In 2007, the European Union celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, and thus its official hour of birth after many years of intensive negotiations, which had lasted from 1945 till 1957. From the very beginning on, Italy “had been amongst the keenest supporters of the European integration, both at the popular and the government levels” (Comelli 2011: 2) and had played an important role within all early proceedings. Especially under the political leadership of Alcide de Gasperi, Italy became one of the most influential negotiators and until today, the country is considered a triumphant founding nation of the European Union (Di Nolfo 1980: 145). This widespread pro-European attitude, however, has declined dramatically during the last decades. This negative relationship between Italy and the European Union, however, might be recovering from now on. Matteo Renzi, who got elected the new Italian prime minister in February this year, seems willing to contribute decisive activities to move the Italian population again closer to Europe. As a first important step, Renzi used his government declaration to underline the his-torical significance of the European Union and the urgent necessity for Italy to restart European cooperation (N24.de 2014). Referring to his prominent political precursor, Alcide de Gasperi, the Italian prime minister promised to close the gap between Italy and Europe again.
Picking up this recent look back to the founding period of the European Union by the Italian prime minister, this paper focuses on exactly that time and analyses Italy’s contribution during the early European integration. Political scientists and historians often divide this process in three main parts: the after-war period between 1945 and 1949, the beginning of multilateral negotiations from 1949 till 1954, and finally the most important time for the European unification ending with the ratification of the Treaties of Rome in 1957 (Di Nolfo 1980: 148).
In the subsequent analysis, I will follow this structure and thereby concentrate on the most decisive events that took place within the different periods - first and foremost the Brussels and Atlantic Pact (1948), the Schuman Declaration (1950), the European Defence Community (1952), the Spaak Committee (1955), and the Treaties of Rome (1957).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- 1945 - 1949: Italy's situation after the Second World War
- 1949-1954: From the Schuman Declaration to the European Defence Community (EDC)
- 1954-1958: The milestone period of the European integration process
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines Italy's role and contribution during the early stages of European integration, focusing on the period between 1945 and 1957. It aims to understand the political developments and decisive events that shaped Italy's path towards a new Europe.
- Italy's post-war recovery and the need for international support.
- Italy's evolving relationship with the United States and the Soviet Union.
- The Schuman Declaration and the establishment of the European Defence Community.
- The role of Alcide de Gasperi and his vision for European integration.
- The impact of the Treaties of Rome and the formation of the European Union.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the scene for the paper, highlighting Italy's historical commitment to European integration and its decline in recent years. It also introduces the concept of the "Second Republic" and its impact on Italy's European outlook.
- 1945 - 1949: Italy's situation after the Second World War: This chapter delves into the devastating effects of the war on Italy, outlining the political and economic challenges the country faced. It also explores the role of Alcide de Gasperi and his efforts to stabilize the political system and rebuild the economy. The chapter then examines Italy's reliance on American support through the Marshall Plan and its efforts to regain its international standing.
- 1949-1954: From the Schuman Declaration to the European Defence Community (EDC): This chapter focuses on the early stages of multilateral negotiations for European integration. It discusses the Schuman Declaration and its impact on the European political landscape. The chapter then explores the formation of the European Defence Community and Italy's position within this new entity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper centers around the keywords: European integration, Italy, Alcide de Gasperi, post-war recovery, Schuman Declaration, European Defence Community, Treaties of Rome, political developments, historical context, European Union, Second Republic.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Anna Leiber (Author), 2014, Italy’s first steps towards a new Europe (1945- 1957), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282699
