opposition	учреждать
set up	сливаться

Task 7. Complete the sentences with the endings from the text

1. The EU was set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbors, which .

2. The original members – France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – founded the community in 1951, when …

3. The aim of the first treaty signed, the treaty of Paris, was …

4. The ECSC placed the production of steel and coal in all the member states under the authority of …

5. Six years later they signed the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) which .

6. In 1967 all three communities fully merged as …

7. The original group of six nations were joined by the UK …

8. The nine member Community was then expanded by …

9. The Maastricht Treaty transformed …

10. In 1994 Austria, Finland and Sweden (neutral Enlargement) (3) joined …

11. One of the reasons why these countries had been reluctant to …

12. The Treaty of Amsterdam, which came into effect in May, 1999, was …

13. Politically, a country seeking membership must be based on …

14. Economically, it must have a …

15. To be admitted, a country is bound to accept the whole range of …

16. In May, 2004 ten new countries …

17. On 1 January , 2007 two more countries …

18. Each enlargement has brought with it a …

19. In the Northern enlargement the main problem was one of …

20. The Mediterranean enlargement created problems with …

21. The most recent ‘neutral’ enlargement has been the least problematic because of …

22. The Eastern enlargement has brought with it many new problems. Some of them result from …

Task 8. Choose the correct variant

1. a) The original members – France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – founded the community in 1951, when they created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

b) The original members – France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – founded the community in 1951, when they created the European Economic Community.

2) a) The aim of the first treaty signed, the treaty of Paris, was to create a political Unity in the world and to prevent another world war.

b) The aim of the first treaty signed, the treaty of Paris, was to create a political Unity within Europe and to prevent another world war.

3. a) The European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) were designed to produce cooperative nuclear research and to improve Europe’s political strength.

b) The European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) were designed to produce cooperative nuclear research and to improve Europe’s economic strength.

3. a) In 1967 all three communities fully dissolved as the European Community (EC).

2. In 1967 all three communities fully merged as the European Community (EC).

3. a) The Treaty of Amsterdam also provided a framework for the ‘broadening’ and enlargement of the EU, the latter concerning mostly the EU westward expansion.

b) The Treaty of Amsterdam also provided a framework for the ‘broadening’ and enlargement of the EU, the latter concerning mostly the EU eastward expansion.

3. a) Analysts believe 2015 is the latest date the country can join the Union due to a) the plethora of economic and social reforms it has to complete, and b) the fact that the 2007–2013 budget takes account of the considerable costs Turkey’s accession will involve.

b) Analysts believe 2015 is the earliest date the country can join the Union due to a) the plethora of economic and social reforms it has to complete, and b) the fact that the 2007–2013 budget takes no account of the considerable costs Turkey’s accession will involve.

Task 10. Translate into English

Первый шаг в сторону создания современного Евросоюза был сделан в 1951: ФРГ, Бельгия, Нидерланды, Люксембург, Франция, Италия подписали договор об учреждении Европейского объединения угля и стали, целью которого стало объединение европейских ресурсов по производству стали и угля, в силу данный договор вступил с июля 1952 года.

С целью углубления экономической интеграции те же шесть государств в 1957 учредили Европейское экономическое сообщество и Европейское сообщество по атомной энергии. Самым важным и широким по сфере компетенции из этих трёх европейских сообществ являлось ЕЭС, так что в 1993 году оно было официально переименовано в Европейское сообщество.

Процесс развития и превращения этих европейских сообществ в современный Европейский союз происходил путём, во-первых, передачи всё большего числа функций управления на наднациональный уровень и, во-вторых, увеличения числа участников интеграции.

Task 11. Speak on:

1. Origin, history and development or the European Community.

2. Member states and enlargement.

3. The importance of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

4. The conditions for accession.

5. The advantages and disadvantages of European integration (economic integration, political integration).