Although European integration had been talked about for several years, the concept was not put into motion until after the devastation of WWII. European integration is the process of legally tying together through a series of treaties the economic, political, legal, and social aspects of the European nations. It was a means of attempting to heal the breaches caused by the war and solidify the ties between the various countries of Europe for the benefit of all of its citizens.
The first step towards European integration was the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949. In 1950 the Convention of Human Rights led to the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and the European Social Charter.
Since that time there have been a number of conventions and treaties which outline policies concerning social justice, cultural affairs, standardized currency, nuclear power, trade, and industrial development. These initiatives led to the creation of the European Union in 1993, which now stands at 28 member states. Although some key countries such as Switzerland and Norway have not become part of the European Union, non-member countries still benefit from many aspects of European integration.