The first major step

With the Declaration of May 9 1950 the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman wished to undertake a concrete path leading to the gradual rapprochement of European countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Indeed, ECSC was established the following year. It was the integration process’ first political accomplishment. However, its primary objective was to reconcile relations with Germany after the tragedy of the World War. In view of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration, SIR Europe correspondent in Brussels Gianni Borsa interviewed Thomas Brechenmacher, Professor of Modern History at Potsdam University, who authored numerous essays on this theme. Professor what was the political and socio-economic situation in Bonn and within Germany in the post-War years? “Germany’s Federal Republic was founded in 1949. However this didn’t imply that the country responsible for sparking off – and eventually losing – the war would be rehabilitated by the victorious powers. Indeed, the new State was lacking sovereignty and was controlled by American, British and French troops. From the social and economic standpoint the situation was catastrophic. The war caused the quasi-total destruction of Germany, leaving a hungry and pain-stricken population. This state of affairs dearly affected agriculture and industry. And although the United States had granted consistent aid for recovery through the Marshall Plan, the benefits were yet to come, due to the aftermaths of a very cold winter”. How did Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, the “founder” of reborn Germany, come to conceive the new relations with Paris and the European unity project? “Adenauer was aware that long-lasting peace in Europe could be obtained only with the reconciliation of the ‘old enemies’, namely Germany and France. Already in the pre-war period, during the Weimar Republic, Adenauer had promoted the idea of French-German reconciliation. After 1949 this principle became the foundation of his political action in his capacities as chancellor. Another important aspect of his initiative was that he believed that long-lasting contrasts between France and Germany could be toned down only with the resolution of old-dated contentions, such as the Ruhr’s raw goods reserves. Robert Schuman’s proposal of a French-German coal and steel institution – to which other European States were called to adhere – is to be viewed in this direction. This cooperation was the first step of European unification, realised with key industries’ co-administration. Economic cooperation was to leave way to political union: which proved to be the right path”. How did the political environment, the public opinion and the German Churches react to the Schuman Declaration and to the establishment of the ECSC? “Adenauer’s policy was not received with unanimous consensus. Many of his critics, especially within the German social-democratic party, feared that Adenauer’s proposal of binding the Federal Republic to Western Europe could prevent German reunification for long, especially since Western Europe’s support depended on Germany’s contribution to defence, within the framework of NATO. Socialist-Democrats, the unions and a large part of the Evangelical Church joined in the hot protests across the Federal Republic, sparked off by the question of German rearmament in the 1950s. Conversely, the Catholic Church sided with Adenauer, as European unification was viewed as a recovery of Western Christianity and of Roman-Carolingian values. Even this understanding of the West had warlike implications. Just as Western Christianity had victoriously defeated ‘Eastern’ Pagan Huns, the West was now recovering its Christian roots to defend Western Europe’s freedom from the threat of pagan Communism, once again coming from the East”. 60 years have passed, and the Community, today’s EU, made remarkable steps forward. What do you consider to be the greatest success of European integration? “The domestic market, the single currency, the free borders, the unrestrained freedom of movement, of performing economic activity, and of studying in Europe. In short: living”.Which are the major challenges which the EU is called to address? “One of the major challenges is the question regarding Europe’s future internal and external structure. Which new memberships can be accepted, and at which conditions? What do European values consist in? Is Christianity one of these? The European Constitution and the EU’s responsibilities are other matters at stake. In Germany, overloaded European bureaucracy is widely criticized for interfering too much in every day life and in various areas of society like agriculture and energy. For Europe to be truly accepted, Brussels should cease granting a uniformed structure to the whole of Europe. On the contrary, regional and federal realities must be respected and preserved. The EU must promote cultural diversity and richness across the continent. This in turn will promote European citizens’ identification with Europe”.