Asean as Regional Bloc?
“ASEAN on its way to becoming EU as a regional bloc”
Countries, usually the neighboring ones and those of which are in the same region, belong to a bloc. They organize or join these blocs because they have the same aims, purposes, and interests, may it be for economic or political reasons. Participating states are united by a treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action. Our world has a handful of blocs, but two of the most talked about is the European Union, better known as EU, and the Association of South East Asian Nations, or better known as ASEAN. Before we can find out if the two different blocs can be of the same kind someday, let us first know what these two blocs are all about and how they managed to get where they stand today. Let us begin with the European Union. The European Union was established during the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which was at 1952, making this a post World War II event. It was first established as the European Coal and Steel Community, or ECSC, and its goal was to regulate the European industry, and improve commerce. The ECSC’s founding fathers were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. 5 years later, two communities were formed during the signing of the Treaty of Rome. These were the European Economic Community, or EEC, and the European Atomic Energy Community, or Euroatom. After 10 years of collaborating with each other, the 3 communities were merged to form the basis of the European Community. The member states continued to grow in number as the years passed by. Come 1992, when the Maastricht Treaty was ratified, the European Community was then rechartered as the European Union. The EU is run by five important institutions, and just like any other, each part plays a specific role. First is the European Parliament, which is elected by the people of the member state; next is the Council of the Union, which is composed of the government of the member state; third is the driving force
Countries, usually the neighboring ones and those of which are in the same region, belong to a bloc. They organize or join these blocs because they have the same aims, purposes, and interests, may it be for economic or political reasons. Participating states are united by a treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action. Our world has a handful of blocs, but two of the most talked about is the European Union, better known as EU, and the Association of South East Asian Nations, or better known as ASEAN. Before we can find out if the two different blocs can be of the same kind someday, let us first know what these two blocs are all about and how they managed to get where they stand today. Let us begin with the European Union. The European Union was established during the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which was at 1952, making this a post World War II event. It was first established as the European Coal and Steel Community, or ECSC, and its goal was to regulate the European industry, and improve commerce. The ECSC’s founding fathers were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. 5 years later, two communities were formed during the signing of the Treaty of Rome. These were the European Economic Community, or EEC, and the European Atomic Energy Community, or Euroatom. After 10 years of collaborating with each other, the 3 communities were merged to form the basis of the European Community. The member states continued to grow in number as the years passed by. Come 1992, when the Maastricht Treaty was ratified, the European Community was then rechartered as the European Union. The EU is run by five important institutions, and just like any other, each part plays a specific role. First is the European Parliament, which is elected by the people of the member state; next is the Council of the Union, which is composed of the government of the member state; third is the driving force
References: http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/asean2011/backgrounder.htm http://www.buzzom.com/2009/10/asean-to-become-eu-style-bloc/ http://www.bt.com.bn/business-national/2010/09/01/asean-will-never-be-eu-yeo http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/15/2011-more-work-less-talk.html ASEAN Today and Tomorrow, Selected Speeches of Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr.