Another significant international even occurred in 1956 with the advent of the Suez Crisis. In the crisis, two previous world powers (Great Britain and France) joined together to recover the Suez Canal from Egypt who had just nationalised it from British ownership, and therefore controls the shipping into the Mediterranean. The French and British forces were forced to withdraw however, not due to military defeat, but due to US blackmail. The US told Britain and France to call off the invasion, refused to fill the gap of an oil embargo from Saudi Arabia against Britain and France and threatened to sell all reserves of the British Pound (causing collapse of the currency). The withdrawal of France and Britain sent the message that, without the help of the US, Britain and France could not achieve anything. Therefore the thoughts of Britain and France still being great powers have diminished (along with the idea of Empire). In Great Britain, the Conservatives were far less imperial and more leaning towards the ‘ideal of European unity’. In France, the defeat was extremely demoralising and, as with Britain, clearly shows that without the US, France does not have the power (economically and financially) to influence world affairs efficiently. Therefore the crisis revealed the true weakness of the European powers and thus highlighted the need for greater European integration. In general, the international situation following World War 2, was of great importance in the development in the EEC as it greatly highlights the weaknesses of individual states and the need for a combined effort. Thus this factor is extremely important in creating the idea of an integrated Europe.
Another factor that led to the creation of the EEC is ‘the German factor’. This as a factor of European integration was forecast by Winston Churchill who once said “The first step in the recreation of the European family must be a partnership between France and Germany”. And Churchill was correct in saying this because 6 years after making this statement, the Paris Treaty was signed. This factor was primarily about the French fear of Germany, after being victims of German attack in both World Wars, France believed that Germany (in the form of West Germany) still remained a threat. Therefore France needed something to keep Germany at bay, and so this was revealed to be possible using the Schuman Plan in order to integrate the coal and steel economies of Germany and France. The steel industry of France was then integrated with the coal industry of Germany under Robert Schuman’s belief that with the integration of the two economies would make “any war between France and Germany…not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible”. The Paris Treaty of 1952 was signed by Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Italy uniting their coal and steel industries under ‘supranational institutions. The European Coal and Steel Community was the first real breakthrough at European Unity and as such became known as the basis of the European Economic Community and thus, a factor of utmost importance.
Recently after World War 2, we can see the development of an economic union, similar to the EEC. In 1947 The Benelux was established which was the economic union of three neighbouring European monarchies: Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. From the success of these countries, we can clearly understand that others may want to follow suit. The Benelux countries proposed a common market to the ECSC and, with the Spaak Report it was revised that in Europe there was in fact a need, not only a wish, for there to be a common market. Later, in 1952, the Benelux countries, Italy and, primarily Germany and France, signed the Paris Treaty to create the European Coal and Steel Community. As coal from the German owned Ruhr Valley would be highly beneficial to the French steel industry, the French proposed the plan (on top of being able to have some leverage over German heavy industry). Germany accepted on the principle of being seen in better light. Therefore, as the ECSC is the founding father, so to speak, of the EEC, it is safe to say that the introduction of a form of economic union plays a large part in the founding of the EEC.
The United States clearly has a large influence in the foundation of the European Economic Community. We can see this from the second rebellion in Greece (1948). As Britain could not afford to defend Greece any longer, the United States took responsibility and (with the provisions set out in the Truman Doctrine) funded Greece to defend herself against the uprising. Truman also mentions how the funding is also used as to make Greece more self supporting, however it must gain basic resources from other countries to survive. This suggests that Truman may have a wish for the European countries to protect their own and help each other. Therefore, we can see from American intervention that as well as having a mutual hatred of the Soviets, with the Europeans, they also have an interest in European integration as to have an improved market, and so they do not have to defend Europe from the Soviets for them.
Overall, all of the main factors that led to the development of the European Economic Community are very important. The first sight of European unity (Benelux) combining with 3 of Europe’s largest countries to create the ECSC, is possibly the most important. The ‘German Factor’ is merely a factor in creating the ECSC and therefore does not give great importance directly to the creation of the EEC, but indirectly (via being a main reason for the founding of the ECSC which is the first real sign of greater European integration) is of great importance. The international situation was also of some importance, with previous world powers being embarrassed and seen to rely on the power of the USA, however this left them with the belief that they could not ‘do it alone’ and therefore had a sense of integrating with their neighbours to create a strong power to rival that of the US and Soviet Union. The most important point, in general, would be the economies of Europe which were left reeling after World War 2. The countries could not rely on themselves and needed help from the Americans via the Marshall plan, this created an idea of weakness, and thus the idea of the economies becoming more integrated for the sake of Europe was formed in the Schuman Plan. The European Economic Community is just that, an economic community.
Bibliography
Louis, W and Owen, R.(ed) (1989). Suez 1956: The Crisis and its Consequences. New York: Oxford University Press.
Jovanović, M. (1997). European economic integration: Limits and prospects. London: Routledge
Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (ed). (2006). The Globalisation of World Politics: Introduction to International Relations. New York: Oxford University Press
Jansen, M. (1975) History of European Integration 1945-75. Amsterdam: Europa Institute
Greek Civil War
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The Truman Doctrine 1947
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Greek Civil War.
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Louis and Owen. Pg 215-232
Louis and Owen. Pg 336-337.
The Truman Doctrine 1947
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The Truman Doctrine 1947
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