history and theory of european integration

JEAN MONNET European Module

History and Theory of European Integration

Marina V. Larionova


History is a stock of ambiguous evidence looking for interpretation

“ …only knowledge of the past enables us fully to understand the present, the failure to read the past correctly warps our capacity to act intelligently in the contemporary world. But for most of the past millennium, expectations of what historians can contribute to the common weal have even been higher. The study of history has been believed to provide a guide not simply to passive understanding of the world, but to active political and moral action within it.”

Michael Howard (1991) “Structure and Process in History” in The Lessons of History. Yale University Press


Theoretical Literacy is a fundamental prerequisite for the proper study of any

aspect of the social world

• Effective (structured) observation• Intellectualized perception and reflection• Weighted understanding and explanation• Reliable predicting• Rational behavior


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“Nothing is possible without men; nothing is lasting without institutions”

Jean Monnet


Lecture 1

The first decade (1945-1957): Reconstruction, reconciliation

and Integration


Contents:

• Jean Monnet and the European Movement• Truman Doctrine, the Marshall plan and European Integration• Schuman Declaration• European Coal and Steel Community• European Defense Community Treaty negotiations and

rejection• Messina Conference on the future of integration• Spaak Committee and Venice conference • Treaties of Rome, European Economic Community and

Atomic Energy Community


Readings for the lecture• Dinan Desmond (1999) Ever Closer Union. An Introduction to

European Integration. Second edition. The European Union Series. Palgrave. Chapter 1

• Churchill W.S. The Tragedy of Europe (1946). The European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998

• Schuman R. The Schuman Declaration (1950). The European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998

• Nugent N. (2006) The Government and Politics of the European Union. The European Union Series. Palgrave. Chapters 1-2


The European Idea

“The name Europe distinguishes a continent or a civilization, not an economic or political unit…The European idea is empty; it has neither the transcendence of messianic ideologies nor the immanence of concrete patriotism. It was created by intellectuals, and that fact accounts at once for its genuine appeal to the mind and its feeble echo in the heart.”

Raymond Aron, The Century of Total War (Garden City: Doubleday, 1954)


Integration – a panacea for Europe’s ills?

• Linguistic, religious, cultural divisions• Political, ideological, economic divisions• Tensions, rivalry, distrust and clashing

interests• Drives for power and territorial disputes• League of Nations failure to provide for

international collective security


Roots and Factors of Integration

• Idealistic– Historical, civilizational, cultural commonality

• Political– Strive for peace through unity, containing nationalism– Redrawing of the political map, division of the continent– Combating internal communist forces– External influence

• Economic– Pooling resources, dismantling barriers to trade,– Increasing interdependence


1923“Pan Europa” called for

a united Europe underwritten by a federal constitution as a scheme for eradication of conflict

Count Richard Coudenhove – Kalergi

Pan European movement


May, 1930

The Memorandum on the Organization of a regime of the European Federal Union

Aristide Briand, the French foreign minister


Proclaimed objectives • “To unite in order to live and prosper; that is the imperious necessity

which henceforth confronts the nations of Europe”

• a European government for European unity with the European conference of member governments as the primary directing body, annually rotating chairmanship and the executive European Committee

• The Federation based on the idea of union not unity. Political union taking precedence over the economic - the establishment of common market which will raise to the maximum the standard of human well being in all the territories of the European commonwealth


June 1941 The Ventotene Manifesto

“Post War Duties: European Unity”Launched the drive for federated Europe calling for an “abolition of the

division of Europe into national, sovereign states”

Alerted of the danger of reconstructing the old state organto “which it is probable that the English leaders, perhaps in agreement with the

Americans, will attempt to push things, in order to restore the policy of the balance of power, in the apparent immediate interests of their empires.”

Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi (Left wing intellectuals of the Italian Resitance movement)


The Ventotene Manifesto

Federal reorganization of Europe

• “to break decisively economic autarchies, the backbone of totalitarian regimes”

• “a new organism that will be the grandest creation, the newest, that has occurred in Europe”


The Ventotene Manifesto“building the foundation “for a new movement that knows

how to mobilize all forces for the birth of the new organism

• “in order to constitute a federal state that will have at its disposal a European armed service instead of national armies”

• “ an organism that will have sufficient means to see that its deliberations for the common order are executed in the single federal state, while each state will retain the autonomy, its needs for a plastic articulation and development of political life according to the particular characteristics of its people”


Summer 1943 “A Working Peace System”

a “functional alternative” to the European unity:

• “to organize government along the lines of specific ends and needs, and according to the conditions of their time and place, in lieu of the traditional organization on the basis of a set constitutional division of jurisdiction and rights and powers”

David Mitrany


Mitrany’s functional alternative • “Peace will not be secured if we organize the world by what

divides it.”

• “…through technical and functional cooperation and coordination with the function of international planning as the third stage in the growth of functional activities resting with “an international investment board or an international development commission, as an advisory organ.”

• “It is the central view of the functional approach that a political authority is not essential for our greatest and immediate needs.”


