Some forms of political unity in Europe before the advent of the European Union

Due to its geographical location and its culture and economy, Europe has neverbeen a closed or isolated area from the rest of the world. Since antiquity, the first forms of government in Europe have proven economic, cultural and spiritual openness. The openness is partially the result of the geographical and cultural specificity of Europe. This openness led to the appearance and development of major trade routes of antiquity. The development of the trade routes resulted in the development of economy and has strengthened the economic and cultural relations among the European nations. To the closeness of the European states contributed the diversity of natural resources, soil fertility and the deepening social division of labour. The first attempts of association and alliance of European states are lost in the mists of time. A first step in the development of legal rules related to public international law was the occurrence of the first interstate military alliance. Concluding alliances using international treaties or agreements proved necessary to resolve international disputes. Countries in Europe have been associates and “friends” in one way or another in order to avoid wars. Leaders of European countries and thinkers of the time conceived the idea of "building" a federation of states or a large European country to avoid any war