Suchergebnisse

The Lisbon Treaty has brought significant changes into the architecture of the European Union. The most important novelty, however, is the establishment of a full unity of the Union structure achieved by creating new and strengthening the existing elements. The new elements of this unity are the disappearance of the European Community, the 'independence' of the European Atomic Energy Community, constituting the European Union as a single entity and the introduction of EU values. At the same time, the Lisbon Treaty has strengthened the existing elements of the common institutional mechanisms, rules on amending the founding treaties and EU membership. However, constituting the Union as a single entity which has replaced and succeeded the European Communities has not abolished the EU elements of diversity. In the areas that differed, even before the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, from the community pillar, there remain significant differences in the nature and the scope of competences of the Union institutions. This mainly regards the common foreign and security policy, which now includes the defense policy, where the existing model of inter-state cooperation has been only slightly interfered with. In contrast, in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, which has become part of a larger Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, the inter-state model of cooperation has been abandoned in some of its most important elements. However, the implementation of some of the important elements of the supranational model has been postponed.

Razvoj Europske unije kao ekonomske zajednice država, rezultirao je i razvojem njezina proračuna – generatora razvoja država ove zajednice. Proračun Europske unije karakterizira složen proces njegova donošenja, počevši od Komisije kao ovlaštene predlagateljice proračuna, preko Vijeća i Europskog parlamenta kao institucija koje vrše njegovo odobrenje, pa sve do Revizorskog suda koji vrši nadzor zakonitosti nad njegovim izvršenjem. Potvrda zakonitog i kvalitetnog izvršenja proračuna Europske unije jest davanje razrješnice Europskog parlamenta. Sredstva proračuna Europske unije čine sredstva koja proračunu doprinose same države članice kroz određeni postotak poreza na dodanu vrijednost, bruto nacionalnog dohotka, carina te brojnih drugih financijskih sredstava, kao što su poljoprivredne pristojbe, a određeni dio sredstava potječe i od donacija i prenesenih viškova. Glede proračunskih rashoda, oni se dijele na obvezne i fakultativne, a usmjereni su na brojne politike koje institucije Europske unije odrede kao strateške. Osim godišnjeg proračuna, Europska unija svoj gospodarski razvoj temelji i na višegodišnjem financijskom okviru koji postavlja dugoročnu perspektivu razvoja strateških politika te smjernice za donošenje godišnjih proračuna. Politike u koje Europska unija preko svoga proračuna ulaže znatna sredstva uglavnom su politike održivog rasta i razvoja, sigurnosti europskog građanstva, te vanjska politika koja djeluje kao jamac regionalne i svjetske sigurnosti, ali određeni dio proračunskih sredstava usmjeren je i na internu rashodovnu stranu administracije. Iako proračun Europske unije podliježe snažnom internom i eksternom nadzoru te omogućava opći razvoj ove zajednice, brojne kritike iziskuju i njegovu reformu na način da ga učine fleksibilnijim i pristupačnijim građanima koji od njega trebaju osjetiti izravniju i učinkovitiju korist. ; The development of the European Union as an economic community of states has resulted in the need for the development of its budget - a generator of development of the states of this community. The European Union budget is characterized by a complex process of adoption, starting from the Commission as the authorized proposer of the budget, through the Council and the European Parliament as the institutions that approve it, to the Court of Auditors, which monitors its legality. Confirmation of the lawful and high-quality execution of the European Union budget is the discharge of the European Parliament. The European Union budget is made up of contributions from the Member States themselves through a certain percentage of value added tax, gross national income, customs duties and a number of other financial resources, such as agricultural levies. Regarding budget expenditures, they are divided into mandatory and optional, and focus on a number of policies identified by the European Union institutions as strategic. In addition to the annual budget, the European Union bases its economic development on a multi-annual financial framework that sets out a long-term perspective for the development of strategic policies and guidelines for the adoption of annual budgets. Policies in which the European Union invests significant funds through its budget are mainly policies of sustainable growth and development, safety of European citizens, foreign policy aspect of the European Union as a guarantor of regional and global security, but a certain part of budget funds is directed to the internal expenditure of the administration. Although the EU budget is subject to strong internal and external scrutiny and allows for the general development of this community, many criticize by requiring its reform for making it more flexible and accessible to citizens who need to benefit from it more directly and effectively.

