With the 18.04.1951 ratified Schuman-Plan, one of the most important Contracts in European Integration has become valid. The European coal and steel community (ECSC) is overall seen as the first Milestone for the today known European Union (EU). This community was the first step towards the present European parliament, European commission, and the European court of justice.
But there is the question, seen from the present point of view, if the Schuman-Plan was the birth of the European supranational community. Was this contract signed by the six nations out of idealistic goals, without any self-interest reasons to create a peaceful Europe? This question is admittedly very hard on the six nations that officially had idealistic reasons when they signed the ECSC Contract. But i will show that this project of a unified Europe was not Jean Monnet’s only goal as it is stated in some present perspectives.
On the next pages i will focus on the reasons why the war opponents Germany, France and the other nations were willing the take on this project together.
Quoting Kipping’s Work on the Schuman-Plan it is not certain if the plan was motivated more by economic or political reasons. Also it is disputed who the plan was developed by. On one side it is believed that all this was pressured by Jean Monnet and France. A different scenario states that the USA Interest was the empowerment of Germany, and that this was the real pressure behind the Schumann-Plan. A third one is a mix between the first two which states that the USA pressured the nations, but never directly intervened.
Along with the controversy above, it is still unsure if peace or economic interests were the reasons for the teamwork of the six nations. At the beginning researchers believed that the main reasons were political and indirectly economical.
At the beginning Schumann underlined the great security-political importance of the ECSC, as it stands for a unified Europe and reduced the risk of Germany going its own way in an unknown future. The economic interests by the nations developed later according to Kippings.
At a glance
- Grade: 1.8 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Examines the German coal sale organisation DKV in the negotiations
- Discusses Kipping’s competing interpretations of the Schuman Plan’s origins
Table of Contents
1. Anti German Politics between 1945 and 1949
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 Jean Monnet
1.1.2 French Interests and the “German Question”
1.1.3 Britain’s Interests
1.1.4 The Cold War and the Interests of the USA
2. Between 1949 and the Ratification of the Schuman Plan
2.1 The Reversal
2.1.1 The Condition of France
2.1.2 Interests of German Politics
2.1.3 Interests of the German Industry
2.1.4 Korean War
2.1.5 Back to the Negotiations
2.1.6 End of the Negotiations and the Ratification of the Contract
Objectives and Themes
The work examines why France, Germany and other nations supported the European Coal and Steel Community, asking how far political, security and economic self-interest, rather than the ideal of a peaceful Europe alone, shaped the Schuman Plan.
- French security concerns and the German question
- Jean Monnet’s modernisation plans
- British and American interests in postwar Europe
- German political and industrial interests
- The Cold War, the Korean War and negotiations
- Coal, steel, competition and European integration
Excerpt from the Book
French Interests and the “German Question”
The “German Question” was the core of all French interest in the ECSC. It was the aim to find a way to stop the possible threat of war created by Germany for all times. The second aim was to strengthen France at the same time, that it would not have to fear Germany in the future as it would be an equal opponent. It was also not just a national interest. France tried to be the “Grande Nation” in Europe, but still suffered of the defeat in 1940. Already in the 19th century the relationship between France and Germany was quite tense. Therefore to create a bond between the two countries the ECSC was the best solution to prevent Germany to develop to a Monarchy in the future. France was the most interested of the Nations to find a solution to the “German Question”.
The geographic position in the middle of Europe and the direct neighbourhood to Germany was a great potential threat to France compared to the other allies, like the Soviet Union, the USA which were all far away. Britain was even on its own island. France was the only country of the Allies that was orientated on the continental-European culture, while Britain preferred the commonwealth, and the USA and Soviet Union weren’t really bothered as they were no direct neighbours of Germany.
After 1945 the allies tried to solve the “Germany Question” by the use of Anti-German policies. This would work by cutting down Germany in many territories to weaken the economy and Germany itself as a European great power. The next step would have been restrictions on Germany’s sovereignty as a nation, and the supervision by the winning nations of the 2nd world war.
Also Germany was pressured to give up its control over the Ruhr. At the same time France had plans for financial and economic growth to take Germany’s place in Europe as a great power. France did not give up trying to stop Germany’s industrial growth till 1949.
The central element of Monnet’s modernisation plan was to make sure that French industry had enough supply of German coal, e.g. by the integration of German territory in the French customs area. Also France created military contracts and a customs union to start up markets for mass production.
Chapter Summaries
Anti German Politics between 1945 and 1949: The first part introduces competing explanations for the Schuman Plan and examines French, British and American interests in Germany and European integration.
Between 1949 and the Ratification of the Schuman Plan: The second part explores France’s economic situation, German political and industrial interests, the Korean War and the negotiations leading to the signing of the treaty.
Keywords
European Coal and Steel Community, Schuman Plan, European integration, Franco-German relations, Jean Monnet, German question, French modernisation, coal, steel, Cold War, Korean War, industrial policy, treaty negotiations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the work about?
It examines the interests behind the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, particularly those of France and Germany.
What are its central themes?
Its themes include security, economic modernisation, industrial policy, national interests and postwar European integration.
What is the main research question?
The work asks why former wartime opponents supported the Schuman Plan and how political and economic interests related to the goal of peace.
What method does the author use?
The author presents a historical discussion based on published literature. The work does not describe an original survey, interviews or a formal empirical method.
What does the main discussion cover?
It moves from postwar policies towards Germany to French and German interests, international pressures and the negotiations over the Schuman Plan.
Which keywords characterise the work?
Key terms include the European Coal and Steel Community, the Schuman Plan, Franco-German relations, industrial policy and the Cold War.
How does the work address the German question?
It discusses French concerns about German security, industrial strength and control of the Ruhr alongside France’s own economic ambitions.
Why is the Korean War discussed?
The author considers how wartime demand for steel affected the economic context and German negotiating position.
- Quote paper
- BSc Daniel Döring (Author), 2006, European integration - Franco-German interests in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/79535
