ESPRESSO T.V.

Europe: The Road To Unity

1 x 52'

1945. The guns finally fell silent all over Europe after a nightmare lasting 5 years. Europe was in ruins. Nationalism had been taken to extremes and had torn the whole continent apart, causing the death of 40 million people. A few men of vision - Monnet, Schuman, Gasperi, Adenauer, Spaak and Churchill, expressed the hope that all nations of Europe could be united and move forward together. A new European initiative had begun. 

As a result, in 1957 the European Economic Community was created which marked the next major step forward in the history of the continent. From an original group of 6 members the community has since grown and now consists of 15 member states encompassing a total population of 373 million Europeans. 

In 1992 the community became known as the European Union under the Maastricht treaty. The aim of the treaty was to further strengthen the ties linking all citizens of the member states. 

On 1st January 2002 a common currency will be introduced in twelve countries. The adoption of the Euro will radically change the lives of millions of Europeans. But it is just one step more towards making the dream of a handful of men, half a century ago, become a reality. A dream which will change the destiny of a whole continent for ever.