The development of the European Union as an economic community of states has resulted in the need for the development of its budget - a generator of development of the states of this community. The European Union budget is characterized by a complex process of adoption, starting from the Commission as the authorized proposer of the budget, through the Council and the European Parliament as the institutions that approve it, to the Court of Auditors, which monitors its legality. Confirmation of the lawful and high-quality execution of the European Union budget is the discharge of the European Parliament. The European Union budget is made up of contributions from the Member States themselves through a certain percentage of value added tax, gross national income, customs duties and a number of other financial resources, such as agricultural levies. Regarding budget expenditures, they are divided into mandatory and optional, and focus on a number of policies identified by the European Union institutions as strategic. In addition to the annual budget, the European Union bases its economic development on a multi-annual financial framework that sets out a long-term perspective for the development of strategic policies and guidelines for the adoption of annual budgets. Policies in which the European Union invests significant funds through its budget are mainly policies of sustainable growth and development, safety of European citizens, foreign policy aspect of the European Union as a guarantor of regional and global security, but a certain part of budget funds is directed to the internal expenditure of the administration. Although the EU budget is subject to strong internal and external scrutiny and allows for the general development of this community, many criticize by requiring its reform for making it more flexible and accessible to citizens who need to benefit from it more directly and effectively. ; Razvoj Europske unije kao ekonomske zajednice država, rezultirao je i razvojem njezina proračuna – generatora razvoja država ove zajednice. Proračun Europske unije karakterizira složen proces njegova donošenja, počevši od Komisije kao ovlaštene predlagateljice proračuna, preko Vijeća i Europskog parlamenta kao institucija koje vrše njegovo odobrenje, pa sve do Revizorskog suda koji vrši nadzor zakonitosti nad njegovim izvršenjem. Potvrda zakonitog i kvalitetnog izvršenja proračuna Europske unije jest davanje razrješnice Europskog parlamenta. Sredstva proračuna Europske unije čine sredstva koja proračunu doprinose same države članice kroz određeni postotak poreza na dodanu vrijednost, bruto nacionalnog dohotka, carina te brojnih drugih financijskih sredstava, kao što su poljoprivredne pristojbe, a određeni dio sredstava potječe i od donacija i prenesenih viškova. Glede proračunskih rashoda, oni se dijele na obvezne i fakultativne, a usmjereni su na brojne politike koje institucije Europske unije odrede kao strateške. Osim godišnjeg proračuna, Europska unija svoj gospodarski razvoj temelji i na višegodišnjem financijskom okviru koji postavlja dugoročnu perspektivu razvoja strateških politika te smjernice za donošenje godišnjih proračuna. Politike u koje Europska unija preko svoga proračuna ulaže znatna sredstva uglavnom su politike održivog rasta i razvoja, sigurnosti europskog građanstva, te vanjska politika koja djeluje kao jamac regionalne i svjetske sigurnosti, ali određeni dio proračunskih sredstava usmjeren je i na internu rashodovnu stranu administracije. Iako proračun Europske unije podliježe snažnom internom i eksternom nadzoru te omogućava opći razvoj ove zajednice, brojne kritike iziskuju i njegovu reformu na način da ga učine fleksibilnijim i pristupačnijim građanima koji od njega trebaju osjetiti izravniju i učinkovitiju korist.

