European integration - Franco-German interests in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

Travail d'étude , 2006 , 12 Pages , Note: 1,8

Politique - Sujet: Union européenne

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.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Jean Monnet
• French Interests and the "German Question"
• Britain's Interests
• The Cold War and the Interests of the USA
• Between 1949 and the Ratification of the Schuman Plan
• The Reversal
• The Condition of France
• Interests of German Politics
• Interests of the German Industry
• Korean War
• Back to the Negotiations
• End of the Negotiations and the Ratification of the Contract

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text explores the motivations behind the signing of the Schuman Plan, which established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It examines the role of key actors, including Jean Monnet, France, Germany, Britain, and the USA, and their respective interests in the formation of this first step towards European integration.

• The "German Question" and France's desire for a lasting peace and a solution to its historical concerns about German power.
• The interests of Britain and its perspective on European cooperation, including its focus on the Commonwealth and its role in stabilizing Europe.
• The influence of the Cold War and the changing diplomatic climate on the development of the ECSC.
• The economic motivations behind the Schuman Plan and the role of coal and steel in European industrial development.
• The interplay of national interests and the challenges of creating a unified Europe in the post-war era.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: Introduces the Schuman Plan and its significance in the development of the European Union. Questions the idealistic motivations behind the plan and highlights the role of economic and political factors.
• Jean Monnet: Discusses Jean Monnet's contribution to European integration and the role he played in bringing about the Schuman Plan. Highlights his approach to overcoming previous failures in European cooperation.
• French Interests and the "German Question": Examines France's key interests in the ECSC, specifically focusing on the need to address the German Question and prevent a resurgence of German power. It explores France's historical relationship with Germany and its desire for a lasting solution to the threat posed by Germany. France's role as a potential "Grande Nation" in Europe is also discussed.
• Britain's Interests: Focuses on Britain's role and perspective on European integration. It explains Britain's reluctance to commit to a more integrated Europe due to concerns about the Commonwealth and the state of France. It further discusses Britain's view on the need for a stronger Germany to counter Soviet expansion.
• The Cold War and the Interests of the USA: Addresses the influence of the Cold War on the development of the ECSC. Explores the strategic interests of the USA in Europe and its potential role in pushing for the Schuman Plan.
• Between 1949 and the Ratification of the Schuman Plan: Details the process of negotiations leading to the ratification of the Schuman Plan. It includes discussions on the various challenges and obstacles faced by the participating nations.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The core keywords for this text are: European Integration, Schuman Plan, European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), "German Question," France, Germany, Britain, USA, Cold War, National Interests, Economic Interests, Political Interests, International Cooperation, Historical Context, Post-War Europe, Jean Monnet.

• Université: The University of Sydney
• Note: 1,8
• Auteur: BSc Daniel Döring (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2006
• Pages: 12
• N° de catalogue: V79535
• ISBN (ebook): 9783638868341
• ISBN (Livre): 9783638868419
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: European, Franco-German, European, Coal, Steel, Community