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European Union: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox country|name=European Union|native_name=|image_flag=Flag_of_the_European_Union.svg|population_estimate=447,007,596|population_estimate_year=2022|currency=euro (€)|area_km2=4,233,262|image_map=European_Union_map.svg|map_width=290|largest_city=[[Paris]]|mode_of_production=[[Capitalism]]|government_type=Plutocratic confederation|established_event1=[[Treaty of Maastricht]]|established_date1=1 November 1993}}
{{Infobox country|name=European Union|native_name=|image_flag=Flag_of_the_European_Union.svg|population_estimate=447,007,596|population_estimate_year=2022|currency=euro (€)|area_km2=4,233,262|image_map=European_Union_map.svg|map_width=290|capital=[[Brussels]] <i>(seat of principal EU institutions)</i><br/>[[Berlin]]<i> (Capital of the leading state, [[Germany]])</i>|largest_city=[[Paris]]|mode_of_production=[[Imperialist]] [[Capitalism]]|government_type=Plutocratic confederation|leader_title1=President of the European Council|leader_name1=Charles Michel|leader_title2=President of the Commission|leader_name2=Ursula von der Leyen|
| established_event1     = [[Treaty of Brussels]]
| established_date1      = 17 March 1948
| established_event2    = [[Treaty of Paris (1951)|Treaty of Paris]]
| established_date2      = 18 April 1951
| established_event3    = '''[[Treaty of Rome]]'''
| established_date3      = 1 January 1958
| established_event4    = [[Single European Act]]
| established_date4      = 1 July 1987
| established_event5    = <span style=white-space:nowrap;>'''[[Maastricht Treaty|Treaty of Maastricht]]'''</span><!-- NOTE: [[Template:Nowrap]] is ignored on mobile. -->
| established_date5      = 1 November 1993
| established_event6    = [[Treaty of Lisbon]]
| established_date6      = 1 December 2009}}


The '''European Union''' ('''EU''') is a [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] political and economic union of 27 [[Europe|European]] countries established in 1993.<ref>{{Citation|author=Matthew J. Gabel|year=1998|title=European Union|title-url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> In 2006, it provided €600,000 of funding to the [[Fascism|fascist]] [[Alliance for Peace and Freedom]].<ref>{{News citation|date=2016-05-12|title=€600,000 for Hitler's political descendants: How the EU funds Neo-Nazi Parties|url=https://www.idcommunism.com/2016/05/600000-for-hitlers-political.html?m=1|newspaper=In Defense of Communism|retrieved=2022-03-29}}</ref> The entire European Union voted in favor of [[Nazism]] in a 2022 [[United Nations|UN]] resolution.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Eric Zuesse|newspaper=Countercurrents|title=U.S. and Allies Vote For Nazism at U.N.|date=2022-11-07|url=https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/u-s-and-allies-vote-for-nazism-at-u-n/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109134223/https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/u-s-and-allies-vote-for-nazism-at-u-n/|archive-date=2022-11-09|retrieved=2022-11-13}}</ref>
The '''European Union''' ('''EU''') is a [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] political and economic union of 27 [[Europe|European]] countries established in 1993.<ref>{{Citation|author=Matthew J. Gabel|year=1998|title=European Union|title-url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>  


== History ==
== History ==
Line 8: Line 20:
In 1910, [[Gerhard Hildebrand]], an [[Opportunism|opportunist]] and [[Imperialism|imperialist]], proposed a creating a United States of Western Europe that would exclude [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russia]] and organize military actions against [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|China]], [[Empire of Japan (1868–1947)|Japan]], [[Africa|African]] [[Anti-colonialism|freedom fighters]], and [[Islam|Islamists]].<ref>{{Citation|author=[[Vladimir Lenin]]|year=1916|title=Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism|chapter=Parasitism and Decay of Capitalism|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch08.htm|city=[[Moscow]]|publisher=Progress Publishers|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/index.htm}}</ref>
In 1910, [[Gerhard Hildebrand]], an [[Opportunism|opportunist]] and [[Imperialism|imperialist]], proposed a creating a United States of Western Europe that would exclude [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russia]] and organize military actions against [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|China]], [[Empire of Japan (1868–1947)|Japan]], [[Africa|African]] [[Anti-colonialism|freedom fighters]], and [[Islam|Islamists]].<ref>{{Citation|author=[[Vladimir Lenin]]|year=1916|title=Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism|chapter=Parasitism and Decay of Capitalism|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch08.htm|city=[[Moscow]]|publisher=Progress Publishers|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/index.htm}}</ref>