Since the end of the 1980s, the intensifying of the politicization process has been one of the important characteristics of the EU integration process. The politicization in the EU is understood as the way of contesting and decision-making on public issues, the way that is opposite to the elitist and technocratic mode of decision-making, typical for the first decades of EU integration. Thus, the politicization, and also the politicization in the EU, is grasped as complementary to the public character of modern politics, especially with democracy. The European union is conceptualized as an extremely compound and non-centralized political system of a non-state type with the elements of consensus democracy and with a deeply segmented society as its basis, divided by national and many transnational lines. Within that society, as well as within its political institutions, the politicization process has been developing which has been influencing the functioning of the system considerably. We explore the experiences of politicization in other compound, consensus democracies in Europe – Belgium and Switzerland – and by comparing the specific cases of politicization, we are searching for the possible specific characteristics of politicization in the EU that stem from its described nature. Also, we are analyzing the possible impact of such politicization on the future of integration and politics in the EU. Although not always contributing to deepening of integration, the politicization in the EU, under specific circumstances, could have a democratizing effect. It serves as the opportunity for stimulating the debates on important issues and articulating the will of the citizens while the adequate forms of participation in the political process are still missing in the EU. In addition, we discuss the potential impact of the politicization of European issues on the gradual creation of the European public sphere or the Europeanisation of the national public spheres, as well as on the Europeanisation of society and emergence of the European political identity among the EU citizens. ; Jedna od značajnijih karakteristika u razvoju evropske integracije od kraja 1980- ih godina jeste intenziviranje procesa politizacije. Politizacija u Evropskoj uniji se razume kao način raspravljanja i odlučivanja o javnim pitanjima suprotan elitističkom i tehnokratskom načinu donošenja odluka, uobičajenom naročito za prve decenije razvoja evropske integracije. Stoga se politizacija, pa i politizacija u Evropskoj uniji, shvata kao komplementarna sa javnim karakterom moderne politike, posebno sa demokratijom. Evropska unija je konceptualizovana kao izrazito složen i necentralizovan politički sistem nedržavnog tipa sa elementima konsensualne demokratije koji za osnovu ima duboko segmentirano društvo, ispresecano osim nacionalnim i mnogim transnacionalnim podelama. Unutar tog društva, kao i unutar političkih institucija, odvija se proces politizacije koja ima značajnog uticaja na funkcionisanje sistema. Rad nastoji da izuči iskustva politizacije drugih složenih, konsensualnih demokratija u Evropi – Belgije i Švajcarske – te poređenjem pojedinih slučajeva politizacije traga za posebnim karakteristikama politizacije u EU koje proističu iz njene opisane prirode, kao i o mogućem uticaju takve politizacije na budućnost integracije i politike u EU. Iako neće uvek doprineti produbljivanju integracije, politizacija u EU pod određenim uslovima može imati demokratizujući uticaj jer predstavlja način da se oživi rasprava o važnim pitanjima i artikuliše volja građana u nedostatku adekvatnih oblika učešća u političkom procesu EU. Dodatno, razmatra se potencijalni uticaj koji politizacija evropskih pitanja može da ima na postepeno kreiranje evropske javne sfere ili evropeizaciju nacionalnih javnih sfera, kao i na evropeizaciju društva i kreiranje evropskog političkog identiteta među građanima Unije.

The paper analyzes military capabilities of the European Union, as an important element of the credibility of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). It discusses the development of these capabilities, and main problems that go along with the operationalization of these capabilities, as well as the prospects of their further development. Is the intergovernmental approach to the area of the EU security and defense policy a barrier to the development of EU military capabilities? What is the extent of the harmonization between 'military' competences of the EU and national specificities? The paper aims to provide answers to these questions. The first section analyzes the institutionalization of the EU security and defense policy, which includes both the establishment of special political and military structures responsible for the decision-making process within the framework of this policy, and the adoption of specific goals for the development of EU military capabilities. The second section analyzes the main difficulties met in the operationalization of EU military capabilities, concerning the efficiency of decision-making procedures, lack of strategic capabilities, the discord of national reforms regarding the modernization of the armed forces, and duplication of national programs covering the military equipment. The third section discusses the prospects of the development of EU military capabilities in the light of EU member states' military budget cuts. It concludes that the gradual evolution of the EU security and defense policy can be seen as an incentive for coordinating the efforts of the member states in the development of EU military capabilities.

