The Schuman Declaration: Birth of Europe

On May 9th, 1950, the European continent was forever changed with the Schuman Declaration. This historic event marked the beginning of the European Union, as we know it today. The causes of the Schuman Declaration, its unfolding, and its consequences are still discussed to this day.

Causes of the Schuman Declaration

The Schuman Declaration was an idea proposed by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on May 9th, 1950. This declaration was a response to the extreme difficulty in reconciling Franco-German relations following World War II. Schuman proposed that France and Germany create a joint authority to control and manage their shared coal and steel industries. This first step would eventually lead to a broader union among European nations in the form of what we now know as the European Union.

Unfolding of the Schuman Declaration

The Schuman Declaration laid out a plan for economic cooperation between France and Germany, and it soon gained support from other European nations. By 1951, six countries had signed the Treaty of Paris, creating the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This agreement was then followed by other treaties such as the Treaty of Rome which created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Single European Act (SEA). Each of these agreements has laid out a framework for closer cooperation among European nations.

Consequences of the Schuman Declaration

The immediate consequence of the Schuman Declaration was economic integration between France and Germany, which provided a foundation for other nations to join in the process of economic integration. Over time, this has resulted in the creation of a single market, with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor among member states. It has also led to increased political cooperation among member states, as well as greater cultural exchange. The result is a more unified Europe that is stronger than ever before.

The consequences of the Schuman Declaration are far reaching and have profoundly shaped Europe over the last 70 years. Today, it is considered one of the most significant events in European history and further attests to how far Europe has come since World War II.