The paper examines the components of the paradigm defined by the author to describe the foundations of the European Union: growth, construction, convention and constitution. Firstly, the paper focuses on “growth” and “construction” because they are considered preliminary conditions to “convention” and “constitution”. In particular, the “growth” is examined by a statistical analysis of the GNP and GNP per capita in the period 1951-2000 and is compared with US and Japan economic growth in order to highlight the dimension of the European economy in the world. An analysis of the European economic growth in various sub-periods within 1951-2000 is also provided in order to assess its dynamics. The “construction” of European Union, which has played an essential role in the European economic growth, is considered through the experience of the single market and of the common currency (the Euro). Then, the paper deals with the “constitution” of European Union. Three guidelines are proposed in order to create a political union: sussidiarity, development and solidarity. In the conclusive part, the European Union is set in the world context and some considerations are proposed on the essential link between the European prospective growth and construction and the European role at world level.
