Page 157 - SEVEN STEPS for COMPREHENDING the EUROPEAN UNION

156 / SEVEN STEPS FOR COMPREHENDING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Netherlands, rejected the draft constitution of the United Europe
133
which saw the EU as a more consolidated political union. In 2008,
Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty, although a year later, a second
referendum approved the treaty. In 2016, UK citizens voted in favor of
leaving the EU and consequently in 2020 the UK left the Union. The EU
experienced a few financial crises the last of which almost cost Greece
leaving the Eurozone in 2015. There have been contradicting positions
among member states with regard to some important international
topics: Kosovo independence, relations with the Russian Federation,
trans-Atlantic ties, EU enlargement, the management of migration
policies and the rule of law violations in some EU member states, etc.
Despite such complications, the European Union remains an
extremely attractive political and economic center of gravity for
European as well as non-European neighbors. The reason behind such
an attraction is that the Union ensured peace, wellbeing and progress
for its citizens through ensuring the protection of their political,
economic and social rights. It is easy to readily name dozens of practical
examples which may back this opinion:
From the peace and security viewpoint, the EU ensured the longest-
lasting peace in Europe without war and military confrontations. For
this accomplishment, the Union was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in
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2013.
The foundations for the economic welfare of EU citizens have
been put in place by establishing the single market. It rests upon four
freedoms: free movement of goods, capital, services and people. These
freedoms enable EU citizens to carry out trade and entrepreneurship
activities without technical or bureaucratic barriers as well as to live,
study, work and retire in accordance with their needs and interests in
any EU member state.
Currently, the EU continues taking bold steps to further develop
the internal market through building single digital and capital markets.
133 Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
https://europa.eu/european-union/sites/default/files/docs/body/treaty_
establishing_a_constitution_for_europe_en.pdf
134 European Union receives Nobel Peace Prize 2012
https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/history/2010-2019/2012/eu-nobel_en