August 1943

• “the States of Europe must form a federation or “European entity” which will make them a single economic entity”

• “if the States reestablish themselves on the basis of national sovereignty with all that this implies by ways of prestige politics and economic protectionism there would be no peace in Europe”

Jean Monnet’s note to the French Committee of National Liberation


September 1945“The Tragedy of Europe”

Winston Churchill’s call for a United States of Europe

“we must recreate the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe. The first step is to form a Council of Europe. If at first all the states of Europe are not willing or able to join the Union we must nevertheless to proceed to assemble and combine those who will and those who can….

In all this urgent work, France and Germany must take the lead together”


“The Tragedy of Europe” Winston Churchill:

“The first step in the recreation of the European family must be a partnership between France and Germany. In this way only can France recover the moral leadership in Europe.

There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany”


Threshold year 1947• Truman’s address before a joint session of the Congress

Truman Doctrine Emergence of the Cold War and its political domestic repercussions in France and Italy (12 March)

• William Clayton, US assistant secretary of state for economic affairs report on devastation in Europe (May)

• General George Marshal speech pledging US support for European postwar reconstruction driven by concerns for economic security of the US and political and strategic arguments (June) 13 billion of American aid for European recovery programme


Marshal plan • A calculated grand design for remaking the Old World into the

likeness of the New? • The US effort to acquire an empire in Europe by design or an

acquisition by default? • A stage for a series of diplomatic decisions leading to the rehabilitation

of Germany? And the “blessed act of oblivion”? • A catalyst (a crisis) causing the French to recognize the necessity to

accept change in the policy towards Germany in order to access and perpetuate control over industrial production in the coal rich Ruhr area within the British zone of occupation?

• Speediest possible reactivation of European economic machine and its restoration to a self-supporting basis.


1948 April

Organization for European Economic Cooperation • Established to operate the US funds • Promote greater cooperation between European states

London conference of Western Allies• Decision on the International Ruhr Authority• Merger of the French zone and Bizonia


1948 May

Congress of Europe in the Hague brought together

the unionists

(United Europe Movement launched by Churcill in

May 1947)

the federalists(Spinelli’s Union of

European federalists)


Congress of Europe in the Hague the unionists the federalists

Agreed to institutionalize the ideal of European unity by establishing an international organization with a

parliamentary body Consultative assembly

deferring to the committee of government ministers

Constituent assembly drafting a constitution for

the United States of Europe


The Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

Aimed to achieve a closer union between its members in order to protect and promote ideas and principles which constitute the common heritage and to further their economic and social progress;

Proved to become a platform for exchange of ideas and information on social, cultural and legal matters and failing to contribute to the badly needed economic recovery in the destructed and demolished postwar Europe


1948-1949

• The Berlin blockade (June)• Intensification of the Cold War and further

division of the continent• NATO Treaty singed (April 1949)• International Ruhr Authority Established• Birth of the new German state, the Federal

Republic of Germany (September)


Set of catalysts

• The US and the UK push for German industrial recovery and pressure on Paris to design a mutually acceptable solution

• Failure of the French restrictive policy in the Ruhr area – Monnet Modernization plan at risk

• Prospect of reversal to the status quo of Franco-German relations

A dramatic reversal of the French policy towards the economic powerhouse of Europe


The Schuman Declaration 9 May 1950 – the Day of Europe

“World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.

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.


The Schuman Declaration

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.

• The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.

• By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.



To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as:

• the application of a production and investment plan;• the establishment of compensating machinery for equating

prices;• the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the

rationalization of production.



The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity.



The common High Authority entrusted with the management of the scheme will be composed of independent persons appointed by the governments, giving equal representation. A chairman will be chosen by common agreement between the governments. The Authority's decisions will be enforceable in France, Germany and other member countries.

The Declaration is a perfect example of the functional integration approach in practice.



• Chancellor Konrad Adenauer enthusiastic welcome • Secretary of State Acheson endorsement• US government setting up the working group on the Schuman

proposal in its Paris embassy• British hold on the national sovereignty and abhorrence of

supranationality coupled with the Labor cabinet fear of endangering the Anglo-American special relations


1950 June

France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg

begin the negotiations on the ECSC competencies, institutions and decision making procedures

1950 OctoberThe French Prime Minister Pleven plan

European Defense Communitya vehicle of control over the process of German remilitarization


1951 February

France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Luxemburg begin the negotiations on the EDC

1951 OctoberThe Netherlands joins the negotiations on the EDC

1952 May 27the EDC signed in Paris

provides for a supranational political authority


ECSC – functional economic integration1951 April - End of intergovernmental bargaining on the ECSC

The ECSC institutional framework agreed• The High Authority responsible for formulation a common market in coal

and steel, cooperating closely with the national bureaucracies to implement community legislation;

• The Court of Justice to ensure compliance of the member states with the Treaty terms and examining disputes;

• The Council of Ministers representing the member states interests;• A Common Assembly of national parliaments delegates.

The ECSC – the epitome of functionalism - becomes operational in August 1952 in Luxembourg after the ratification by the member states parliaments.


EDC – EPC – an opportunity lost?