U ovom diplomskom radu na temu "Lisabonski ugovor i Europska unija" govorit ćemo o Ugovoru iz Lisabona kao jednom od Osnivačkih Ugovora Europske unije, ugovoru koji je posljednji donesen na razini Europske unije, ugovoru temeljem kojeg Europska unija u aktualnom obliku postoji te ugovoru koji je trenutno na snazi. Nakon osnovnih teza o Europskoj uniji (definiciji i nekim općim pojmovima), u prvom dijelu rada vidjet ćemo kako je došlo do Ugovora iz Lisabona, te koji su sve Osnivački Ugovori prethodili ovome koji je trenutno na snazi. U samoj razradi rada proći ćemo sve najvažnije aspekte Ugovora, te koliko se zapravo Europska unije mijenjala da bi došla do stanja kakvog je danas tj. po odredbama Ugovora iz Lisabona. Vidjet ćemo da put do Ugovora iz Lisabona nije bilo nimalo lagan, bio je trnovit, pun prepreka i protesta od pojedinih članica, posebice se to odnosi na neuspješni pokušaj Europskog Ustava koji je u pojedinim dijelovima Europe doveo čak i do kaosa. Da donošenje Ugovora nije bilo jednostavno ni bezbolno, dovoljno govori podatak da je, nakon što je potvrđen i ratificiran od strane Parlamenata svih 27 država članica potpisnika Ugovora, stupio na snagu tek dvije godine kasnije, 1. prosinca 2009. Razradom Lisabonskog ugovora praktički, dobit ćemo jedan mali prozor u to kako EU izgleda i funkcionira danas te što je to, u pozitivnom ili negativnom smislu, Europskoj uniji donio Lisabonski ugovor. ; In this dissertation on "Lisbon Treaty and the European Union" we will talk about the Treaty of Lisbon as one of the Founding Treaties of the European Union, the treaty last adopted at the level of the European Union, the treaty under which the European Union exists in its current form and which is currently in force. After the basic theses on the European Union (definition and some general terms), in the first part of the paper we will see how the Treaty of Lisbon came about, and which of the founding treaties preceded the one currently in force. In the elaboration of the paper, we will go through all the most important aspects of the Treaty, and how much the European Union has actually changed in order to reach the state it is today, ie according to the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon. We will see that the road to the Treaty of Lisbon was not easy at all, it was thorny, full of obstacles and protests from some members, especially the failed attempt of the European Constitution which in some parts of Europe even led to chaos. The fact that the adoption of the Treaty was not simple or painless is sufficiently indicated by the fact that, after being confirmed and ratified by the Parliaments of all 27 signatory Member States, it entered into force only two years later, on 1 December 2009. We will have a small window into how the EU looks and works today and what the Treaty of Lisbon has brought to the European Union, in a positive or negative sense.

U ovom diplomskom radu na temu "Lisabonski ugovor i Europska unija" govorit ćemo o Ugovoru iz Lisabona kao jednom od Osnivačkih Ugovora Europske unije, ugovoru koji je posljednji donesen na razini Europske unije, ugovoru temeljem kojeg Europska unija u aktualnom obliku postoji te ugovoru koji je trenutno na snazi. Nakon osnovnih teza o Europskoj uniji (definiciji i nekim općim pojmovima), u prvom dijelu rada vidjet ćemo kako je došlo do Ugovora iz Lisabona, te koji su sve Osnivački Ugovori prethodili ovome koji je trenutno na snazi. U samoj razradi rada proći ćemo sve najvažnije aspekte Ugovora, te koliko se zapravo Europska unije mijenjala da bi došla do stanja kakvog je danas tj. po odredbama Ugovora iz Lisabona. Vidjet ćemo da put do Ugovora iz Lisabona nije bilo nimalo lagan, bio je trnovit, pun prepreka i protesta od pojedinih članica, posebice se to odnosi na neuspješni pokušaj Europskog Ustava koji je u pojedinim dijelovima Europe doveo čak i do kaosa. Da donošenje Ugovora nije bilo jednostavno ni bezbolno, dovoljno govori podatak da je, nakon što je potvrđen i ratificiran od strane Parlamenata svih 27 država članica potpisnika Ugovora, stupio na snagu tek dvije godine kasnije, 1. prosinca 2009. Razradom Lisabonskog ugovora praktički, dobit ćemo jedan mali prozor u to kako EU izgleda i funkcionira danas te što je to, u pozitivnom ili negativnom smislu, Europskoj uniji donio Lisabonski ugovor. ; In this dissertation on "Lisbon Treaty and the European Union" we will talk about the Treaty of Lisbon as one of the Founding Treaties of the European Union, the treaty last adopted at the level of the European Union, the treaty under which the European Union exists in its current form and which is currently in force. After the basic theses on the European Union (definition and some general terms), in the first part of the paper we will see how the Treaty of Lisbon came about, and which of the founding treaties preceded the one currently in force. In the elaboration of the paper, we will go through all the most ...

