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Postwar Cooperation Reduced Conflict
- Postwar Europe created supranational institutions to rebuild economies and reduce war risk through interdependence.
- Economic cooperation replaced conflict by making states mutually dependent on trade and industry.
Customs Union Shifted Trade Incentives
- The EEC created a customs union that removed tariffs inside the club and placed uniform tariffs on outsiders.
- This structure strongly incentivised intra-European trade and discouraged external suppliers.
EU Gained Federal Features Without Being A State
- The EU added a parliament and lawmaking powers beyond the EEC, making it closer to a federal entity.
- It still differs from a nation-state in scope of enforcement, budgetary reach, and lack of head-of-state or standing military.