Robert Schuman was the French foreign minister.
He proposed, in his Declaration of 9 May 1950, the creation of a European Coal
and Steel Community (ECSC). The members would pool coal and steel production so
as make another war between the countries of Europe "not merely
unthinkable, but materially impossible". The idea came from Jean Monnet, a
senior civil servant.
The Schuman Declaration aimed to bring about profound
change: international cooperation rather than competition. There was political
opposition (especially from General Charles de Gaulle) to initiatives that would help
Germany, but Schuman managed to get the support of his own Government, that of the
United States and the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
Schuman's initiative was also due to the fact that he felt democratic western European countries, including Germany, had to be united in the face of the threat posed by the Soviet Union.
It was hoped that through economic cooperation, standards
of living would improve and there would then be greater political unity; peace would then be assured.
Extract of the Schuman Declaration:
"Europe
will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built
through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The
coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the
age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first
place concern these two countries.
With this
aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on
one limited but decisive point. It proposes that Franco-German production of
coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the
framework of an organisation open to the participation of the other countries
of Europe.
The pooling
of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of
common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation
of Europe (...)"
Europe Day is celebrated on the 9th May every year
Every year, on 9 May, the European Union celebrates Europe Day. It commemorates the Schuman Declaration, considered as a founding moment of European integration, and celebrates peace and unity in Europe.
Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman made major contributions to European unity and are considered "Founding Fathers".
Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman made major contributions to European unity and are considered "Founding Fathers".
No comments:
Post a Comment