History of European Cooperation and Integration The Beginnings of European Integration after World War II

Introduction New website for this class: http://mravinac.pbwiki.com/european_integration Pro-integrationist forces after WWII Post-war challenges in Europe The beginnings of economic integration Failure of “common defense” project The Treaties of Rome

1) Pro-integrationist forces after WWII WWII – a new impulse for federalist movement Diverging views on how the face of Europe should be changed December 1947 – International Movement for European Unity – a committee coordinating activities of various organizations promoting European unity - Prominent members included W. Churchill and Coudenhove-Calerghi; supported by the US  European Congress in Haague

European Congress in Haague – May 1948 Attracted high profile statesmen: Robert Schuman, Alcide de Gasperi, Paul-Henri Spaak, Konrád Adenauer Goal: to negotiate proposals for creation of European organization fostering political, cultural and economic cooperation Conflict between federalists and intergovernmentalists Paved way for the Council of Europe

Council of Europe May 5, 1949 - Council of Europe Statute signed in London First post-WWII international political org. in Europe - 10 founding members (Bel, Net, Lux, Den, Fr, Ire, Ita, Nor, Swe, UK) - Seat in Strasbourg - Active in the area of human rights and political freedoms Core: European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamentals Freedoms -1950 European Court of Human Rights - “Democratic conscience of Europe” - today: 46 members vs. puny political impact

2) Post-war challenges in Europe Economic instability – limits of common action “The German Problem” USSR and its sphere of influence

Economic instability – limits of common action Economic problems threaten political stability and cooperation Marshall plan – 1947: 13 billion USD = 5% US HNP) Conditionality – recipients must strip down trade barriers & create an international org. to distribute the aid Also offered to USSR and its satellites – turned down OEEC – 1948 – to distribute aid, reduce tariffs & quotas, support international trade - conflict between French (supranat.) & British (intgov.) approach – intgov. won PROVIDED IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR SUBSEQUENT ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

“The German Problem” Opposing views on GER future on part of the occupation powers US, FR, GB and USSR Anxious FR  Bruselss pact in 1948 Eventually, western allies agreed on common stance (reaction to Soviet activities) Introduction of Deutsche Mark 1948 Berlin blockade  considered an opening scene of the Cold War

Soviet threat US administration feared growing influence of USSR NATO – April 4, 1949 – Defensive alliance of US, CAN and European allies (without GER), European allies little to contribute FR – very anxious about potential resurgence of GER power  need to find a solution

3) The beginnings of economic integration Ruhr Authority – 1948 – strategic resources control by Allies Schuman plan (author - Jean Monnet) - Gradual integration of economic sectors Based on common market with coal and steel By fostering interdependence – growth of trust, economic prosperity, normalization of international relations Form: supranational organization managed by High Authority – independent on governments, powerful USA supported the idea from the outset

Schuman Plan in Europe GER supported Schuman plan (Chancellor Adenauer) – reasons: emancipation, industrial development Other interested parties – IT, Benelux UK + “Nordic fringe” – not supportive. Reasons – ssovereignty and different economic policies

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Members not united over the powers and institutional structure of the proposed community  compromise between federative and intergov. approach: High Authority – fed., Council – intergov HA – main executive powers within the Treaty’s framework Council – Must approve HA actions, balancing the influence of big member states (MS) Assembly – weak, merely control by national parliaments Court of Justice – independent arbiter, highest legal authority ECSC based on political consensus Treaty of Paris April 1951 – GER,FR, BEL, NET, LUX, ITA, limited to 50 years - Predestined modus operandi of all subsequent ECs

4) Failure of “common defense” project ECSC – partially dispelled FR anxiety over GER USA pushing for GER remilitarization for defense purposes FR against GER admission to NATO – weakly policed Pleven plan – European armies joined under single supranational command, creation of European Defense Community EDC linked with ECSC via political cooperation in the framework of European Political Community (EPC) 1953 – EDC turned down by FR parliament

Further Economic Integration Federalists’ attempts for political community failed ECSC – successful, fast development of new economic sectors offered another chance Further development – intergovernmental or supranational? Intergovernmental – broad support by most WE states Supranational – greater added value from federalists’ point of view

Further Economic Integration (2) ECSC member chose the supranational formula (influenced by Monnet) Two strands - Common market Nuclear energy

5) The Treaties of Rome March 1957 – EURATOM and EEC Unlimited time-span Three „European Communities“ Similar institutional structure Mandate given by international treaties

EURATOM Goal: common market with nuclear material, R&D support for peaceful purposes, proliferation control Common development strategy, sharing of information Initially perceived as more progressive (broader consensus) LIMITS: project limited by changing national interests Common market limited, states kept control of strategic resources supply chains

European Economic Community (EEC) Goal: creation of common market based on the so-called 4 freedoms – goods, capital, persons and services In steps: Free trade area, customs union and harmonization of legal requirements Broad and often open-ended mandate (see Art 2)

Institutional Structure of EEC Based on ECSC model Commission, Council of Ministers, Assembly, Court of Justice and an advisory body called Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) Assembly and Court – Common for all Communities Other institutions merged in 1965 via Merger Treaty

Conclusions Reasons forging EC both external and internal pressures Supranational cooperation, only six “core” countries Other states reluctant to compromise on their sovereignty Economic cooperation – viable alternative to political and defense cooperation Similar trends observable till today

Reading Founding Treaties ECSC, EURATOM, EEC at http://eur-lex.europa.eu http://mravinac.pbwiki.com/european_integration Reader from Dinan’s Europe Recast