Classification as

Profile of the Regional Economic Integration Specific Goals Member Countries The Rich North/
The Poor South
1. European Union
The European Union (EU) 1. Austria Rich North:
Date Founded: is a group of countries working 2. Belgium Austria, Belgium,
November 1, 1993 together to improve the lives of 3. Bulgaria Denmark, Finland, France,
its members. They promote 4. Croatia Germany, Ireland,
Membership: peace, freedom, and fairness, 5. Cyprus Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Becoming a member of the European allowing people to live, work, 6. Czech Republic Sweden, Cyprus, Czech
Union (EU) involves a multi-step process and travel easily between 7. Denmark Republic, Estonia, Greece,
known as accession. The aspiring country countries. The EU focuses on a 8. Estonia Italy, Malta, Portugal,
expresses its interest to the European strong economy that protects 9. Finland Slovenia, and Spain are
Commission and must meet the Copenhagen the environment and provides 10. France considered part of the
Criteria, which assesses factors like stable equal opportunities for 11. Germany Rich North.
institutions, a functioning economy, and the everyone. They also value 12. Greece
ability to adopt EU laws. The European diversity and unity, celebrating 13. Hungary These countries have high
Commission conducts a thorough screening different cultures and 14. Ireland economic development,
process to evaluate the country's readiness. If languages. Lastly, the 15. Italy strong infrastructure,
successful, negotiations begin on the terms and introduction of the euro shows 16. Latvia advanced healthcare and
conditions of accession, culminating in the their shared goals and unity. 17. Lithuania education, and higher GDP
ratification of an accession treaty by both the 18. Luxembourg per capita.
aspiring country and existing EU member 19. Malta
states. During a transition period, the aspiring 20. Netherlands
country aligns its laws with EU standards and 21. Poland
implements necessary reforms. Finally, after 22. Portugal
completing the transition period, the aspiring 23. Romania Poor South:
country becomes an EU member state, with all 24. Slovakia Bulgaria, Croatia,
the rights and obligations that come with 25. Slovenia Hungary, Latvia,
membership. 26. Spain Lithuania, Poland,
27. Sweden Romania, and Slovakia are
Treaties: categorized as the Poor
Treaty of Paris (1951) South.
Treaty of Rome (1957)
Merger Treaty (1965) They have lower economic
Single European Act (1986) development, lower GDP
Maastricht Treaty (1992) per capita, and face
Amsterdam Treaty (1997) challenges with
Nice Treaty (2001) infrastructure, income
Lisbon Treaty (2007) inequality, and social
welfare.
One Significant Treaty where these REIs are
involved: TREATY OF ROME

Back in 1957, an agreement of the Treaty

of Rome has been signed and have become the
laying foundation for what is now recognized
as the European Union (EU). The idea was to
make sure countries in Europe could easily
share products, services, money, and even let
people move freely between them. This helped
countries work together better, boosted their
economies, and made Europe a tighter, more
successful. It's pretty much why Europe is such
a strong, united today.

2. African Union
The African Union (AU) 1. Algeria
Date Founded: has a comprehensive set of 2. Angola
May 26, 2001 goals aimed at transforming 3. Benin
Africa into a prosperous, 4. Botswana
Membership: integrated, and influential 5. Burkina Faso
To join the African Union (AU), a state continent. This include 6. Burundi
must be located in Africa and submit an eradicating poverty, promoting 7. Cabo Verde
application showing its dedication to the AU's inclusive economic growth and 8. Cameroon
principles. The application is reviewed by the sustainable development, 9. Central African
AU Commission and current member states. strengthening political and Republic
Approval requires a consensus or a two-thirds economic integration among 10. Chad
majority vote by the Assembly of Heads of African states, upholding 11. Comoros
State and Government. Once admitted, the new democratic values and human 12. Democratic
member participates in AU activities and rights, maintaining peace and Republic of the Congo
decision-making, contributing to the security, preserving cultural 13. Republic of the
continent's unity, peace, and development. heritage and identity, Congo
empowering women and youth, 14. Cote d'Ivoire
Treaties: and enhancing Africa's global 15. Djibouti
influence and partnerships. The 16. Egypt
AU's vision is to create a united, 17. Equatorial Guinea
peaceful, and thriving Africa, 18. Eritrea
driven by the aspirations and 19. Eswatini
potential of its own people. 20. Ethiopia
21. Gabon
22. Gambia
23. Ghana
24. Guinea
25. Guinea-Bissau
26. Kenya
27. Lesotho
28. Liberia
29. Libya
30. Madagascar
31. Malawi
32. Mali
33. Mauritania
34. Mauritius
35. Morocco
36. Mozambique
37. Namibia
38. Niger
39. Nigeria
40. Rwanda
41. Sao Tome and
Principe
42. Senegal
43. Seychelles
44. Sierra Leone
45. Somalia
46. South Africa
47. South Sudan
48. Sudan
49. Tanzania
50. Togo
51. Tunisia
52. Uganda
53. Zambia
54. Zimbabwe
3. CARICOM
The Caribbean Community 1. Antigua and
Date Founded: (CARICOM) focuses on four Barbuda
July 4, 1973 main areas: working together 2. The Bahamas
economically, agreeing on 3. Barbados
Membership: foreign policies, improving 4. Belize
To become a member of the Caribbean people's lives, and keeping the 5. Dominica
Community (CARICOM), a country located in region safe. CARICOM wants to 6. Grenada
the Caribbean region must express its make it easier for countries to 7. Guyana
willingness and ability to fulfill the rights and trade with each other, speak 8. Haiti
obligations of membership. The country must with one voice in world 9. Jamaica
submit an application to the CARICOM matters, help everyone live 10. Montserrat
Secretariat, which will be evaluated by existing better lives through jobs and 11. Saint Kitts and
member states based on factors like political opportunities, and make sure Nevis
stability and commitment to regional the Caribbean is a safe place to 12. Saint Lucia
integration. If approved, the country becomes a live. By doing these things, 13. Saint Vincent and
member, participating in CARICOM activities CARICOM aims to bring its the Grenadines
and decision-making processes. The process member countries closer 14. Suriname
ensures new members align with CARICOM's together and make the 15. Trinidad and
goals and contribute to the community. Caribbean stronger and more Tobago
united.

