European Intergration: Before 1957 Flashcards
What happened in April 1948?
17 European nations set up the OEEC to distribute funds provided by the US in the Marshal Plan and promote trade
When did 17 European nations set up the OEEC to distribute funds provided by the US in the Marshal Plan and promote trade?
April 1948
Why was the OEEC formed in April 1948?
Distribute funds provided by the US in the Marshal Plan and promote trade
What was formed in April 1948 to distribute funds provided by the US in the Marshal Plan and promote trade?
OEEC
How did the USA provide economic aid?
Marshal plan (April 1948)
What did the Marshal plan (April 1948) do?
Foreign aid to Western Europe after WW2
How was the OEEC in terms of economic integration?
Supranational (beyond the control of one nation). To Britain, it didn’t represent an inter gratedorganisation and it did not move Europe closer towards any economic union or customs union.
Before 1948, where did half of British exports go?
Sterling area
Before 1948, what percentage of exports went to the sterling area?
50%
Before 1948, where did a quarter of British exports go?
Western Europe
Before 1948, what area did 1/4 of British exports go?
Western Europe
In 1947, what combination of countries had exports that equalled those of Britains?
Combined exports of France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Denmark
What happened in May 1950?
French Foreign Minister, Robert Schumann, launched an idea that had originally been proposed by French economist, Jean Monet. The idea was that the coal and steel resources of France and Germany should be combined and administered by a supranational authority, therefore all tariffs would be removed
When had Robert Schumann presented the idea that the coal and steel resources of France and Germany should be combined and administered by a supranational authority, therefore all tariffs would be removed?
May 1950
Who presented the idea that the coal and steel resources of France and Germany should be combined and administered by a supranational authority and thus the removal of all tariffs in May 1950?
Robert Schumann
What idea did Robert Schumann introduce in May 1950?
The idea was that the coal and steel resources of France and Germany should be combined and administered by a supranational authority, thus all tariffs would be removed
What was the primary objective of the Schumann plan in May 1950?
Ensure France’s security by preventing Germany having total control of the industries that had been at the heart of its war effort, in face of the newly created West German Federal State
What plan was introduced to ensure France’s security by preventing Germany having total control of the industries that had been at the heart of its war effort, in face of the newly created West German Federal State?
Schumann plan in May 1950
What did the Schumann plan in May 1950 represent in the first steps?
Removal in national economic barriers in Europe
What represented the first major steps in the removal of national economic barriers in Europe?
Schumann plan in May 1950
What happened in April 1951?
France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy agreed to set up the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)
When had France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy agreed to set up the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)?
April 1951
What did France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy form in April 1951?
ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)
Who was in the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community), newly formed in April 1951?
France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy
When did Britain join the ECSC?
December 1954
What happened in December 1954?
Britain became a member of ECSC
How did Britain react to the April 1951 formation of the ECSC?
Refused to join
When was the British coal industry nationalised?
July 1946
What happened in July 1946?
British coal was nationalised
What was the impact of the British nationalising their coal (July 1946) and steel industries?
Determined to protect their global interests
What percentage of British steel went to Western Europe before the formation of ECSC?
5%
Where did 5% of British steel go before the formation of the ECSC?
Western Europe
How did the British view the Schumann plan in May 1950?
French device to protect its security against possible German threat
What did the British see as a french device to protect its security against possible German threat?
Schumann plan in May 1950
What aspect of the Schumann plan in May 1950 did the British not like?
Supranational character, as there was an issue of British sovereignty
What did a foreign officer say about the dangers of the Schumann plan in May 1950?
‘We shall have tipped the balance against the other two elements in our world situation, the Atlantic community and the commonwealth’
Who said ‘We shall have tipped the balance against the other two elements in our world situation, the Atlantic community and the commonwealth’ and why did they say that?
Foreign office about Schumann plan in May 1950. This was because they were fearful that they would loose other interests.
What did Britain become a member of in December 1954?
ECSC
What happened in June 1955?
Messina Conference
When was the Messina Conference?
June 1955
Who attended the June 1955, Messina Conference?
Foreign ministers of: France Germany Belgium Holland Luxembourg Italy Britain (Russell Bretherton)
What was the purpose of the June 1955 Messina Conference?
Begin ‘a fresh advance towards the building of Europe’ and establish a customs union that would lead to a European common market
What conference had the aim of beginning ‘a fresh advance towards the building of Europe’ and establishment a customs union that would lead to a European common market?
June 1955
Who did Britain send to the June 1955 Messina Conference?
Board of Trade official, Russell Bretherton, to act as their representative ‘without commitment’
Too what conference did Britain send their board of Trade official, Russell Bretherton, to act as their representative ‘without commitment’ ?
June 1955
How did Britain react to the June 1955 Messina Conference?
Clear disregard for the opportunity it had at the Messina talks to have a leading role in the creation of a unified Europe
Who showed a clear disregard for the opportunity it had at the June 1955 Messina talks to have a leading role in the creation of a unified Europe?
Britain
Why did Britain disregard the June 1955 Messina talks?
Importance of Britain’s non-European economic interests were of greater importance. Commonwealth outweighed economic integration in Europe
Current trading partners rejected British protectionist commitment to Europe and would take their business elsewhere
This was the first steps towards a political union and Britain was not ready to give up its national sovereignty
Britain was the only nuclear power in Europe and therefore did not see a point in joining a collection of second rate western powers
When was the treaty of Rome?
March 1957
What happened in March 1957?
Treaty of Rome
Who signed the March 1957 treaty of Rome?
The Six (France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy)
What did The Six (France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy) sign in March 1957?
