The most important early European integration took form in the shape of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This was an agreement between France, West Germany, Italy and the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) to create a common market for the coal and steel industries of these countries. The motives for the ECSC differed between the member countries. The prime motive for France was economic as it saw the ECSC as a way of gaining access to Germanys large steel resources and of strengthening its economy. Also it was a way of controlling the most important aspects of the West German economy, as there was a supranational authority known as the High Authority, which had the day to day control of the coal and steel industries in the member states. Therefore, it was an opportunity for France and the Benelux countries to ensure that West Germanys economy could not grow so much as to be used once again to threaten European peace. For the West Germans, who had very limited sovereignty, it was a way to gain more sovereignty. Konrad Adenauer, Federal chancellor from 1949 to1963 wanted full sovereignty for West Germany and to achieve this he decided on a policy of full cooperation and close collaboration with the strong Western powers. Therefore West Germany accepted the ECSC alliance on terms which were mainly French. Therefore political reasons were upmost in Adenauers thinking in accepting the ECSC, negotiated through the Treaty of Paris in 1951. The community came into being in August 1952.
The next attempt at European integration was the ill-fated European Defence Community (EDC). Owing to the Cold War (which was intensified by the war in Korea where the US and UK were fighting communism), it was felt by the USA that it was necessary either for the Western European countries to increase their contributions to NATO or allow the rearmament of West Germany. The West German leaders were in favour of the rearmament of Germany, believing that this would make West Germany more of an equal with other Western countries. France however was very wary of a possible German rearmament due to previous experiences of German invasion. However, France would agree to this if it were to be carried out under supranational control. Therefore any German military force would be controlled to some extent by France. This is very much like the French reasons for the ECSC. The European Defence Community would see troops from Western European states committed to a European army, to serve for European purposes, and not for national means. The EDC treaty eventually failed because the French Parliament failed to ratify it as the Communists and the Right were against it. Great Britain in both the ECSC and the EDC refused to take part it saw itself as a major world power with Commonwealth and American responsibilities and commitments, and preferred not to pool its economic or military resources with those of fellow European states.
In these early attempts at European integration, a pattern can be seen. West Germany was always very willing to cooperate with European integration as it saw it as a way of achieving more sovereignty and political independence from the restrictions placed upon it after the second world war. France saw early European integration as a way of controlling any possible threatening resurgence from West Germany as well as increasing its status as the main European superpower. Great Britain would not commit itself to any serious integration as it had strong connections with the Commonwealth ant the USA. This is ironic as the USA fully supported European integration as a means of providing a deterrent to Communism.
After the failure of the EDC it was realised that cooperation in defence and foreign policy would be very difficult to achieve in Western Europe. Therefore those who believed in a united Europe began to work on proposals for an economic community for Europe. The Treaty of Rome, for a European Economic Community was drawn up. Its aims were to establish a common market between its members and to establish monetary stability, economic expansion and social progress. The treaty also included a European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) as it was felt that this was, and was likely to be more so in the future, an important form of energy due to the oil problems. The Treaty of Rome was actually signed on March the 27th 1957 and came into effect on the first of January 1958. The French were in favour of this treaty primarily for economic reasons. Their economy at the time was in a bad predicament and they saw the EEC as the answers to their problems. The reverse was true in West Germany. They were enthusiastic about the political benefits as yet again it was a way of gaining equality with their West European neighbours. However West Germany thought that economically, the EEC common market would be a threat to German competitiveness. This was thought by Ludwig Erhard, West Germanys Economics minister. However Adenauer persuaded Erhard that it was in the best interests of West Germany. The Italian reason for joining was largely economic. They saw the EEC as a way of reducing their level of unemployment. They believed they could export their unemployed to other EEC member countries. Britain, once again refused to join initially. However Britain at that time and later was a nation in decline. It was very stretched with its Commonwealth and world defence commitments and was also losing its world importance. When the EEC took affect it was clear to see that the member countries were enjoying higher economic growth than Britain which, in a way had been left behind. Therefore, in 1960, the British conservative Prime Minister, Howard Macmillan decided to apply for membership of the EEC. This was for economic reasons as it became apparent that the EEC was beneficial for its member countries economies. However Britain’s entry applications were vetoed by de Gaulle, the French premier as he didn’t want Britain to undermine Frances position as leading power. Also he believed that it could be an attempt by Britain to undermine the EEC from within. However when de Gaulles leadership ended in 1969, this gave Britain the opportunity to join. They were finally accepted into the EEC in 1973 (which by then was called the European Community or EC as in 1965 the EEC, ECSC and Euratom had merged). This was not only due to the change in French leadership in 1968 but to the fact that France was becoming increasingly alarmed over West Germany’s increasing political strength and its Eastern policies (developing links with Eastern Europe). France believed that admission of Britain into the EEC would counterbalance the strength of West Germany. This was a purely political move from France ands its new president, Pompidou. In the same year that Britain joined, so did Ireland and Denmark. Both for the economic advantages more than for any political reason. In 1981 Greece was admitted. Later on in 1986 the Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal joined with Austria, Finland and Sweden enjoying successful applications in 1995, a year after a referendum in Norway on entry to the EC had a negative result. These later entrants joined for overriding economic reasons as with the end of the Cold War, the danger from Communism had disappeared so defensive issues were not as great a concern as in previous years.
Throughout the history of European Integration it would be fair to draw the conclusion that in all the different treaties and projects that have been created, the factors behind them all have been both economic and political. However to affirm that the main cause of European integration was economic factors would not be correct. It appears that the two main European powers which have been at the forefront of European integration have been France and the old West Germany. If we consider the underlying reasons for the enthusiasm of West Germany, the conclusion can be drawn that for the West Germans, European integration was a way to re-establish itself as a sovereign nation after its occupation after the second world war. The French belief in European integration was in fact, very ironically, to prevent West Germany from becoming too independent. This is because after the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 and the two world wars, in which all three the aggressor was German, the French had a great distrust of Germany. Therefore for these two nations political reasons were at the fore. However economic reasons were also very important. These were seen as a way to increase the strength of a country, resulting in an increased ability to protect itself. France wished to gain economic benefits at West Germanys expense. Britain was never truly interested in any European integration as it did not see itself as an integral part of Europe. However, when Britain realised the economic benefits, Harold Macmillan was quick to attempt to gain membership. Thus, for Britain the factors were overwhelmingly economic. The remaining European nations involved in European integration were largely followers of the proposals and initiatives taken by the main Western powers. The USA was keen on European integration mainly due to its fear of Communism spreading throughout the world and saw a united and integrated Europe as a strong deterrence to Communism. Therefore the USA had very strategic and political reasons for promoting European integration. Overall the economic factors for
European integration were not greater than the political and strategic military factors. It can be said that without the French wariness of the Germans and the Western (mainly USA) fear of the USSR and its Communism, no European integration would have taken place. However, whether economic or political, the factors behind European integration have not been based on a European ideology of a harmonious union but purely on the national interests of all nations concerned.
Bibliography
1- Ball, Margaret. (1959). NATO and the European Union Movement.
London: Stevens & Sons Limited.
2- Dedman, Martin J. (1996). The Origins and Development of the European Union
1945-95. London: Routledge
3- Lindberg, Leon N. (1963). The Political Dynamics of European Economic
Integration. London: Oxford University Press.
4- Urwin, Derek W. (1991). The Community of Europe. New York: Longman.
5- Zurcher, Arnold J. (1958). The Struggle to Unite Europe 1940-1958.
Washington Square: New York University Press