The [[European Economic Community]], founded in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, directly preceded the EU.
The [[European Economic Community]], founded in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, directly preceded the EU.<ref name=":1" />


=== Founding and expansion ===
=== Founding and expansion ===
The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, shortly after the [[Overthrow of the Soviet Union|dissolution of the Soviet Union]], and came into effect in 1993. During the 1990s and 2000s, the EU expanded into [[Eastern Europe]].
The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, shortly after the [[Overthrow of the Soviet Union|dissolution of the Soviet Union]], and came into effect in 1993. During the 1990s and 2000s, the EU expanded into [[Eastern Europe]].<ref name=":1" />


=== Brexit ===
=== Brexit ===
In 2016, the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]] left the European Union.<ref>{{Citation|author=Costas Lapavitsas|year=2019|title=The Left Case against the EU|title-url=https://b-ok.cc/book/5595717/9b7881|page=10–29|city=Cambridge|publisher=Polity Press|isbn=9781509531080}}</ref>
{{Main article|Brexit}}
In 2016, the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]] voted to leave the European Union.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|author=Costas Lapavitsas|year=2019|title=The Left Case against the EU|title-url=https://annas-archive.org/md5/76c71c35e80b3703ce2dd8aa6ca45e5b|page=10–29|city=Cambridge|publisher=Polity Press|isbn=9781509531080}}</ref>


== Anti-communism ==
== Political Positions ==
 
=== Nazi apologia ===
The entire European Union voted in favor of [[Nazism]] in a 2022 [[United Nations|UN]] resolution, claiming it was "because the [[Russian Federation]] is using Nazism to justify its [[2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict|invasion]] of [[Ukraine]]".<ref>{{Web citation|author=Eric Zuesse|newspaper=Countercurrents|title=U.S. and Allies Vote For Nazism at U.N.|date=2022-11-07|url=https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/u-s-and-allies-vote-for-nazism-at-u-n/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109134223/https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/u-s-and-allies-vote-for-nazism-at-u-n/|archive-date=2022-11-09|retrieved=2022-11-13}}</ref>
 
=== Islamophobia ===
Top EU officials allow burning the Quran in order to incite [[Islamophobia|hatred against Muslims]] and distract from domestic failures.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Ramzy Baroud|newspaper=[[MintPress News]]|title=Burning the Quran and the Counter-Offensive: Why the West Is Panicking|date=2023-07-10|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/burning-quran-counter-offensive-west-panicking/285240/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712173258/https://www.mintpressnews.com/burning-quran-counter-offensive-west-panicking/285240/|archive-date=2023-07-12}}</ref>
 
=== Anti-Communism ===
In 2019, the EU passed a resolution equating [[communism]] and fascism as forms of "[[totalitarianism]]." The [[Communist Party of Greece|KKE]], [[Portuguese Communist Party|PCP]], and [[Italian Communist Party (2016)|Italian Communist Party]] condemned the resolution.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Muhammed Shabeer|newspaper=[[Peoples Dispatch]]|title=European Parliament’s anti-communist resolution draws widespread criticism|date=2019-09-27|url=https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/09/27/european-parliaments-anti-communist-resolution-draws-widespread-criticism/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318170959/https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/09/27/european-parliaments-anti-communist-resolution-draws-widespread-criticism/|archive-date=2022-03-18|retrieved=2022-09-09}}</ref>
In 2019, the EU passed a resolution equating [[communism]] and fascism as forms of "[[totalitarianism]]." The [[Communist Party of Greece|KKE]], [[Portuguese Communist Party|PCP]], and [[Italian Communist Party (2016)|Italian Communist Party]] condemned the resolution.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Muhammed Shabeer|newspaper=[[Peoples Dispatch]]|title=European Parliament’s anti-communist resolution draws widespread criticism|date=2019-09-27|url=https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/09/27/european-parliaments-anti-communist-resolution-draws-widespread-criticism/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318170959/https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/09/27/european-parliaments-anti-communist-resolution-draws-widespread-criticism/|archive-date=2022-03-18|retrieved=2022-09-09}}</ref>