Treaties:

4. MERCOSUR
MERCOSUR aims to integrate 1. Argentina
Date Founded: economies of member states by 2. Brazil
March 26,1991 reducing trade barriers, 3. Paraguay
harmonizing economic policies, 4. Uruguay
Membership: and promoting investment and
To become a member of Mercosur, a innovation to improve living
country interested in joining must express its standards. It seeks to
desire to join and negotiate the terms of strengthen regional
membership with the existing Mercosur cooperation through dialogue
member states. Once the negotiations are and collaboration in various
concluded, the country must ratify the fields and enhance external
accession agreement through its internal trade relations to increase
legislative process. The agreement is then global competitiveness.
submitted to the current Mercosur member
states for their approval. If approved, the
country becomes a full member of Mercosur,
participating in its activities and decision-
making processes.
 Treaties:

5. ANDEAN Community
The ANDEAN Community is a 1. Bolivia
Date Founded: regional trade bloc aiming to 2. Colombia
October 7, 1969 promote economic and social 3. Ecuador
integration among member 4. Peru
Membership: To join the Andean Community countries. Its goals include
(CAN), a country must express interest, submit improving members' quality of
a formal application, and demonstrate life through economic
commitment to CAN's principles. The development, increasing
application is evaluated for political stability, participation in the regional
economic viability, and adherence to regional market, and strengthening ties
integration principles. Approval from existing among countries. The Andean
member states is required through consensus Community focuses on creating
or majority vote. Upon approval, the country a common market that
becomes a CAN member, participating in facilitates the free movement of
activities and decision-making processes. The goods, services, capital, and
process ensures new members align with people. It also works on
CAN's goals and contribute to regional harmonizing laws and policies
integration. across member states to
streamline trade and
Treaties: investment. Additionally, the
Andean Community engages in
external trade negotiations as a
bloc to enhance its global
economic presence. Member
 countries work together to
address common challenges,
such as environmental
protection and social
development, to ensure
sustainable growth and
stability in the region.

6. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) The CIS has a range of goals 1. Armenia
aimed at promoting 2. Azerbaijan
Date Founded: cooperation and integration 3. Belarus
December 8, 1991 among its member states. 4. Kazakhstan
Economically, the CIS seeks to 5. Kyrgyzstan
Membership: facilitate the free movement of 6. Moldova
To join the Commonwealth of Independent goods, services, labor, and 7. Russia
States (CIS), a country must express interest, capital, while developing a 8. Tajikistan
submit a formal application, and demonstrate common economic space. 9. Turkmenistan
adherence to CIS principles such as democracy, Politically, it coordinates (associate member)
good governance, and human rights. The foreign policy, maintains 10. Uzbekistan
application is reviewed by the heads of regional stability, and works to (associate member)
government, and if consensus is reached, the peacefully resolve disputes 11. Ukraine
country is invited to join. Former members between members. On the
seeking to rejoin must also demonstrate military front, the CIS
continued commitment to CIS values. coordinates defense policies,
prevents armed conflicts, and
provides expert advice.
Treaties: Protecting human rights is
another key priority, with the
organization adopting a
convention to ensure member
states uphold these principles.
The CIS also promotes cultural,
educational, and social
cooperation, as well as election
monitoring to support free and
fair elections. While the CIS has
faced challenges and varying
levels of effectiveness across its
 initiatives, it continues to serve
as a platform for regional
cooperation among the former
Soviet republics.
7. EFTA
The European Free Trade 1. Iceland
Date Founded: Association (EFTA) has a 2. Liechtenstein
January 3, 1960 primary goal of promoting free 3. Norway
trade and economic 4. Switzerland
Membership: cooperation among its member
To become a member of the European states aims to eliminate trade
Free Trade Association (EFTA), a state must go barriers, reduce tariffs, and
through a process that involves obligations and facilitate the movement of
negotiations. According to Article 56 of the goods, services, capital, and
EFTA Convention, any state that becomes a labor within the EFTA area. It
member of EFTA has an obligation to apply to also seeks to enhance economic
become a party to EFTA's existing free trade integration through the
agreements. The accession of a new member negotiation of free trade
state to EFTA's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) agreements with other
can only be negotiated with the consent of the countries, with a focus on
other party or parties to the agreement. protecting intellectual property
Essentially, the process requires a commitment rights, supporting sustainable
from the aspiring member to adhere to the development, and providing a
principles and agreements that EFTA has platform for dialogue and
established with its trading partners, and the cooperation on trade-related
accession must be agreed upon by the current matters. By pursuing these
members and parties involved in those objectives, EFTA strives to
agreements. create an environment that
fosters economic growth,
prosperity, and closer ties
Treaties: among its member states and
their trading partners around
the world.
The European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) has a
primary goal of promoting free
trade and economic
cooperation among its member
states aims to eliminate trade
barriers, reduce tariffs, and
facilitate the movement of
goods, services, capital, and
labor within the EFTA area. It
also seeks to enhance economic
integration through the
negotiation of free trade
agreements with other
countries, with a focus on
protecting intellectual property
rights, supporting sustainable
development, and providing a
platform for dialogue and
cooperation on trade-related
matters. By pursuing these
objectives, EFTA strives to
create an environment that
fosters economic growth,
prosperity, and closer ties
among its member states and
their trading partners around
the world.

8. NAFTA
The North American Free 1. United States
Date Founded: Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was 2. Canada
January 1, 1994 designed to enhance economic 3. Mexico
 integration and free trade
Membership: among the United States,
If a country were to join the United States- Canada, and Mexico. Its goals
Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), it would included eliminating trade
become a party to the agreement and have the barriers like tariffs and quotas,
opportunity to benefit from the trade facilitating the cross-border
provisions and market access provided within movement of goods, services,
the USMCA framework. However, it is and investments, and
important to note that the USMCA was encouraging foreign direct
specifically negotiated and designed to address investment. NAFTA also aimed
the trade dynamics and interests of the United to promote fair competition,
States, Mexico, and Canada. As such, any new protect intellectual property
member would need to negotiate and comply rights, and uphold high
with the terms and conditions of the standards of environmental
agreement, aligning their trade policies and sustainability and labor rights.
regulations with those of the existing members. Ultimately, NAFTA's objectives
While joining the USMCA would provide were to stimulate economic
opportunities for increased trade and growth, create jobs, and
economic cooperation with the three member strengthen cooperation and
countries, the terms and conditions would be economic ties across North
subject to negotiation and agreement with the America.
existing members.

