Schuman Declaration

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The Schuman Declaration is a governmental proposal by then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to place the coal and steel industries of France and West Germany under a common High Authority. The realisation of this proposal led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the forerunner of what is now the European Union (EU). The event is celebrated annually by the EU as Europe Day and Schuman himself is considered one of the Founding fathers of the European Union.

Robert Schuman delivering his speech in 1950
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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 organization 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, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.

– Robert Schuman, extract from 9 May declaration.

Contents

Background

Europe had just come out of the Second World War, a conflict that had nearly destroyed the continent and split it between two sphere's of influence. In a desire not to repeat such destruction, there was a great deal of momentum towards European co-operation. Winston Churchill had called for a United States of Europe, and to begin with, a Council of Europe.[1] The latter was duly created but did not satisfy the more supranational demands of European integration.

Schuman had stated that the idea of a European Coal and Steel Community dated from before he attended university. Schuman initiated policies in preparation for this major change of European politics while Prime Minister of France (1947-8) and Foreign Minister from 1948 onwards. He spoke about the principles of sharing European resources in a supranational union at the signing of the Statute of the Council of Europe in London, 5 May 1949.

Aim and drafting

The Quai d'Orsay, home of the French Foreign Office where the speech was made
 Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (July 2008)

The Declaration itself was first drafted by Paul Reuter, Schuman's colleague and the lawyer at the Foreign ministry and edited by Jean Monnet and others including Schuman's chef de Cabinet, Bernard Clappier. It became French government policy when after two Cabinet discussions it was agreed on 9 May 1950.

The declaration's goal was for France, Italy, West Germany, and the Benelux countries to share strategic resources in order to 'make war not only unthinkable but materially impossible' and to build a lasting peace in Europe. The ultimate outcome of this initiative was the 18 April 1951 creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), first of the European Communities and predecessor of the European Union.

Legacy

The Schuman Declaration marked the true beginning of post-World War II Franco-German cooperation and the re-integration of West Germany into Western Europe. Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of West Germany, said of the declaration, "That's our breakthrough."[2] The ECSC was created by the Treaty of Paris (1951) and on 18 April 1951, the leaders of the six member countries (including Schuman) signed a European Declaration stating that 'the signing of this Treaty ... marked the true foundation of an organised Europe.'

The resulting ECSC introduced a common, single steel and coal market, with freely set market prices, and without import/export duties or subsidies. The success of ECSC led to further steps, foreseen by Schuman, being taken with the creation of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community which merged in the European Communities the 1960s. The core of the proposal, the High Authority, was replaced by the European Commission and further bodies and areas of activities were created leading to the creation of the European Union in 1993.

The Declaration is viewed as one of the main founding events of the EU. In 1985, during Jacques Delors tenure as President of the European Commission, the leaders of the European Council met in Milan to decide upon 'national' symbols for the Community. They adopted those chosen by the Council of Europe previously but they changed the date of Europe Day to 9 May, in commemoration of the Schuman Declaration (the day is now also known as Schuman Day).

Notes

  1. ^ The Zurich speech European NAvigator
  2. ^ Judt (1994), 31.

References

  • Schuman, Robert. Pour l'Europe. Paris 1963
  • Judt, Tony. Große Illusion Europa. München: Hanser, 1994.
  • McDougall, Walter. "Political Economy versus National Sovereignty: French Structures for German Economic Integration after Versailles." The Journal of Modern History 51, no. 1. (Mar., 1979): 4-23.
  • Shore, Cris. "Inventing the 'People's Europe': Critical Approaches to European Community 'Cultural Policy.'" Man 28, no. 4. (Dec., 1993): 779-800.
  • Shore, Cris and Annabel Black. "The European Communities and the Construction of Europe." Anthropology Today 8, no. 3. (Jun., 1992): 10-11.

External links

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