== Imperialism ==
=== Pro-Imperialism ===
In a 2022 speech, [[Josep Borrell]], the EU's top foreign policy official, promoted [[colonialism]] and called the rest of the world a "jungle." He also advocated for regime change in [[Russian Federation|Russia]] to install a pro-Western government.<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Multipolarista]]|title=In neocolonial rant, EU says Europe is ‘garden’ superior to rest of world’s barbaric ‘jungle’|date=2022-10-15|url=https://multipolarista.com/2022/10/15/eu-europe-garden-jungle/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021045305/https://multipolarista.com/2022/10/15/eu-europe-garden-jungle/|archive-date=2022-10-21|retrieved=2022-10-22}}</ref>
In a 2022 speech, [[Josep Borrell]], the EU's top foreign policy official, promoted [[colonialism]] and called the rest of the world a "jungle." He also advocated for regime change in [[Russian Federation|Russia]] to install a pro-Western government.<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Multipolarista]]|title=In neocolonial rant, EU says Europe is ‘garden’ superior to rest of world’s barbaric ‘jungle’|date=2022-10-15|url=https://multipolarista.com/2022/10/15/eu-europe-garden-jungle/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021045305/https://multipolarista.com/2022/10/15/eu-europe-garden-jungle/|archive-date=2022-10-21|retrieved=2022-10-22}}</ref>


== Border ==
The EU has censored [[RT (TV Network)|RT]] and other Russian media outlets.<ref name=":0" />
 
