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).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. 1945 - 1949: Italy’s situation after the Second World War
3. 1949 - 1954: From the Schuman Declaration to the European Defence Community (EDC)
4. 1954 - 1958: The milestone period of the European integration process
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The paper explores Italy's instrumental role in the early stages of European integration between 1945 and 1957. It aims to analyze the domestic political motivations, the influence of key figures like Alcide de Gasperi, and the strategic diplomatic efforts that positioned Italy as a central mediator in the foundation of the European Union, while contrasting this with contemporary Euro-scepticism.
- Italy’s political and economic reconstruction in the post-war era.
- The influence of the Schuman Declaration and the formation of the ECSC.
- The diplomatic challenges and ambitions regarding the European Defence Community (EDC).
- The significance of the 1957 Treaties of Rome and the relaunching of Europe.
- The role of Alcide de Gasperi as a founding father of European integration.
Excerpt from the Book
3. 1949 - 1954: From the Schuman Declaration to the European Defence Community (EDC)
The second important period within the early European integration was shaped by the close collaboration between Italy and France and the reappearance of a German national state. When the Federal Republic was founded 1949, “most Italians looked upon it with the same distrust and foreboding as the French did” (Willis 1971: 32). The memories of the German policy during the Second World War were still present in both countries. In order to set up a future international control over the German war industry and, at the same time, to integrate the new German state in a supranational political alliance, Robert Schuman proposed an important framework in 1950, the Schuman Declaration. The main goal of this plan was to unify the French and German production of coal and steel and to put it under a common high authority. By that, so Schuman’s idea, any military confrontation between France and Germany became impossible. In order to embed this foremost military idea into the ongoing process of the political and economic European integration, Schuman gave also other European countries the possibility to participate.
Although de Gasperi was glad about the reconciliation of the two countries, he soon feared a ”Franco-German hegemony in western Europe” (Willis 1971: 33). Therefore, he decided to participate in the Schuman Plan and to act as a mediator between France and Germany. In April 1951, the treaty was signed and created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). What looked on the first glance as only an economic alliance focussed an ambitious political goal: the Coal and Steel Community wanted “to achieve a peace settlement primarily between France and Germany” (Dinan 2005: 2). Concerning this important goal, de Gasperi and his government were highly in favour for the ECSC. The other Italian political parties, however, hold a completely different view. Especially the Communist and Socialist party saw the Schuman Plan “as another aspect of America’s growing hegemony in Europe” (Willis 1971: 36). As a consequence of this political dispute, the time between the treaty’s signature and its ratification in 1952 was strongly affected by discussions between the governing Christian Democrats and the opposition parties (Mancini 2000: 128).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the historical significance of Italy as a founding nation of the EU and addresses the recent decline in pro-European sentiment among the Italian population.
2. 1945 - 1949: Italy’s situation after the Second World War: The chapter describes the post-war struggle for economic recovery and political stabilization, culminating in Italy's shift toward Western integration.
3. 1949 - 1954: From the Schuman Declaration to the European Defence Community (EDC): This section examines Italy's active role in mediating between France and Germany during the establishment of the ECSC and the subsequent efforts regarding the EDC.
4. 1954 - 1958: The milestone period of the European integration process: It covers the final push toward the Treaties of Rome and the diplomatic milestones that solidified Italy's commitment to the European Economic Community.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the legacy of Alcide de Gasperi and the necessity of reflecting on early European idealism in the face of modern skepticism.
Keywords
Italy, European Union, European integration, Alcide de Gasperi, post-war reconstruction, Schuman Declaration, ECSC, EDC, Treaties of Rome, Marshall Plan, European Coal and Steel Community, Euro-scepticism, diplomacy, foreign policy, 1945-1957.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines Italy's political and diplomatic contributions to the European integration process between 1945 and 1957, highlighting the country's transition from a post-war state to a founding pillar of the European Union.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers post-war national reconstruction, the role of multilateral treaties, the influence of key political figures, and the evolution of Italian public opinion regarding Europe.
What is the primary research goal?
The objective is to analyze how Italy, under the leadership of Alcide de Gasperi, became a key mediator in European integration and to compare this historical commitment with the present-day rise of Euro-scepticism.
Which scientific methods are utilized in this work?
The paper employs a historical-analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, historical records, and public opinion data to evaluate Italy's political trajectory during the founding years of the EU.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body is structured chronologically, covering the initial post-war period, the formation of the ECSC, the negotiations surrounding the EDC, and the successful ratification of the Treaties of Rome.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Italy, European integration, Alcide de Gasperi, ECSC, EDC, Treaties of Rome, and European post-war history.
How did the Italian public's view of Europe change over time?
The author notes that while Italy was once among the most pro-European nations, public opinion has shifted due to factors such as financial crises and domestic political changes, leading to increased skepticism.
What role did Alcide de Gasperi play in the early European project?
De Gasperi is identified as a crucial founding father who actively sought to reconcile France and Germany and committed his political career to establishing a supranational European framework.
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- B.A. Anna Leiber (Autor:in), 2014, Italy’s first steps towards a new Europe (1945- 1957), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282699