Problem regionalnih razlika u Europskoj uniji je pitanje od prvorazredne gospodarske, političke i društvene važnosti. Sve zemlje članice su suočene s razlikama u stupnju razvijenosti.Različitost regija s prirodnog i društvenog aspekta predstavlja prednost za neku zemlju ukoliko se te razlike uspješno iskoriste. Te razlike, s ekonomske točke gledišta bi mogle ograničiti budući rast, a u političkoj dimenziji bi mogle povećati nestabilnost. Stoga se poticanje ujednačenog regionalnog razvoja može poistovjetiti s poticanjem gospodarskog razvoja u cjelini. Ulažući znatna sredstva Europska unija nastoji smanjiti ekonomske razlike na svom prostoru, a pitanje konvergencije zemalja članica ima važne političke i gospodarske implikacije. Cilj ovog rada je ukazati na problematiku ekonomskih razlika između europskih regija u svrhu mogućnosti jačanja njihovih ekonomskih potencijala. Radom se usporedbom relevantnih ekonomskih pokazatelja i izračunom koeficijenta varijacije ustanovila konvergencija između NUTS 2 europskih regija. ; The problem of regional disparities in the European Union is a matter of prime economic, political and social importance. All member states are faced with differences in level of development. The diversity of regions from the natural and social aspect can be advantage for a country if these differences are successfully used. These differences, from an economic point of view, could limit the future growth, and in the political dimension could increase instability. The promotion of a balanced regional development can be identifi ed with the promotion of general economic development. By investing signifi cant resources, the European Union seeks to reduce economic diff erences in its area. Convergence of member states has important political and economic implications for European Union. The aim of this paper is to point out the issue of economic diff erences between European regions for the purpose of strengthening their economic potential. By comparing the relevant economic indicators and calculating the disparities, the convergence between the NUTS 2 European regions has been proven.

Suradnja EU–a i Rusije pruža europskom kontinentu i šire mnoge prilike. Istočno partnerstvo predstavlja glavnu poveznicu ali i područje prepreka Rusije i EU–a jer dijele zajedničko susjedstvo sa zemljama koje nisu članice EU–a a niti žele biti pod kontinuiranim utjecajem Rusije. Za zemlje koje nisu članice EU–a, EU je razvila Europsku politiku susjedstva putem koje surađuje sa južnim i istočnim susjedima kako bi postigla blisku i stabilnu političku zajednicu i najviši mogući stupanj ekonomske integracije. Rusija nije članica ovog instrumenta već je s EU-om razvila četiri zajednička prostora, ekonomski prostor, prostor slobode, sigurnosti i pravde, prostor vanjske sigurnosti i prostor istraživanja i obrazovanja te kulturnih aspekata. Najvažnija područja suradnje EU–a i Rusije jesu ona u energetskom sektoru pri kojem ima usuglašen Akcijski plan do 2050. godine te suradnja u području znanosti, tehnologije i inovacija što je među glavnim prioritetima Europe 2020 te je Rusiji bitno i jačanje razvoja istraživačke infrastrukture. ; Cooperation between European Union and Russia offers plenty opportunities to European continent and beyond its boundaries. Eastern Partnership is the main connection but also a barrier of Russia and EU because of their common neighbourhood with countries which are not members of the EU, and also do not want to be under continuous Russian influence. For countries that are not members of the EU, European Union developed European Neighbourhood Policy which cooperates with South and East neighbours so it could achieve close and sustainable political community and the highest possible level of economic integration. Russia is not a member of this instrument but instead it developed four common spaces with EU, economic space, freedom, security and justice, external security and research and education, including cultural aspects. The most important areas of cooperation between the two sides are the one in energy sector with established Roadmap until 2050, cooperation in science, technology and ...

