History of European integration (1948–1957) facts for kids
After World War II, European countries wanted to work together to prevent future wars and rebuild their economies. This idea of countries joining forces is called European integration. It really started in 1948, as the world entered the period known as the Cold War, a time of tension between the Soviet Union and Western countries.
In 1948, the Treaty of Brussels created the Western Union (WU), one of the first groups for cooperation. That same year, the International Authority for the Ruhr and the Organization for European Economic Co-operation (which later became the OECD) were also formed. In 1949, the Council of Europe was set up, and in 1951, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) began. These early steps led to more cooperation and eventually to the Treaty of Rome (1957).
Contents
Early Steps in European Cooperation
The Cold War began after World War II, creating new challenges for Europe. In 1948, the Treaty of Brussels was signed, forming the Western Union (WU). This treaty built on an earlier agreement between France and the United Kingdom. They were worried about the USSR after political changes in Czechoslovakia.
The new treaty included Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (known as the Benelux countries). It aimed to promote cooperation in military, economic, social, and cultural areas. However, other organizations soon took over many of these roles.
In April 1948, the Organization for European Economic Co-operation was founded. It helped manage the Marshall Plan, a US plan to rebuild Western Europe's economies. In response, the Soviet Union created the Comecon for Eastern European countries.
The countries that signed the Brussels treaty soon realized they needed stronger defense against the USSR. In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created. NATO included the Brussels treaty members plus Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Canada, and importantly, the United States. Military cooperation in NATO grew faster after the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb and the Korean War began. This led to a desire for West Germany to join NATO.
The Hague Congress and Council of Europe
A very important meeting for European cooperation was the Hague Congress in May 1948. It brought together many groups that wanted to unite Europe. Famous leaders, who would later be called the founding fathers of the European Union, attended. The congress discussed forming a new Council of Europe. It also led to the creation of the European Movement International and the College of Europe.
However, the congress also showed a disagreement: some wanted a strong, united Europe (federalists), while others wanted countries to keep more control (unionists). This led to the creation of the Council of Europe on May 5, 1949. This date is now celebrated as Europe day. The Council of Europe became a place for countries to discuss cooperation and shared issues. For example, it helped create the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950.
The Council has two main political parts: one for governments and another for national members of parliament. Based in Strasbourg, it focuses on democracy and human rights across almost all European countries.
Early Economic Unions
In the same year as the Brussels treaty, Sweden planned a Scandinavian defence union with Denmark and Norway. This union would have been neutral, not joining NATO. But because of pressure from the United States, Norway and Denmark joined NATO, and the plan failed.
Instead, a "Scandinavian joint committee for economic cooperation" was set up. This led to a customs union under the Nordic Council, which first met in 1953. Similar economic cooperation happened between the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg). During World War II, their governments in exile signed a customs agreement. This was followed by a money agreement that fixed their currencies against each other. This cooperation helped strengthen their position as small states and became an early example for later European integration.
Schuman Declaration and the Treaty of Paris (1951)
After World War II, France wanted to make sure Germany could not start another war. The Ruhr region in Germany was important because it had lots of coal and steel, which are vital for industry and making weapons. France first suggested that an international group should control the coal and steel in the Ruhr.
The start of the Cold War changed France's approach to Germany. Also, the US Marshall Plan aimed to help Western Europe's economies recover, including West Germany. To address France's concerns, the International Authority for the Ruhr (IAR) was announced in 1948. The IAR would oversee coal and steel production in the Ruhr and make sure Marshall Plan countries had access to these materials.
In May 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed a new idea. He suggested that France, Germany, and other European countries could combine their coal and steel industries. This plan, known as the Schuman Declaration, was different because it treated Germany as an equal partner.
Schuman made his announcement on May 9, 1950. He proposed that "Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority." This meant a shared group would manage these industries. The goal was to boost economic growth and create lasting peace between France and Germany, who had been enemies for a long time. Coal and steel were chosen because they were essential for war. This was also meant to be the first step towards a "European federation."
By the signature of this Treaty, the participating Parties give proof of their determination to create the first supranational institution and that thus they are laying the true foundation of an organised Europe. This Europe remains open to all nations. We profoundly hope that other nations will join us in our common endeavour.
– Europe Declaration signed on 18 April 1951 at the Treaty of Paris by Konrad Adenauer (West Germany), Paul van Zeeland, Joseph Meurice (Belgium) Robert Schuman (France) Count Sforza (Italy) Joseph Bech (Luxembourg) and Dirk Stikker, J. R. M. van den Brink (The Netherlands).
The declaration led to the Treaty of Paris (1951), which created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It was formed by "the inner six": France, Italy, the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), and West Germany. The United Kingdom did not join because it did not want to give up some of its national power to a supranational authority.