== Foreign Policy ==
 
=== Borders ===
Over 40,000 people have died trying to cross the border of the European Union,<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=Abolish Frontex|title=Frontex|url=https://abolishfrontex.org/frontex/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515035947/https://abolishfrontex.org/frontex/|archive-date=2022-05-15|retrieved=2022-06-10}}</ref> and the EU has constructed nearly 1,000 km of border walls since its founding. By 2027, [[European Border and Coast Guard Agency|Frontex]], the EU's border police, aims to have 10,000 armed guards.<ref>{{News citation|author=Ainhoa Ruiz Benedicto, Pere Brunet|newspaper=Transnational Institute|title=Building walls|date=2018-11-09|url=https://www.tni.org/en/publication/building-walls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515040207/https://www.tni.org/en/publication/building-walls|archive-date=2022-05-15|retrieved=2022-06-10}}</ref>
Over 40,000 people have died trying to cross the border of the European Union,<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=Abolish Frontex|title=Frontex|url=https://abolishfrontex.org/frontex/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515035947/https://abolishfrontex.org/frontex/|archive-date=2022-05-15|retrieved=2022-06-10}}</ref> and the EU has constructed nearly 1,000 km of border walls since its founding. By 2027, [[European Border and Coast Guard Agency|Frontex]], the EU's border police, aims to have 10,000 armed guards.<ref>{{News citation|author=Ainhoa Ruiz Benedicto, Pere Brunet|newspaper=Transnational Institute|title=Building walls|date=2018-11-09|url=https://www.tni.org/en/publication/building-walls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515040207/https://www.tni.org/en/publication/building-walls|archive-date=2022-05-15|retrieved=2022-06-10}}</ref>
=== Funding of Fascists ===
In 2006, it provided €600,000 of funding to the [[Fascism|fascist]] [[Alliance for Peace and Freedom]].<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=In Defense of Communism|title=€600,000 for Hitler's political descendants: How the EU funds Neo-Nazi Parties|date=2016-05-12|url=https://www.idcommunism.com/2016/05/600000-for-hitlers-political.html?m=1|retrieved=2022-03-29}}</ref>
== Member states ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!State
!Accession to EU
!Accession to EU predecessor
!MEPs
!People/MEP
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Austria.svg}} [[Republic of Austria|Austria]]
|1 January 1995
|
|19
|472575
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Belgium.svg}} [[Kingdom of Belgium|Belgium]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|21
|553220
|-
|{{Flagicon|Bulgarian flag.png}} [[Republic of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]]
|1 January 2007
|
|17
|402290
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Croatia.svg}} [[Republic of Croatia|Croatia]]
|1 July 2013
|
|12
|321859
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Cyprus.svg}} [[Republic of Cyprus|Cyprus]]
|1 May 2004
|
|6
|150784
|-
|{{Flagicon|Czech flag.png}} [[Czech Republic]]
|1 May 2004
|
|21
|500796
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Denmark.png}} [[Kingdom of Denmark|Denmark]]
|Founder (1993)
|1 January 1973
|14
|419530
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Estonia.svg}} [[Republic of Estonia|Estonia]]
|1 May 2004
|
|7
|190257
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Finland.svg}} [[Republic of Finland|Finland]]
|1 January 1995
|
|14
|396303
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of France.svg}} [[French Republic|France]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|79
|859138
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Germany.svg}} [[Federal Republic of Germany|Germany]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|96
|867053
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Greece.svg}} [[Hellenic Republic|Greece]]
|Founder (1993)
|1 January 1981
|21
|498085
|-
|{{Flagicon|Hungarian flag.png}} [[Hungary]]
|1 May 2004
|
|21
|461381
|-
|{{Flagicon|Irish flag.png.png}} [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|Founder (1993)
|1 January 1973
|13
|389231
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Italy.svg}} [[Italian Republic|Italy]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|76
|776712
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Latvia.svg}} [[Republic of Latvia|Latvia]]
|1 May 2004
|
|8
|234470
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Lithuania.svg}} [[Republic of Lithuania|Lithuania]]
|1 May 2004
|
|11
|255091
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Luxembourg.png}} [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|6
|107566
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Malta.svg}} [[Republic of Malta|Malta]]
|1 May 2004
|
|6
|86829
|-
|{{Flagicon|Dutch flag.png}} [[Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
|Founder (1993)
|23 July 1952
|29
|606575
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Poland.svg}} [[Republic of Poland|Poland]]
|1 May 2004
|
|52
|724120
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Portugal.svg}} [[Portuguese Republic|Portugal]]
|Founder (1993)
|1 January 1986
|21
|492954
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Romania.png}} [[Romania]]
|1 January 2007
|
|33
|577044
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Slovakia.svg}} [[Slovak Republic|Slovakia]]
|1 May 2004
|
|14
|388194
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Slovenia.svg}} [[Republic of Slovenia|Slovenia]]
|1 May 2004
|
|8
|263398
|-
|{{Flagicon|Spanish flag.png}} [[Kingdom of Spain|Spain]]
|Founder (1993)
|1 January 1986
|59
|803947
|-
|{{Flagicon|Flag of Sweden.svg}} [[Kingdom of Sweden|Sweden]]
|1 January 1995
|
|21
|497730
|}


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 18:53, 13 March 2024

European Union
Flag of European Union
Flag
Location of European Union
CapitalBrussels (seat of principal EU institutions)
Berlin (Capital of the leading state, Germany)
Largest cityParis
Dominant mode of productionImperialist Capitalism
GovernmentPlutocratic confederation
• President of the European Council
Charles Michel
• President of the Commission
Ursula von der Leyen
History
17 March 1948
18 April 1951
1 January 1958
1 July 1987
1 November 1993
1 December 2009
Area
• Total
4,233,262 km²
Population
• 2022 estimate
447,007,596
Currencyeuro (€)


The European Union (EU) is a neoliberal political and economic union of 27 European countries established in 1993.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Predecessors[edit | edit source]

In 1910, Gerhard Hildebrand, an opportunist and imperialist, proposed a creating a United States of Western Europe that would exclude Russia and organize military actions against China, Japan, African freedom fighters, and Islamists.[2]

The European Economic Community, founded in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, directly preceded the EU.[3]

Founding and expansion[edit | edit source]