Treaties:
9. ASEAN
The Association of 1. Brunei
Date Founded: Southeast Asian Nations 2. Cambodia
August 8, 1967 (ASEAN) aims to foster 3. Indonesia
economic growth, social 4. Laos
Membership: progress, and cultural 5. Malaysia
To become a member of the Association development in Southeast Asia 6. Myanmar (Burma)
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a country through partnership and 7. Philippines
must go through a process that involves equality. It seeks to establish a 8. Singapore
expressing interest, engaging in negotiations prosperous and peaceful 9. Thailand
with the existing member states, and obtaining community, promote regional 10. Vietnam
their approval. The specific steps may vary, but peace and stability by 11. Timor-Leste (East
generally, the aspiring member state needs to upholding justice and the rule Timor)
demonstrate its commitment to ASEAN's of law, and emphasize respect
principles, such as regional cooperation, for national sovereignty and
economic integration, and peaceful relations. non-interference. ASEAN
The country's application is reviewed by the encourages collaboration in
existing member states, and their consensus or economic, social, cultural, and
majority approval is required for admission. scientific fields to improve
Once approved, the country becomes a full living standards and enhance
member of ASEAN, participating in its cooperation in key sectors like
activities, meetings, and decision-making agriculture, industry, and trade.
processes. ASEAN aims to foster economic It also aims to maintain close
growth, social progress, cultural development, ties with international and
and regional peace among its member states. regional organizations to
further regional integration,
Treaties: development, and cooperation
among its member states.
10. Pacific Island Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum 1. Australia
Date Founded: (PIF) is a key regional 2. Cook Islands
August 5, 1971 organization established in 3. Federated States of
1971, aimed at fostering Micronesia
Membership: cooperation and integration 4. Fiji
The process for joining the Pacific among Pacific Ocean countries 5. Kiribati
Islands Forum (PIF) starts with a country and territories. Its main 6. Nauru
formally expressing its interest in membership objectives include promoting 7. New Zealand
through official diplomatic channels directed at economic development, 8. Niue
the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. This advocating for the region's 9. Palau
expression should detail the country's interests globally, especially on 10. Papua New Guinea
motivations for joining and its potential critical issues like climate 11. Republic of
contributions to the PIF's objectives. Following change, enhancing governance Marshall Islands
this, the Secretariat, in consultation with and regional security, and 12. Samoa
existing members, assesses the application addressing environmental 13. Solomon Islands
based on criteria such as geographic location, sustainability. The PIF also 14. Tonga
political stability, and alignment with the PIF's prioritizes social development 15. Tuvalu
values. The application is then presented to the goals such as health, education, 16. Vanuatu
member states for approval, requiring either and gender equality. By acting
consensus or a majority vote. Upon receiving as a collective voice, the PIF
approval, the new member is integrated into seeks to address the unique
the PIF, allowing it to participate in activities, challenges faced by the Pacific
meetings, and contribute to the decision- Islands, ensuring their
making processes, thereby fostering regional development and security
cooperation and development in line with the needs are met and represented
organization's overarching goals. on the international stage.

Treaties:

11. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The Asia-Pacific Economic
Date Founded: Cooperation (APEC) is a
November 6, 1989 regional economic forum
established in 1989, aimed at
Membership: fostering sustainable economic
growth and prosperity in the
Treaties: Asia-Pacific region. With 21
member economies, APEC
promotes free and open trade
and investment, economic
integration, and technical
cooperation. Key objectives
include reducing trade barriers,
enhancing trade and
investment, strengthening
economic and technical
cooperation, ensuring
sustainable development, and
enhancing human security.
APEC's initiatives focus on
creating efficient economies,
boosting economic growth,
sharing resources and
technology, promoting green
growth, and addressing
security challenges, making it a
pivotal platform for facilitating
economic collaboration and
addressing common challenges
across the Asia-Pacific.

12. South Asia Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

The South Asian
Date Founded: Association for Regional
December 8, 1985 Cooperation (SAARC) is an
organization of South Asian
Membership: nations with the primary goal
of promoting economic and
Treaties: regional integration that aims
to accelerate the process of
economic and social
development in member states
through increased
collaboration and partnership.
Key objectives include
promoting welfare and quality
of life, fostering mutual
understanding and
appreciation of cultural and
 societal diversity, and
strengthening collective self-
reliance among the countries of
South Asia. SAARC focuses on
various areas such as
agriculture and rural
development, biotechnology,
energy, trade and finance,
social affairs, and environment
and disaster management,
among others. The organization
seeks to provide a platform for
the people of South Asia to
work together in a spirit of
friendship, trust, and
understanding, aiming to
contribute to mutual trust,
understanding, and
appreciation of one another's
problems, with a vision
towards a peaceful, stable, and
prosperous South Asia.
13. Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
The Arab Maghreb Union
Date Founded: (AMU), established in 1989,
February 17, 1989 aims to foster economic
cooperation and political
Membership: integration among its five
North African member states:
Treaties: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, and Tunisia. Its
objectives include enhancing
trade, harmonizing sectoral
policies, and promoting
regional unity. However,
political disputes, particularly
between Morocco and Algeria
over Western Sahara, have
hindered significant progress.
Despite these challenges, the
AMU symbolizes the aspiration
for a unified and prosperous
North African region.
14. Gulf Cooperation Council
The Arab Maghreb Union
Date Founded: (AMU), established in 1989,
May 25, 1981 aims to foster economic
cooperation and political
Membership: integration among its five
North African member states:
Treaties: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, and Tunisia. Its
objectives include enhancing
trade, harmonizing sectoral
policies, and promoting
regional unity. However,
political disputes, particularly
between Morocco and Algeria
over Western Sahara, have
hindered significant progress.
Despite these challenges, the
AMU symbolizes the aspiration
for a unified and prosperous
North African region.
Critical Thinking Questions:

1. How did Globalization challenge the Global North-South divide?

2. Describe the relationship between Globalization and the rise of transnational crimes and terrorism?