After the end of WW2, Europe was both politically, economically and physically ruined.
‘The miserable legacy of heroic European nationalism—two world wars, countless millions dead, and economic ruin—was not lost on the peoples of Europe, who were receptive to the idea of treaty-based and highly institutionalized economic and political integration after World War II. European politicians wanted above all to end international strife, foster social harmony, and promote economic well-being. They sought to build a better world, free of the hatreds and rivalries that had destroyed their countries in recent years. For their generation, European integration became synonymous with peace and prosperity.’ [1]
Visions:
‘The cannon have ceased firing. The fighting has stopped; but the dangers have not stopped. If we are to form the United States of Europe, or whatever name or form it may take, we must begin now’ [2]
Federal:
Altiero Spinelli promoted the need for a Philadelphia-style convention.
Federal government would be the main goal, with individual member states sacrificing part of their own sovereignty to form the collective.
Functionalists / Pragmatic Internationalists:
Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman took a more realistic and pragmatic approach to unifying Europe.
‘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’. [3]
‘that we unite Europeans and that we do not keep them separated. We are not joining states, we are unifying men’ [4]
Their goal was to make a future war between France and Germany (and other states) ‘not only unthinkable but materially impossible’. [5]
Intergovernmentalism v Supranationalism:
Intergovernmentalism (usually Treaties):
Intergovernmentalism works on the key aspect that member states cooperate with one another for a common interest. Power remains with nation states.
‘consent rather than compulsion’ [6]
Characteristics:
Dependent institutions
Decision-making depends on component parts
Unanimous voting
Treaty-based international law
National interests
Identity fundamentally national
Supranationalism (like the EU):
Supranationalism aims to transcend national boundaries, authority or interests. Power is vested from nation states into another autonomous institution.
Characteristics:
Autonomous institutions
Independence of decision-making
Majority voting
‘Own’ legal order of a ‘constitutional’ nature
Transnational interests
European identity
Resources:
References:
[1] D Dinan, Europe Recast: A History of European Union (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner 2014, 2nd edn) 1–2 [2] Winston Churchill, Speech in Zurich (1946) [3] French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, Schuman Declaration (May 1950, prepared by Monnet) [4] J. Monnet, Les États-Unis d’Europe ont Commencé: La Communauté Européene du Charbon et de l’Acier, Discours et Allocutions 1952–1954 (Paris: Robert Laffont 1955) 132. [5] French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, Schuman Declaration (May 1950, prepared by Monnet) [6] J McCormick, Understanding the European Union (Basingstoke: Macmillan 2017, 7th edn) 14
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