Samenvatting European Governance
Chapter 1 The historical development of the EU
On 9 may 1950 Robert Schuman (French Minister of Foreign Affairs) proposed a plan
that laid the foundation for today’s European Union by proposing to set up a European
Coals and Steel community (ESCS). Instead of conquering new territory by force as the
old superpowers used to do, the EU has been able to expand because countries have
been very eager to join and share in the assumed benefits of membership. After the
second world war Europe was divided into an western and an eastern part. The
Western part of Europe consisted of liberal democracies that were strongly supported
and protected by the USA. Fears that the Soviet Union might try to expand its sphere of
influence westward necessitated a swift rebuilding of Europe. Hence, the USA was
supportive of many of the initiatives that were launched to foster cooperation. Three
different types of organization emerged: 1. Military cooperation found its beginnings in
initiatives for a common defence such as the Western European Union and the NATO.
2. Political cooperation emerged via organizations such as the Council of Europe. 3.
Economic cooperation took root via the Organisation for European Economic Co-
operation (OOEC), the Benelux and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
On 9 may 1950 Monnet’s scheme was presented by the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs Robert Schuman in a declaration that is nowadays considered to be the EU’s
founding moment. Two things in the excerpt from Schuman’s speech merit attention.
First the plan was innovative because it proposed the institution of an impartial body –
the High authority – that would be empowered to monitor and execute the agreement
between the member states. This feature would give the ECSC the characteristics of a
supranational organization: member states handed over part of their sovereignty to a
third, neutral party that would supervise the execution of the terms of the treaty. The
supranational formula differentiated the organization from all the other organizations
which had been set up so far: these had been intergovernmental organizations. A
second important feature of the plan was its limited scope. Cooperation would start on a
small basis by first trying to manage the common market for coal and steel. It was
deliberate decision to do this, because it was absolutely clear that the time was not ripe
yet for a fully fledged federal state. On 18 April 1951 the six countries signed the Treaty
of Paris which formally established the European Coal and Steel Community. The
Community’s four main institutions were:
- A Council of Ministers, representing the member state governments, to co-decide on
policies not provided for in the Treaty.
- A High Authority, consisting of independent appointees, acting as a daily executive
making decisions on the basis of the Treaty provisions.
- A Court of Justice, consisting of independent judges, to interpret the Treaty and
adjudicate conflicts between member states and the High Authority.
- A common Assembly, drawn from members of national parliaments, to monitor the
activities of the High Authority.
, Representatives of the founding member states discusses different proposals. In the
end the governments agreed on the establishment of two new communities that were
laid down in the Treaties of Rome. The European Atomic Energy Community (Eurotom)
would strive for the development of nuclear energy, whilst the European Economic
Community (EEC) would focus on establishing the free movement of goods, services,
persons and capital between the member states.
Copenhagen criteria: Fundamental conditions regarding institutions, human rights and
economic readiness aspiring member states have to meet before being able to join the
EU.
Opt-outs: Specific exceptions that are granted to a member state when it is unwilling or
unable to fully accept all provisions of a treaty or a law.
Euroscepticism: Term used for people, member states or political parties that have
been highly critical of European integration.
Chapter 1 The historical development of the EU
On 9 may 1950 Robert Schuman (French Minister of Foreign Affairs) proposed a plan
that laid the foundation for today’s European Union by proposing to set up a European
Coals and Steel community (ESCS). Instead of conquering new territory by force as the
old superpowers used to do, the EU has been able to expand because countries have
been very eager to join and share in the assumed benefits of membership. After the
second world war Europe was divided into an western and an eastern part. The
Western part of Europe consisted of liberal democracies that were strongly supported
and protected by the USA. Fears that the Soviet Union might try to expand its sphere of
influence westward necessitated a swift rebuilding of Europe. Hence, the USA was
supportive of many of the initiatives that were launched to foster cooperation. Three
different types of organization emerged: 1. Military cooperation found its beginnings in
initiatives for a common defence such as the Western European Union and the NATO.
2. Political cooperation emerged via organizations such as the Council of Europe. 3.
Economic cooperation took root via the Organisation for European Economic Co-
operation (OOEC), the Benelux and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
On 9 may 1950 Monnet’s scheme was presented by the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs Robert Schuman in a declaration that is nowadays considered to be the EU’s
founding moment. Two things in the excerpt from Schuman’s speech merit attention.
First the plan was innovative because it proposed the institution of an impartial body –
the High authority – that would be empowered to monitor and execute the agreement
between the member states. This feature would give the ECSC the characteristics of a
supranational organization: member states handed over part of their sovereignty to a
third, neutral party that would supervise the execution of the terms of the treaty. The
supranational formula differentiated the organization from all the other organizations
which had been set up so far: these had been intergovernmental organizations. A
second important feature of the plan was its limited scope. Cooperation would start on a
small basis by first trying to manage the common market for coal and steel. It was
deliberate decision to do this, because it was absolutely clear that the time was not ripe
yet for a fully fledged federal state. On 18 April 1951 the six countries signed the Treaty
of Paris which formally established the European Coal and Steel Community. The
Community’s four main institutions were:
- A Council of Ministers, representing the member state governments, to co-decide on
policies not provided for in the Treaty.
- A High Authority, consisting of independent appointees, acting as a daily executive
making decisions on the basis of the Treaty provisions.
- A Court of Justice, consisting of independent judges, to interpret the Treaty and
adjudicate conflicts between member states and the High Authority.
- A common Assembly, drawn from members of national parliaments, to monitor the
activities of the High Authority.
, Representatives of the founding member states discusses different proposals. In the
end the governments agreed on the establishment of two new communities that were
laid down in the Treaties of Rome. The European Atomic Energy Community (Eurotom)
would strive for the development of nuclear energy, whilst the European Economic
Community (EEC) would focus on establishing the free movement of goods, services,
persons and capital between the member states.
Copenhagen criteria: Fundamental conditions regarding institutions, human rights and
economic readiness aspiring member states have to meet before being able to join the
EU.
Opt-outs: Specific exceptions that are granted to a member state when it is unwilling or
unable to fully accept all provisions of a treaty or a law.
Euroscepticism: Term used for people, member states or political parties that have
been highly critical of European integration.