• 1952 September - the Six foreign ministers mandate to the ECSC Common Assembly for

drafting a Treaty establishing a supranational political authority to direct the EDC based on the Treaty of Paris Article 28

• Constitutional Committee of the ECSC Common Assembly radical recommendations for

a political community embracing the coordination of the foreign, economic and monetary policy to be dampened down in a series of intergovernmental meetings.

• 1953-54 – intergovernemental meetings diluting the draft treaty for EPC

• 1954 September - The French parliament fails to ratify the EDC


German rehabilitation and rearmament on the rise

1954 OctoberGermany joints Britain, France, Italy and the Benelux in the

Western European Union at the initiative of the British Prime Minister Anthony Eden

1955 MayGermany joints NATO via WEU


1954 November

Monnet‘s resignation from the High Authority to be able to influence the governments and parliaments decisions on the transfer of powers to the European institutions from without through the Action committee for a united States of Europe


Messina meeting of the ECSC foreign ministers

1955 June

• Monnet’s replacement• Paul Henri Spaak memorandum on the future of

European integration advocating for an atomic energy community

• a common market proposal• Spaak’ committee on future options


Venice meeting of the ECSC foreign ministers

May 1956

• Mr. Europe’ committee report: two sectoral integration objectives to be realized in separate organizations and treaties: atomic energy and economic integration

• Launch of the Intergovernmental conference


May 1956 – March 1957• The IGC, the national debates and the intergovernmental

bargaining • Robert Majolin’s “Battle of Paris” for a customs union and the common

market• Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg support of

the economic community and concern over the Euratom• French enthusiasm over the atomic energy community and conditions

for the EEC • July 1956 vote in the French parliament on the Euratom positive

outcome• January 1957 vote in the French parliament on the EEC Treaty

conditional clauses: inclusion of agriculture in the common market and extending of the EEC privileges to the overseas possessions

• Adenauer’s placating position


March 1957EEC and Euratom Treaties signed in Rome

The institutional frameworks patterned on the ECSC with Commission replacing the High Authority

July 1957EEC and Euratom Treaties endorsed by the French

parliament

January 1958The new communities become operational with Brussels

hosting their institutions


Treaty establishing the European Economic Community

Article 2The Community shall have as its task, by establishing a

common market and progressively approximating the economic policies of Member states, to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion, an increase in stability, an accelerated raising of the standard of living and closer relations between States belonging to it.



Article 3For the purposes set out in Article 2, the activities of the Community shall

include, as provided in this Treaty and in accordance with the timetable set out therein:

(a) The elimination, as between Member states, of customs duties and of quantitative restrictions on the import and export of goods, and of all other measures having equivalent effect;

(b) The establishment of a common customs tariff and of common commercial policy towards third countries;

(c) The abolition, as between Member states, of obstacles to freedom of movement for persons, services and capital;



Article 3(d) The adoption of a common policy in the sphere of

agriculture;(e) The adoption of a common policy in the sphere of

transport;(f) The institution of a system ensuring that competition in

the common market is not distorted;(g) the application of procedures by which the economic

policies of the member states can be coordinated and disequilibria in their balances of payment remedied;



Article 3(h) The approximation of the laws of Member states to the extent required

for the proper functioning of the common market;(i) The creation of the European social fund in order to improve

employment opportunities for workers and to contribute to the raising of the standards of living;

(j) The establishment of the European investment bank to facilitate the economic expansion of the community by opening up fresh resources;

(k) The association of the overseas countries and territories in order to increase trade and promote jointly economic and social development.



Article 41. The tasks entrusted to the Community shall be carried

out by the following institutions:An Assembly,A Council,A Commission,A Court of Justice.

each Institution shall act within the limits of the powers conferred upon it by this Treaty.

2. The Council and the Committee shall be assisted by the Economic and Social Committee acting in the advisory capacity.



Article 61. The Common market shall be progressively established

during a transitional period of twelve years.This transitional period shall be divided into three stages of

four years each; the length of each stage may be altered in accordance with the provisions set out below.


Lecture 2: Theory of European Integration

• The Meaning of Integration• Federalism, Functionalism and Transactionalism• Neofunctionalism and the Architects of the European

Unity• Neofunctionalism as the general Theory of European

Integration


Readings for the lecture • Haas B. Ernst. (2004) The Uniting of Europe. Political, Social

and Economic Forces, 1950-1957. Published by the University of Notre dame Press;

• The abridged version of Haas E.B. The Uniting of Europe. Political, Social and Economic Forces 1950-1957. 1958. in The European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998;

• Rosamond Ben. (2000) Theories of European Integration. The European Union Series. Palgrave; Introduction, Chapter 2, Chapter 3;


Readings for the lecture• Spinelly A. and Rossi E. The Ventotene Manifesto (1941). The

European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998;

• Mitrany D. A Working Peace System. 1943; The European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998;

• Lindberg L.N. Political Integration: Definitions and Hypotheses (1963). The European Union. Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Nelsen B.F. and Alexander C – G. Stubb (eds.), Palgrave, 1998


Thank you!

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