The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and came into effect in 1993. During the 1990s and 2000s, the EU expanded into Eastern Europe.[3]

Brexit[edit | edit source]

See main article: Brexit

In 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.[3]

Political Positions[edit | edit source]

Nazi apologia[edit | edit source]

The entire European Union voted in favor of Nazism in a 2022 UN resolution, claiming it was "because the Russian Federation is using Nazism to justify its invasion of Ukraine".[4]

Islamophobia[edit | edit source]

Top EU officials allow burning the Quran in order to incite hatred against Muslims and distract from domestic failures.[5]

Anti-Communism[edit | edit source]

In 2019, the EU passed a resolution equating communism and fascism as forms of "totalitarianism." The KKE, PCP, and Italian Communist Party condemned the resolution.[6]

Pro-Imperialism[edit | edit source]

In a 2022 speech, Josep Borrell, the EU's top foreign policy official, promoted colonialism and called the rest of the world a "jungle." He also advocated for regime change in Russia to install a pro-Western government.[7]

The EU has censored RT and other Russian media outlets.[5]

Foreign Policy[edit | edit source]

Borders[edit | edit source]

Over 40,000 people have died trying to cross the border of the European Union,[8] and the EU has constructed nearly 1,000 km of border walls since its founding. By 2027, Frontex, the EU's border police, aims to have 10,000 armed guards.[9]

Funding of Fascists[edit | edit source]

In 2006, it provided €600,000 of funding to the fascist Alliance for Peace and Freedom.[10]

Member states[edit | edit source]

State Accession to EU Accession to EU predecessor MEPs People/MEP
Austria 1 January 1995 19 472575
Belgium Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 21 553220
Bulgaria 1 January 2007 17 402290
Croatia 1 July 2013 12 321859
Cyprus 1 May 2004 6 150784
Czech Republic 1 May 2004 21 500796
Denmark Founder (1993) 1 January 1973 14 419530
Estonia 1 May 2004 7 190257
Finland 1 January 1995 14 396303
France Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 79 859138
Germany Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 96 867053
Greece Founder (1993) 1 January 1981 21 498085
Hungary 1 May 2004 21 461381
Ireland Founder (1993) 1 January 1973 13 389231
Italy Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 76 776712
Latvia 1 May 2004 8 234470
Lithuania 1 May 2004 11 255091
Luxembourg Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 6 107566
Malta 1 May 2004 6 86829
Netherlands Founder (1993) 23 July 1952 29 606575
Poland 1 May 2004 52 724120
Portugal Founder (1993) 1 January 1986 21 492954
Romania 1 January 2007 33 577044
Slovakia 1 May 2004 14 388194
Slovenia 1 May 2004 8 263398
Spain Founder (1993) 1 January 1986 59 803947
Sweden 1 January 1995 21 497730

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Matthew J. Gabel (1998). European Union. Encyclopedia Britannica.
  2. ↑ Vladimir Lenin (1916). Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism: 'Parasitism and Decay of Capitalism'. Moscow: Progress Publishers. [MIA]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Costas Lapavitsas (2019). The Left Case against the EU (pp. 10–29). Cambridge: Polity Press. ISBN 9781509531080
  4. ↑ Eric Zuesse (2022-11-07). "U.S. and Allies Vote For Nazism at U.N." Countercurrents. Archived from the original on 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ramzy Baroud (2023-07-10). "Burning the Quran and the Counter-Offensive: Why the West Is Panicking" MintPress News. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12.
  6. ↑ Muhammed Shabeer (2019-09-27). "European Parliament’s anti-communist resolution draws widespread criticism" Peoples Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  7. ↑ Ben Norton (2022-10-15). "In neocolonial rant, EU says Europe is ‘garden’ superior to rest of world’s barbaric ‘jungle’" Multipolarista. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  8. ↑ "Frontex". Abolish Frontex. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  9. ↑ Ainhoa Ruiz Benedicto, Pere Brunet (2018-11-09). "Building walls" Transnational Institute. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  10. ↑ "€600,000 for Hitler's political descendants: How the EU funds Neo-Nazi Parties" (2016-05-12). In Defense of Communism. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
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