European economic integration is based on several more or less explicit political objectives that have been replaced as time went by: preventing the resumption of war on European soil, promoting the reconstruction of what was destroyed in the Second World War, establishing a barrier to Soviet expansionism, defend itself from American economic aggressiveness, establish itself as the third world economic power. The European Union has already surpassed the three initial degrees of integration: free trade area, customs union and common market and is very advanced in the process of economic union.

1 The fifteen countries of the European Union form a Free Trade Area. Quantitative and tariff barriers have completely disappeared for all products, health and technical regulations and administrative transport procedures are completely homogenized, so there is no barrier to the internal movement of goods and services. Customs and industrial duties were completely eliminated on July 1, 1968 among the six member countries of the European Communities at that time.

2 The fifteen countries of the European Union form a Customs Union. In its external trade, the EEC has applied, since 1968, a Tariff or Common External Tariff (TEC) for all industrial goods, agricultural products and services produced abroad. The EU maintains trade agreements with non-European countries that are especially important for the Mediterranean countries and the so-called ACP countries.

3 The fifteen countries of the European Union form a Single Market that guarantees the free movement of capital and people in the 15 Member States. Workers can be hired by companies under the same conditions regardless of their country of origin. There is freedom for professionals to establish themselves in the country they wish. Capital moves freely.

4 The twelve countries that have accepted the euro as their currency have formed a monetary union in which there is only one monetary authority and one monetary policy. The other countries adapt their monetary policies towards convergence with the euro. Regarding fiscal policy, we are very far from unity, but there is great coordination, with common budgetary discipline rules for all and homogeneous fiscal systems. The community budget still represents a very small percentage of the European product. There are specific common policies for Agriculture, Fisheries and Industry. Fiscal policy has objectives of social, sectoral and regional balance implemented through the Structural and Cohesion Funds. Question 1 Opinion on the European integration process. 2. Does our country Honduras have any type of integration with the European Union? 3. Is European Integration an example to be followed by other geographic sectors of the world? 4. Are there any benefits for our country by having relations with the countries of the European Union? 5. What is your opinion that they have a common currency (the Euro), will this be positive?

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1 I am in favor of the European integration process as it has brought peace stability and eco... View the full answer