WEEK 1: Introduction (Early Thoughts on Integration)

Question 1

Who were some of the early theorists on European Integration?

Answer 1

• Pierre Dubois (1255-1312):
• King George of Bohemia (1420-1471)
• William Penn (1644-1718)
• Abbe de Saint-Pierre (1658-1743)

Question 2

What was Dubois’s view on early Integration?

Answer 2

‘Christian Republic’ with a Permanent assembly of princes.

In case of disputes nine judges from each kingly state and the Pope would act as Court

Question 3

What was King George’s view on early integration?

Answer 3

Proposed a European confederation (against Ottoman Empire)

Question 4

What was Sully’s view on early integration?

Answer 4

Suggested the creation of European Senate with 66 members/3y term

Question 5

What was Penn’s view on early integration?

Answer 5

Proposed a European Parliament (EP) with weighted votes for dispute resolution

Question 6

What was Saint-Pierre’s view on early integration?

Answer 6

suggested a free trade area and a European Parliament

• With weighted voting
• Inspired Schiller to write ‘Ode to Joy’ (1785), the current European anthem

Question 7

What was the Economic Impact of WWII?

Answer 7

Economic destruction

e.g. France GDP after 1945 has same level of GDP to that of 1891

Question 8

What was the Political Impact of WWII?

Answer 8

• Very strong idea that roots and causes of war was nation state and nationalism
• End of Great Power Era (UK and Fr)

This impact lead to a mood for change

Question 9

What led to the mood for change?

Answer 9

• Strength of the European Federalists movement formed out of the wartime resistance (Italy, France, Germany and other continental countries)
• Belief that there was a need for a radical alternative to a Europe of nation-states

Question 10

What was the Hague Conference (1948)?

Answer 10

A congress that set apart 3 objectives:
1. A body of public opinion in support of European unity

2. To discuss the challenges posed by European unity and propose practical solutions to governments;
3. To give new impetus to the international publicity campaign.

Dominated by national governments and watered down federal europe idea

Question 11

What did the Hague Conference lead to?

Answer 11

• Led to council of Europe

- Led to college of Europe
To bring students from different countries to strengthen ties

Question 12

What was the role of the US and The Cold War on integration?

Answer 12

• Europe divided into communist and liberals

- Collaboration of US,UK and FR to ensure European countries armed to stop expansion by communist block

Question 13

What was the role of the US in Western Europe?

Answer 13

-OEEC (1948): created after the insistence of the US
that decisions aid were to be jointly made.

• Led to Truman doctrine and Marshall Plan
• Aid with strings: To create ties, receiving aid you had to sign up for west Europe payment union (To stabilise trade)
  e. g. 1st Fiat 500: Known as Marshall Baby

Question 14

What was the Schuman Plan(1950)?

Answer 14

Devised by Jean Monnet and announced by Schuman (French Foreign Minister)

To create Peace in Europe through unity and overcoming the hostility between France and Germany

Question 15

How was the Schuman Plan intended to pass?

Answer 15

• European Steel and Coal Commission
• Plan to place the Franco-German production of coal and steel under a high authority in an organisation that would be open to other states.

First step towards a federation of Europe – that would make war unthinkable and materially impossible (since coal and steel most important resources for war)

Believed integration starts entirely on economics

Question 16

What was the elements of the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Commission)?

Answer 16

Six member states (France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Italy)

• Six ‘founding’ states signing the Treaty of Paris in April 1951
• In these negotiations, the United States played a key role (behind the scenes)

Question 17

What was the Treaty of Paris in 1951 and what did it establish?

Answer 17

Treaty that established the ECSC

The establishment of a supranational body (The High Authority) with some control over domestic coal and steel

Established:
A Council of Ministers, a Common Assembly (later European Parliament) and a Court of Justice that would rule on the legality of the High Authority’s decisions

Question 18

What was the French reason to join the ECSC?

Answer 18

To control Germany (Coal and Steel) so to not allow another expansion

Question 19

What was the German/Italian reason to join ECSC?

Answer 19

Viewed as black sheep.

By joining show that the past is the past and want to co-operate

Question 20

What was Belgian,Netherlands and Luxemborg’s reason for joining? (BENELUX)

Answer 20

Since smaller, they can be allowed to restrict powers and expansion of Ger and Fr

Question 21

What the UK’s reason for not joining

Answer 21

• Attlee Govt.
• Strong nationalisation view (Coal and Steel)
• Treasury thought Europe as weakest in trade triangle (EU,US,Common Wealth)

Question 22

What is the role of each institution in the ECSC?

Answer 22

• High Authority: Executive Body,pledged to rep interests of everyone (Draft legislation)
• Council of Ministers: Scrutinises and decides if draft legislation should pass (Unianimous vote needed)
• Court of Justice:
  To make sure the law is followed by the 6 states
• Common Assembly:
  Giving advice

Question 23

What was the European Defence Community (EDC) and European Political Community (EPC)?

Answer 23

• EDC was proposed by the French PM Rene Pleven (Pleven Plan) on 24th October 1950
• Formation of supranational European Army
• Response to U.S demands
• EPC seen a directly elected assembly (“the Peoples’ Chamber”), a senate appointed by national parliaments and a supranational executive accountable to the parliament.

Question 24

Why did the EDC and EPC fail?

Answer 24

• EDC met strong opposition in France and was rejected by the French National Assembly on 30th August 1954
• Italian insistence supported by federalists - need for a democratic dimension to the EDC
• When EDC failed proposals of EPC were shelved

Question 25

Why was the Treaty of Rome proposed?

Answer 25

• In face of EDC and EPC failure, Monnet launches initiatives for revival of European Integration
• Success of ECSC encouraged politicians

Question 26

What was the Treaty of Rome (1957)?

Answer 26

Brought about the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Community (Euratom)

Question 27

How did the treaty of Rome start?

Answer 27

• Benelux initiative in Apr 1955
• Started in Messina
• To extend collab of the 6 to: Energy (particularly nuclear), transport and common general market for industrial goods
• Communist threat sped up negotiations
• Spaak committee to map common market (Logistics)
• Led to Treaty of Rome

Question 28

What was DeGaulle’s leadership ambitions?

Answer 28

• 1960 onwards regular meetings with foreign ministers
• Developed a close relationship with German Chancellor
• Proposed the Fouchet Plan
• Vetoed the British application (1961)

Question 29

What was 1965 Empty Chair Crisis?

Answer 29

• France didn’t participate in budget
• Commission wanted its own budget - And by France not on table could not be finished (Boycott)
• Lead to Luxemborg compromise (In crisis end)