The background to the Schuman Declaration was the tense climate following the Second World War pervaded by the ‘cold war’ and fear of a third world war. In addition to the political tensions, economic difficultieswere also in prospect since European industry was threatened with a crisis due to overproduction of steel. There was a widespread view that it was necessary for the Western European countries to enter into new patterns of cooperation in order to meet the security and economic challenges of the time; in particular, it was considered necessary to establish cohesion between West Germany and the other Western European countries.
Through the Schuman Declaration, the French Government proposed that Franco-German coal and steel production be placed under the jurisdiction of a common body known as the ‘High Authority’ (the precursor of the Commission) in an organisation which would also be open to other European countries to join. After the presentation of the Schuman Declaration, things moved rapidly. Against the background of the Declaration, an intergovernmental conference was convened in
The six countries which signed the Treaty were
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Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries. With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point. It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organisation open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. |
Sidst opdateret: 25-07-2008 - ANSJ