Subsequent developments such as the 1987 Single European Act and the 1992 Maastricht Treaty have furthered the development of European integration. The purview of the European Union now reaches far beyond the realm of coal and steel. It addresses a wide variety of products such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, computer products and textiles. It also regulates environmental standards, health regulations, consumer protection, and regional development. Today, the European Union is at the threshold of a new era.
European citizens share a common passport.
European countries share a common foreign and security policy. Indeed, we have reached the stage where the United States of Europe is no longer a vision but a reality. The course is divided into four sections. Part I provides the legal and institutional framework of the European Union. Part III examines specific European policies including environmental protection and social policy.