The Schuman Declaration: Articles

Even at a time of crisis, one can neither forget nor overstate the fundamental contribution of the European construct to the destiny of our continent over the last six decades. In several respects the successes of Europe may have exceeded the boldest expectations of its visionary founders. What seemed at the time no more than a dream—making war among the Member States of the Union “unthinkable”—became an unquestionable reality.

Cet article vise à appréhender l’émergence de la construction européenne à travers le spectre des idées, conceptions et croyances de trois pères fondateurs : Schuman, Adenauer et de Gasperi. Les auteurs souhaitent pour cela avancer le concept de « spillover culturel » qui insiste sur l’importance de la diffusion normative dans l’émergence de la construction européenne.

The economic impulses for a united Europe play a familiar part in the discussion of the origins of European integration; however, the importance of the Christian Democratic philosophical framework underlying the actions of several of the politicians who served as impetuses for the formation of the European Union is little examined in scholarly literature. This article aims at changing this.

The article aims to generate insights for further work on the legitimacy of politics in the European Union. Through an analysis of European newspapers, it examines and compares practices of memorializing the dates of two key events in the history of the European Union: the declaration by Robert Schuman on May 9 1950, and the signing of the Treaties of Rome on March 25 1957.

The European construct has created the framework for post-war reconstruction and has ingeniously provided the inspiration and mechanisms for a historical reconciliation between nations which hitherto had gone to war with each other – the horrors of which surpass even the worst of today's excesses – in every generation for the previous two centuries. This cannot but give inspiration and a sliver of hope in the face of our own intractable conflicts.

In publishing this document, which draws upon the European Parliament’s historical archives, the authors wish both to provide new insights into the aspirations and work of the Community’s 'founding fathers' and to promote awareness of our own institution’s substantial archives, which contain fascinating documents relating to over half a century of Community and Union history.

Europe has a special responsibility towards Israel and the Palestinian Authority, because the EU is the largest aid donor in the region and because of Europe's historical legacy. Europe can provide a roadmap on how a region can pull itself from centuries of violence to peace and stability through economic cooperation. Granted, European integration cannot be transplanted to the Middle East; however, the plan set in motion by Robert Schuman 60 years ago can provide a starting point for regional cooperation in the Middle East.

60 Jahre nach der Regierungserklärung vom 9. Mai 1950, in der der französische Außenminister Robert Schuman vorschlug, „die gesamte deutsche und französische Kohle- und Stahlproduktion einer gemeinsamen Hohen Behörde zu unterstellen, in einer Organisation, die für die Beteiligung der anderen europäischen Länder offen ist“,1 liegen die Anfänge der Europäischen Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl (EGKS) im Nebel mythischer Vorzeit. Warum gerade Kohle und Stahl? Warum 1950? Warum gerade sechs Gründungsmitglieder, die den ersten Vertrag zu supranationaler Gemeinschaftsbildung in Europa am 18. April 1951 unterzeichneten?

Le plan Schuman fonde ce qu'on a coutume d'appeler la méthode fonctionnelle, qui consiste à conduire à l'unité politique européenne par une unification économique. Il est en cela l'aboutissement de réflexions portant sur la part croissante de l'économique dans la politique extérieure des États. Dès la fin du XIX e siècle, des motivations économiques et politiques conduisent à penser un projet européen. Il s'agit à la fois de lutter contre la concurrence croissante de nouvelles puissances extra-européennes et contre celle qui sévit entre voisins européens.

Cet article cherche à étudier l'Union européenne des Fédéralistes comme dispensateur d'idées, agissant en une période propice face à des interlocuteurs en apparence enfin sensibilisés, tout en cherchant à comprendre comment et pourquoi l'Europe peut devenir, ou cesser d'être, un sujet fort d'actualité.

The title of this paper comes from the famous ‘Schuman Declaration’ of 1950, which signalled the placing of Franco-German production of coal and steel under a single High Authority. It is quite astonishing that from this humble beginning, evolved the European Union of today. Bibliographic references to the various treaties have become quite complicated. This article list sources in order to facilitate finding information on European legislation.

Le plan Schuman est probablement la décision de politique étrangère la plus originale qui ait été prise par la France depuis la guerre.

Public opinion everywhere is anxious to know how the question of the unification of Europe stands today. What were the original objectives? What has been done to attain them? How can the remaining obstacles be overcome? To find the answers we must begin by reviewing the progress already made, not in any mood of self-satisfaction, but in order to learn from the past what to do in the future.

This article examines the ways in which the Schuman Plan steps beyond traditional legal concepts. It attempts to understand the problems which gave rise to Schuman's declaration and to interpret the hopes and intentions of those who drafted it, while also considering public reaction to the plan.

This contemporary article analyses the Schuman plan from an American perspective. It explores the background and structure of the European Coal and Steel Community, as well as the arguments of the Paris Treaty's critics and proponents.

This article examines the Schuman Declaration from the vantage point of several stakeholders: France, Great Britain, Socialist groups within those states, the United States and - to a lesser extent - Germany. Each of these actors has its own hopes and fears attached to the Schuman Plan.

This report refers to the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 which is considered to be the birth certificate of the European construction.

Robert Schuman – a political figure emblematic not just of France but also and above all of Europe – was actively involved in founding what is now the European Union. The two World Wars and the profound changes in Europe in the 20th century shaped his life and his political career. In the current times of upheaval and uncertainty, it is well worth pausing to consider the history of the European institutions.

One of the founding fathers of the European Union, Robert Schuman embodies the most genuine spirit of European reconciliation. Visionary and realist, he brought to French diplomacy a new aim, a new dynamism, a new aspiration. Working in collaboration with West Germany, especially with its post-war chancellor Konrad Adenauer, and drawing on the creative work of French political economist Jean Monnet, Schuman was the leading advocate for and public author of the plan for the European Coal and Steel Community

Cet article étudie la place de la question de la paix dans la pensée et l’action politique de Robert Schuman, aux différentes étapes de sa vie. A la fois idéal et nécessité, la paix constitue sa préoccupation majeure. Elle passe, selon lui, par la coopération internationale, en particulier par la construction d’une Europe unie qui n’est pas une fin en soi mais un moyen de garantir la paix.

On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, Jacques Delors delivered this address in Luxembourg, recalling the circumstances under which Schuman made his groundbreaking speech and examining its continued resonance today