Topic 10. The Gaullist re-interpretation of the European Communities Flashcards
Progress in European integration
Quick evolution of EEC:
* Great relevance leadership of the process by the President of the European Commission (Walter Hallstein) * In 1960 there is a 30% increase of intra-EEC trade exchanges (just 17% in the case of EFTA). * Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is gradually deployed since 1962. * Internal tariffs are eliminated in 1968. * 1965: Treaty merging the executive bodies of the 3 Communities
French Foreign Policy - reminder
Utilitarian Europeism
* “European” europeism (no Atlantism) * No deepening European integration with supranational institutions. * Franco-German axis key for European cooperation
Fouchet Plans
- De Gaulle returns to French presidency at 1958.
- Heads of State summit of the Six MS (Bonn, 1961): establishment of a Research Committee (lead by Christian Fouchet, French FA minister) to study the possibility to create a political and diplomatic cooperation mechanism among the Six.
- No agreement: “The French plan is based on the old idea of a treaty between States, an Alliance of Europe of Nations” (Luns, Dutch FA minister).
Fouchet Plan I
Treaty for the European Political Union
1961: first draft the Treaty for the European Political Union (Fouchet Plan I):
* Union of States based on the respect for the individuality of their peoples and MS
* Areas of activity: Common Foreign Policy + Common Defence Policy; defense Human Rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy; cultural cooperation
* Institutions: Council of Heads of State and Government; European Parliament; Political Commission.
* Union open to all MS of the Council of Europe
Fouchet Plan II
Treaty for the European Political Union
1962: second draft of the Treaty for the European Political Union (Fouchet Plan II):
* New competences on economic affairs
* Institutions: Council will be annually accountable to the European Parliament
Fouchet Plan: Federalist version of the Treaty
- 1962: other 5 states from the Little Europe propose a Federalist version of this Treaty for a European Political Union:
- Instead of a “Union of States”, they propose a “European Union”
- Goal of a common defence policy “within NATO framework”
- Harmonization and unification of MS legislation
- Including a Court of Justice and a General Secretary appointed by the Council
- Later institutional merge between the Political Union and the other European Communities
French veto to UK adhesion to EC
- Reminder: in 50s the British decline their participation on the European economic integration process. beginning of 60s reconsiders its position.
- France is against British accession to European Communities: (1) Anglo-Saxon hegemony; (2) preserve Franco-German engine.
- 1961-63: first British negotiations to EC adhesion. France vetoes
- 1967: UK renews its application + France uses the same reasons as first veto, including monetary doubts. France proposes a partnership agreement with UK.
- 1969: first changes of French position regarding British adhesion: (1) GFR is more politically “mature” regarding its Foreign Policy; (2) De Gaulle substituted by Georges Pompidou.
- 1970: beginning of negotiations for the adhesion of UK, Ireland, Denmark and Norway. In 1973 all accede European Communities except Norway. From Six to Nine
Empty Chair crisis
Gaulle boycotted European institutions due to issues he had regarding new political proposals by the European Commission
- De Gaulle (1) worried by some institutional developments at the Communities and (2) upset by the refusal of the Fouchet Plans:
* 1965: Treaty merging the executive bodies of the 3 Communities
* Against strengthening the European Parliament / Oversized European Commission
* Against the extension of the QMV at the Council - in 1965 France provokes the Empty Chair crisis.
The Luxembourg Compromise
The Luxembourg Compromise was an agreement reached in 1966 to resolve the “empty chair crisis” which had caused a stalemate within European Economic Community.
- EEC Foreign Affairs ministers meet at Luxembourg (1966) and accept the Luxembourg Compromise