1 - The Origins of European Integration Flashcards
3 considerations for European integration
1) realization of own weakness after growth of US and USSR
2) Prevent future military conflict after the world wars, “never again”
3) Better, freer, more just world where international relations could be more orderly
First step of European Integration
creation of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Germany post WWII
occupied by allies (Yalta conference and Potsdam conference)
allies unified zones in 1949 to create the Federal Republic of Germany; East Germany became the German Democratic Republic
Problem of a re-empowered Germany remains
Ruhr and Saar
coal rich German regions that could allow for the remilitarization of Germany
Marshall Plan
3% of US GNP to aid in European recovery and to prevent the spread of communism
Summed up goals with US, Germany, and USSR
Keep US in, keep Germany down, and keep Russia out
Unanimity
all members need to agree to take action
Qualified Majority Voting
the majority is 50%+1 of the weighted votes of every state
3 reasons for integration
1) effects of WWII and threat of east west conflict meant Franco-German reconciliation was a priority
2) the decision to pool coal and steel industries in 1951 was the first step toward integration
3) the Treaty of Rome 1957 strengthened the foundations
Treaty of Paris 1951
Agreement between France, West Germany, Italy, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) to establish the ECSC
The role of the USA
assist in a fast reconstruction and rearm Germany, unify Western Europe
ECSC structure
High authority (2 members for each big member state and 1 minister for each small state + 1 president)
Council of ministers (1 minister from each member state)
Common Assembly (appointed Members of Parliament (MPS) from each member state)
Court of Justice
French resistance to German remilitarization
proposed the European Defense Committee
Federal Germany formed an army anyway and adhered to NATO in 1955
formation of the EEC
Dutch government proposed a common market for all of the industrial sector, France insisted on a special regime for agriculture
Treaties of Rome
March 25, 1957
Italy, France, Germany, Benelux signed
Created the European Economic Community (EEC) and EURATOM
EEC and EURATOM structure
High authority (2 members for each big member state and 1 minister for each small state + 1 president)
Council of ministers (1 minister from each member state), legislative
Common Assembly (appointed Members of Parliament (MPS) from each member state)
Court of Justice
COREPER: committee of the permanent representatives of the MS
Fusion Treaty
April 1965 merged the EEC, ECSC, and EURATOM
ECSC objectives
common coal and steel market as an experiment, first step towards a European Federation
EEC objectives
establish a common market based on the four freedoms of movement (goods, persons, capital, services)
A company can sell goods anywhere in the EU
EURATOM objectives
coordinate the supply of fissile materials and research programs for the peaceful use of nuclear energy
Robert Schuman’s appeal
French foreign minister, plan to put the use of coal and steel resources under a supranational high authority to prevent a future war; starting point of European integration
Focuses of the Treaty of Paris
1) freedom of movement of goods and free access to sources of production
2) permanent monitoring of the market to prevent distortions
3) rules of competition and price transparency
4) modernization of coal and steel sectors
Plans for European army
European Defense Community and a Political Community were negotiated but France refused to ratify
EEC treaty provisions (6)
1) elimination of customs duties between MS
2) creation of an External Customs tariff
3) Common policies for agriculture and transport
4) Creation of the European Social Fund
5) Establishment of a European Investment Bank
6) development of closer relations between MS
The EURATOM Treaty
ambitious objectives for the establishment and growth of nuclear industries, eventually scaled back
