Editing First World (section)

===European Union===
The most prominent example of globalization in the first world is the [[European Union]] (EU).<ref name=aucoin>{{cite web |last=Aucoin |first=Danielle |title=Globalization: The European Union as a Model |url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/euro/teachers/article.asp?parentid=23564 |year=2000 |access-date=27 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035737/http://www.international.ucla.edu/euro/teachers/article.asp?parentid=23564 |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> The European Union is an agreement in which countries voluntarily decide to build common governmental institutions to which they delegate some individual national sovereignty so that decisions can be made democratically on a higher level of common interest for Europe as a whole.<ref name=guide>{{cite web |title=The European Union: A Guide for Americans |url=http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=43 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531020012/http://eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=43 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 May 2008 |pages=2–3 |access-date=27 May 2017 }}</ref> The result is a union of 27 Member States covering {{convert|4233255.3|km2}} with roughly 450 million people. In total, the European Union produces almost a third of the world's gross national product and the member states speak more than 23 languages. All of the European Union countries are joined together by a hope to promote and extend peace, democracy, cooperativeness, stability, prosperity, and the rule of law.<ref name=guide/> In a 2007 speech, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations, said, "The future of the EU is linked to globalization...the EU has a crucial role to play in making globalization work properly...".<ref>{{cite web |title=Managing Globalization |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/503&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en |pages=1–2|access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> In a 2014 speech at the European Parliament, the Italian PM [[Matteo Renzi]] stated, "We are the ones who can bring civilization to globalization".<ref>[http://sanfranciscoitaly.com/post/90601178974/europe-as-an-expression-of-the-soul-prime-minister Europe as an expression of the soul, prime minister of Italy]</ref>

Just as the concept of the First World came about as a result of World War II, so did the European Union.<ref name=guide/> In 1951 the beginnings of the EU were founded with the creation of [[European Coal and Steel Community]] (ECSC). From the beginning of its inception, countries in the EU were judged by many standards, including economic ones. This is where the relation between globalization, the EU, and First World countries arises.<ref name=aucoin/> Especially during the 1990s when the EU focused on economic policies such as the creation and circulation of the [[Euro]], the creation of the [[European Monetary Institute]], and the opening of the [[European Central Bank]].<ref name=guide/>

In 1993, at the Copenhagen European Council, the European Union took a decisive step towards expanding the EU, what they called the Fifth Enlargement, agreeing that "the associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe that so desire shall become members of the European Union". Thus, enlargement was no longer a question of if, but when and how. The European Council stated that accession could occur when the prospective country is able to assume the obligations of membership, that is that all the economic and political conditions required are attained. Furthermore, it defined the membership criteria, which are regarded as the Copenhagen criteria, as follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=European Commission |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/enlargement_process/accession_process/criteria/index_en.htm |access-date=27 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828071626/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/enlargement_process/accession_process/criteria/index_en.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2006 }}</ref>

* stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities
* the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union
* the ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union

It is clear that all these criteria are characteristics of developed countries. Therefore, there is a direct link between globalization, developed nations, and the European Union.<ref name=aucoin/>