The Treaty of Paris was approved by mid-1952, and the ECSC officially started on July 23, 1952. The common market for coal opened on February 10, 1953, and for steel on May 1, 1953. During the ECSC's existence, steel production greatly improved. Coal production declined, but its technology and safety improved. The ECSC helped manage industry problems and ensured fair distribution of resources. Unlike later treaties, this one was designed to end after 50 years.
In 1954, the Treaty of Brussels was changed by the Paris Agreements to create the Western European Union (WEU). This organization took on European defense roles and later joined the EU. West Germany joined both the WEU and NATO in 1955. This led the Soviet Union to form the Warsaw Pact in 1955, a military alliance for countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The First Community: ECSC Institutions
The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) had several important parts:
- High Authority: This was the main executive body, like today's European Commission. Its first president was Jean Monnet. The nine members were chosen by the member states but were expected to work for the common good, not just their own countries.
- Council of Ministers: This group represented the governments of the member states. It helped make sure national governments worked well with the High Authority. It had limited powers, mostly advising the High Authority.
- Common Assembly: This body is now the European Parliament. It had 78 representatives who oversaw the High Authority. These representatives were usually national Members of Parliament. The Assembly could even remove the High Authority if there were problems.
- Court of Justice: This court made sure ECSC laws were followed and the Treaty was interpreted correctly. It had seven judges who were chosen by the governments.
- Consultative Committee: This committee had 30 to 50 members, equally divided among producers, workers, consumers, and dealers in coal and steel. It advised the High Authority on policies and proposals. This committee helped prevent any single group from having too much influence. It also helped manage the budget, which came from a tax on coal and steel producers. The money was used to help workers and improve housing in these industries.
Where to Base the Institutions?
The Treaty of Paris did not decide where the new ECSC institutions would be located. Many cities were considered, including Liège, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, and Turin. Saarbrücken was also thought of, but there was an ongoing disagreement about the Saarland region. Brussels could have been chosen, but Belgium's government was unstable at the time.
To solve the problem, Joseph Bech, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, suggested that Luxembourg be the temporary home for the institutions. However, it was decided that the Common Assembly (the future European Parliament) should be in Strasbourg. The Council of Europe was already there, and the Assembly could use its building. This continued until 1999, when a new building was constructed.
Developing New Communities
After the ECSC was created, plans for a European Defence Community (EDC) were made and signed in 1952. This would have combined national armies and allowed West Germany to rearm under the new Community's control. However, in 1954, the French National Assembly rejected this treaty. This rejection also stopped plans for a European Political Community, which would have created a federation to control a future European army.
In 1955, the Council of Europe adopted an emblem for all Europe: twelve golden stars in a circle on a blue background. This flag was later adopted by the European Communities.
Suez Crisis and New Ideas
In 1956, the Egyptian government took control of the Suez Canal and closed it to Israeli ships. This led to the Suez Crisis. The UK and France, who owned parts of the canal, along with Israel, responded with military action. The United States opposed this move. The military action was successful, but it was a political failure for the UK and France.
The UK realized it could not act alone and began to look towards joining the European Community. France also saw its future with the Community but opposed British entry. The French President, Charles de Gaulle, feared that British entry would lead to too much US influence.
As a result of the Suez Crisis, the Common Assembly suggested expanding the ECSC's powers to include other energy sources. A study led by Louis Armand looked into using nuclear energy in Europe. The report concluded that more nuclear development was needed to make up for less coal and to reduce reliance on oil.
At the same time, the Benelux states and Germany wanted to create a general common market, but France was against it. In the end, both ideas were pursued as separate communities.
The Treaties of Rome
The Messina Conference in 1955 led to Paul-Henri Spaak being put in charge of a committee. This committee was tasked with preparing a report on creating a common European market. The Spaak Report provided the basis for further progress. It was accepted at the Venice Conference in 1956, where it was decided to hold an Intergovernmental Conference.
This conference took place at Val Duchesse in 1956. The outcome was that new communities would share the Common Assembly (now the Parliamentary Assembly) and the Court of Justice with the ECSC. However, they would have their own executive bodies, called Commissions, which would have fewer powers than the ECSC's High Authority. France was hesitant to agree to more supranational powers. So, important decisions would need approval from the Council, which now used majority voting.
On March 25, 1957, the Treaties of Rome were signed. They came into force on January 1, 1958. These treaties created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Euratom encouraged cooperation in nuclear energy, which was very popular at the time. The EEC aimed to create a full customs union between its members. Louis Armand became the first President of the Euratom Commission, and Walter Hallstein became the first President of the EEC Commission.
See also
