You can divide the history of the EU into two phases. The first phase, the EEC, was essentially just a free trade agreement involving a minority of the countries within Europe. It had two very clear objectives: (a) to promote the reconstruction of European economies after the disaster of World War II in order to fend off communism; and (b) to provide a solution to the problem of the overmighty German state. It was an unqualified success.
Phase two, the EU phase, has been more of a mixed bag. In this phase, pan-European institutions were both deepened (to involve more common governmental functions), and widened (to encompass far more countries). The objectives of this were less clear, but included: (a) to create a soft power counterweight to the US and Russia; (b) to promote additional economic growth through the free movement of people, goods, and services; (c) to promote liberal democratic values; and (d) to provide a mechanism for the resolution of disputes among its members, and thus to avoid future damaging wars.
This phase has been marked by some very notable failures. The euro brought some economic benefits, but, on the whole, has done more harm than good. Immigration is a festering sore that continues to threaten to tear the EU apart. Liberal democracy is a thing of the past in several of the central European countries. “Ever closer union” is no longer viewed as a desirable end in and of itself by much of the population.
Where is the EU likely to go from here? I will be discussing that topic throughout the week.