Building the New European Order When World War II ended, the last remnants of the old European order lay in ruins. With such devastation wreaked on the continent twice in less than fifty years, it is remarkable that Europe has managed to recover. What is even more remarkable is the Phoenix rising from these ashes and the new feelings of unity that accompanied the end of the war. Those Western European nations began to do what had been unthinkable decades ago: develop plans for a common system of United Europe. Today this European Union is a growing region, an area where economic and social progress is finally overcoming centuries of difficulties. conflicts and difficulties. The dream of countless conquerors and idealists has finally been realized with exemplary results, and new nations are now lining up at Europe's gates to join this Union. It seems natural now to improve the Union in the best possible way, through the physical enlargement of its territory. The progress represented by the EU is progress that deserves to be shared with the citizens of all European nations, but on what scale? While current EU leaders are more than ready to invite other nations to join the EU, they fail to give due consideration to the future, of how this could diminish the European identity and the work that has only been stimulated by two destructive world wars. When we think of European identity, we think first of the continent's most famous nations. Germany, England, Spain, France, Italy all come to mind as major European nations. Furthermore, they share a common history, bonds of struggle and conflict through which they have all suffered together and are now emerging stronger. Yet, while the Union pushes each… to the middle of the paper… from overheating. This is a job that many have proven incapable of doing. By working together, perhaps Europe can find a perfect balance. Maybe he won't. Time will only show the result of this effort. Perhaps such expansion will produce a larger and more powerful Europe faster than any of us could have imagined, and those who doubted such rapid growth will be proven wrong. Or perhaps it will produce a weaker Europe, a Europe plagued by trying to prop up less productive provinces as the continent struggles to be ever more competitive. Or it could even cause the EU to stunt growth as small nations enter and soon leave, feeling that the Union's massive bureaucracy cannot keep up with their demands as a growing nation. Only one thing is certain: the next century of European history will certainly be very interesting.