Suradnja EU–a i Rusije pruža europskom kontinentu i šire mnoge prilike. Istočno partnerstvo predstavlja glavnu poveznicu ali i područje prepreka Rusije i EU–a jer dijele zajedničko susjedstvo sa zemljama koje nisu članice EU–a a niti žele biti pod kontinuiranim utjecajem Rusije. Za zemlje koje nisu članice EU–a, EU je razvila Europsku politiku susjedstva putem koje surađuje sa južnim i istočnim susjedima kako bi postigla blisku i stabilnu političku zajednicu i najviši mogući stupanj ekonomske integracije. Rusija nije članica ovog instrumenta već je s EU-om razvila četiri zajednička prostora, ekonomski prostor, prostor slobode, sigurnosti i pravde, prostor vanjske sigurnosti i prostor istraživanja i obrazovanja te kulturnih aspekata. Najvažnija područja suradnje EU–a i Rusije jesu ona u energetskom sektoru pri kojem ima usuglašen Akcijski plan do 2050. godine te suradnja u području znanosti, tehnologije i inovacija što je među glavnim prioritetima Europe 2020 te je Rusiji bitno i jačanje razvoja istraživačke infrastrukture. ; Cooperation between European Union and Russia offers plenty opportunities to European continent and beyond its boundaries. Eastern Partnership is the main connection but also a barrier of Russia and EU because of their common neighbourhood with countries which are not members of the EU, and also do not want to be under continuous Russian influence. For countries that are not members of the EU, European Union developed European Neighbourhood Policy which cooperates with South and East neighbours so it could achieve close and sustainable political community and the highest possible level of economic integration. Russia is not a member of this instrument but instead it developed four common spaces with EU, economic space, freedom, security and justice, external security and research and education, including cultural aspects. The most important areas of cooperation between the two sides are the one in energy sector with established Roadmap until 2050, cooperation in science, technology and innovation which is included as the main priority of Europe 2020 and it is also important the development of the research infrastructure in Russia.

When in 2007, after the rejection of the Constitution for Europe in France and the Netherlands, European politicians defined their mandate to work on the Reform Treaty, they explicitly promised that 'the constitutional concept is . abandoned' and that 'the Treaty of European Union and Treaty on Functioning of the Union will not have a constitutional character.' In its Maastricht and Lisbon decisions, the German Federal Constitutional Court concluded that the European Union did not have a constitution since it did not have demos. The main purpose of this article is to prove the opposite. Accepting Weiler's argumentation that the EU is a political messianic venture par excellence, the author claims that, in addition to pursuing messianic goals, Europe's political elite has for a long time been streaming to root Political Messianism into democracy and position the EU in the global world. The main vehicle to transform the Community/Union from an international to a constitutional legal order has been constitutionalism. Starting from the French revolutionary Declaration, which declared civil rights and in Article 16 proclaimed 'a society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all,' the author has showed that the Union has an antirevolutionary, uncodified and evolutive constitution, whose elements are to be found in the Lisbon Treaty and its related documents, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice, and to some extent in the constitutional orders of the Member States. The European constitution does not mirror a national constitution in the sense that it is attributable to the people, nor it is a revolutionary product aimed at limiting the government in the name of individual freedom. It is a rule of law-oriented type of constitution, born in the process of constitutionalization and aimed at submitting public power to law on the Union level. From the perspective of modern constitutionalism, the quality of this constitution is a matter of concern, since it has managed to connect the rule of law with the protection of human rights, but has failed to do the same with regard to democracy. Despite some efforts to entrench the democratic principle in the Lisbon Treaty, the present crisis in the Union is to a great extent the result of this failure. The fact that democratic defects at the Union level appear less visible when pitted against the state of affairs in national constitutional systems cannot mitigate this failure. Yet, assuming that the EU will survive the present crisis and having in mind that the Union is 'work in progress', the issue which still remains open is whether the future efforts to eliminate the defects of the European Constitution should be tied to traditional ways of thinking about democratic accountability within nation states, or one should stop thinking in terms of a Westphalian nation-state, and accept that transnational systems can provide a cure for democratic failings in ways that differ from traditional postulates of democracy.