Treaty of Rome
What came into existence on the 1st of January 1958?
European Economic community (EEC)
When was the European Economic community (EEC) formed?
1st of January 1958
Why was the ECC a worry for Britain in terms of its alliance with the USA?
Britain feared that the EEC would become increasingly powerful economic and political force in Europe and thereby capable of exercising considerable force
What did the British government note in terms of the formation of the EEC (1st January 1958)?
‘Our special relationship with the USA would be endangered if the US believed that our influence was less than that of the European community’
Why did the British government that ‘Our special relationship with the USA would be endangered if the US believed that our influence was less than that of the European community’?
British government notes in terms of the formation of the EEC (1st January 1958)
What did Britain propose to appease the commonwealth?
European free trade area for industrial goods but not agriculture. Members of this proposed area could negotiate their own benefit their own import tariffs levels with non-members and they could be limited by common external-tariff rates of the kind the EEC was applying.
Why did the British propose an European free trade area for industrial goods but not agriculture? Members of this proposed area could negotiate their own benefit their own import tariffs levels with non-members and they could be limited by common external-tariff rates of the kind the EEC was applying.
Protecting commonwealth agricultural interests and strengthen the important economic and political links Britain had with the commonwealth
When was the Ottawa conference?
Mid/later 1932
What happened in Mid/Later 1932?
Ottawa Conference
What was the 1932 Ottawa conference?
Britain abandoned free trade and based agreements upon imperial preference. This enabled commonwealth states to protect themselves from foreign competition by applying high tariffs.
In what conference had Britain abandoned free trade and based agreements upon imperial preference?
1932 Ottawa conference
What was the impact of the 1932 Ottawa conference, where Britain abandoned free trade and based agreements upon imperial preference?
This enabled commonwealth states to protect themselves from foreign competition by applying high tariffs.
What was Britains strategy with thee EEC?
Association with, but not membership. Take advantage of the free trade opportunities in European markets while retaining close trading links with the Commonwealth
What was the political aim regarding the EEC?
Non-membership would not lead to Britains isolation
What did Macmillan say in terms of European economic integration?
‘If ‘little Europe’ is formed without a parallel development of a free trade area, we shall have to reconsider the whole of our political and economic attitudes towards Europe… I doubt if we could remain in NATO… We should take our troops out of Europe’
Who said ‘If ‘little Europe’ is formed without a parallel development of a free trade area, we shall have to reconsider the whole of our political and economic attitudes towards Europe… I doubt if we could remain in NATO… We should take our troops out of Europe’?
Macmillan
What happened in December 1958?
France refused to accept Britains plan (European free trade for industrial not agriculture) and the other five EEC members supported this opposition
When had France refused to accept Britains plan (European free trade for industrial not agriculture) and the other five EEC members supported this opposition?
December 1958
What did the French president, Charles De Gaulle think about Britain?
Serious rival to France in becoming the dominant influence in Europe
Who thought Britain was a rival to France in becoming the dominant influence in Europe?
French president, Charles De Gaulle
What had Britain since 1945 not want to do?
Act like a second rate power
What happened in November 1959?
Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal signed the Stockholm convention, and agreed to create the EFTA
Who agreed to create the EFTA and signed the Stockholm Convention in November 1959?
Britain Denmark Norway Sweden Austria Switzerland Portugal
When had Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal signed the Stockholm convention, and agreed to create the EFTA?
November 1959
What was the overall impact of the signing of the Stockholm convention and EFTA in November 1959 to Europe and the US?
Europe and US saw this as the British showing that they were not willing to join the EEC
What were the aims of the EFTA?
Reduce tariffs
How did the British see the EFTA bringing in the EEC into multilateral talks?
Reduced tariffs would therefore lead to agreements between the two
What did Britain want out of the EFTA?
Influence Europe without compromising British national sovereignty
Who was the central player in Britain joining the ECC?
Harold Macmillian
How did Eisenhower and Kennedy view the EEC?
Strongly supported and wanted Britain to join
Which American president supported the EEC and wanted Britain to join?
Eisenhower
Kennedy
Who would not like a Europe dominated by French influence?
Britain
US
What kind of relationship did the US want with Western Europe?
Interdependency
Why was French influence not liked by the US?
They may promote self-sufficiency which would undermine the US
What would prevent the french from dominating the EEC?
British entry
What percentage of coal produced by Europe was exported in 1950?
6.2%
What percentage of coal produced was exported in 1965?
2%
What was happening to economic growth in Britain 2 years after the formation of the EFTA?
Slowed down
What happened to the EEC six as a result fo the removal of trade barriers?
Improved and economic growth in Britain was slowing
Was the EFTA a viable alternate to the EC?
No
Why was the EFTA not a viable alternates to the EEC?
Some members trading more with EFTA
What association was Britain trading with more even though they were in the EFTA?
EEC
What country was keen to cooperate with the EEC?
Denmark
What was Denmarks stance regarding the EEC?
Keen to cooperate with them even though they were in the EFTA
Why did Denmark not fully join the EEC?
Reliance on British market for agriculture
Which association offered more economic benefits for its members out of EEC and the EFTA?
EEC
What happened to commonwealth trade between 1954 to 1960?
Only increased by 1%
What period did commonwealth trade only increase by 1%?
1954-1960
What were the French doing to the EEC by 1960?
Pushing for it to develop as a political union
What would be the impact if the EEC became a political union?
Isolate Britain and could hurt their international image
What happened to exports to Europe during 1954-60?
Increased by 29%
When had British exports to Europe increased by 29%?
1954-60