Ideja o nastanku jedne zajednice koja bi obuhvatila Europu seže daleko u prošlost, ali tek 1950. godine nastaju prvi koraci ka stvaranju Europske unije. Velika razaranja u ratovima nametnula su razmišljanja o tome kako nadići antagonizme među europskim državama. Nakon Drugog svjetskog rata, europske države shvaćaju da imaju zajedničke probleme i odlučuju se dobrovoljno udružiti u zajednicu kako bi stvorile bolju budućnost za nadolazeće generacije. Tako nastaje Europska zajednica za ugljen i čelik, koja se kasnije udružuje s Europskom ekonomskom zajednicom i Europskom zajednicom za atomsku energiju te se od 1993. godine formalno formira Europska unija pod tim nazivom. Sadrži veliki broj članica koje se povećavaju iz dana u dan. Osnovni cilj rada jest prikazati kakva je to zapravo bila ideja o osnivanju zajednica koje bi ujedinile Europu, kako je nastala Europska zajednica te kako se razvijala, prikazati ciljeve EU-a, kakve je promjene donijela u Europi te je li ispunila svoj prvobitni i najznačajniji cilj, a to je ujedinjenje Europe. ; The European Union represents the most significant segment of the European integration. The idea about its formation and the formation itself have a long history. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister – Robert Schuman, motivated by the need of establishing peace, presented a project as the beginning of the European federalization process or more clearly as the first step towards the European Federation. Under this influence, in 1952¸ European Coal and Steel Community was established. In the upcoming years, two more communities were founded – European Economic Community and European Community for Atomic Energy. The result of the cooperation and integration of these two communities is the European Union. Formally, it is established on the 1st of November, 1993 by the Maastricht Treaty. European Union is the result of a discussion on building the everlasting peace in this region. It was created as a consequence of fear from the internal and foreign threats to the safety of Europe. The main goals of the European integrations are: encouraging the balanced and tenable economic development; to confirm its identity on the international scene, especially by spreading common foreign and secure politics; to strengthen the protection of rights and interests of the citizens of its members by the introduction of the rights of Union citizenship; to develop a close cooperation in the field of judiciary and internal affairs. Political activities of the European Union can be seen in different spheres – from the health care and economics to the foreign affairs and defence politics. Depending on the development of every country individually, the organization of the European Union differs on different fields. European Union, as the organization that unites Europe and that represents an important segment in development of the international cooperation and the peacekeeping, has become a subject of a study and research of the international historiography. Today, the establishment and development of the European Union are being studied greatly, but also is a question whether it shows some indications of its disruption and disadvantages that could be the reasons of the EU falling apart. Therefore, thanks to many authors, a lot of work exists that talks about this. Is EU going to fall apart in the future - remains the question for which we will be able to find an answer only in days ahead of us.

Europska Unija je savez 27 zemalja članica te broji oko 500 milijuna stanovnika. Začetak Europske Unije smatra se 9. svibnja 1950. godine kada je Robert Schuman predložio osnivanje Europske zajednice za ugljen i čelik. Od tada do danas, EU broji ukupno 6 proširenja. Institucije i tijela Europske unije zajedno surađuju i donose odluke u svrhu formiranja i reguliranja odnosa unutar Unije. Ujedno sudjeluju u kreiranju proračuna koji služi za financiranje raznih politika i projekata u više aspekata (npr. obrazovanje, znanost, poljoprivreda i slično). Države članice europodručja također dijele i zajedničku valutu – euro. Republika Hrvatska najmlađa je članica Europske Unije, a pristupila je 2013. godine nakon nekoliko godina pregovora te niza uvjeta koje je uspješno ispunila na svom putu prema Uniji. Danas je ravnopravni član koji je u prvoj polovici 2020. godine predsjedao Vijećem Europske Unije, a preostaje joj preuzeti službenu valutu Europske Unije i pristupiti schengenskom prostoru. Europska unija ima velike planove za naredno razdoblje i svojim proračunom za budući višegodišnji financijski okvir pokriva puno aspekata koji su u potrebi za razvojem i financijskom pomoći, a radi i na uspješnom zbrinjavanju migranata i tražitelja azila te regulira zakonodavstvo vezano za migrante koji nemaju pravo ostati u EU. Ujedno svim naporima radi na oporavku gospodarstva nakon pandemije korona virusa koja je zadesila svijet početkom 2020. godine. ; European union is an alliance of 27 countries and has around 500 million residents. Birthday of the European union is considered to be May 9th 1950. when Robert Schuman suggested to form an European Coal and Steel Community. From that point on, European union had total of 6 enlargements. Institutions and bodies of European union work together and make decisions in order to form and regulate relationships inside of the Union. They work together to form a budget which will finance all kinds of policies and projects (i.e. education, science, agriculture.) States that are part of the ...