PAST EFFORTS AT JOINDER

THE EUROPEAN UNION

No conversation seeking to encourage and promote global unity can omit taking particular note of the efforts and activities that resulted in the formation of the European Union.  For it approximates, in many respects, something similar to what is herein sought regarding the entire world.  It has been described and lauded by one pair of authors as a "concerted effort to weld together by peaceful means so many sovereign states into a unified economic and political structure," as well as a "mammoth political experiment" bravely undertaken with "[no] historical precedents to provide insight into the process." (R. and J. M. Gilpin, The Challenge of Global Capitalism )  Another writer has declared "hope of making Europe competitive with, if not superior to, America as a global economic and political power" (Chua, World on Fire) as being the European Union's rationale and ambition.

I don't intend to offer a thorough or complete history of the European Union.  For that, I suggest consulting one or more of many historical texts dealing with the period and subject.  But I would like to lay down a brief chronology of this Union; and to point out or demonstrate what's happened in its development (other than its recent economic problems) as an example of the sort of thing I'd like to see take place for the world.  I'd also like to humbly submit my reasoning as to the nature or cause of these aforesaid economic problems.

The European Union has been described as representing a commitment to achieving unity in the areas of economic and monetary affairs, foreign and security matters, and social policy.  In the economic-monetary sphere, one effort appears to represent an attempt to counter the global dominance of the American dollar, via the establishment of its own form of currency: the Euro.  Furthermore, it has sought to establish the free movement of capital, goods, services, and people within what is now referred to as the "European Community."  Moreover, plans are being discussed concerning an integrated labor market.  Regarding foreign and security affairs, there is the vision of a single "Euro-Army," which may possibly one day become a reality.

In April, 1936, France proposed a plan for an international commission to rule Europe.  This might be considered to be the earliest stirrings of what would one day become the European Union.

But the real beginnings seem to have arisen at the end of World War II, out of the desire shared by most Europeans that a means be implemented to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.  Its inception was, moreover, reinforced by the numerous but single-purposed resistance movements that sprung up during the war itself, which apparently served as a demonstration that "Europe's future lay in unity."

By 1947, plans pointing in this direction began to take shape.  Early forms of international free trade agreements, which would constitute the earliest bases of the European Union, were already beginning to be discussed.  In France, a number of persons began to suggest a European body based upon a federation of the states of Europe.  Britain also favored a stronger union among the European nations at this time.  The idea was particularly endorsed by Britain's Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

A conference was held at The Hague in 1948 regarding these proposals.  It was yet a bit too early for a federation; but a momentum, which became knbown as the European Movement, began to occupy people's thinking.  This European Movement began to win more and more adherents.  Particularly represented were a new generation of young Europeans.  Meetings began to be organlzed between politicians, journalists, and educators.  Even school textbooks began to be revised wherein national biases were omitted.  In short, we begin to see a multi-faceted effort to bring about a fundamental change of attitudes.  Prime Minister Churcxhill stated during this season:  "We hope to see a Europe where men of every country will think of being a European as belonging to their native land...."

In May, 1949, ten West European governments agreed to set up a "Council of Europe."  Its work was mainly confined to cultural spheres and the issuance of a document known as the "Convention of Human Rights."  By 1955, provision was made for inclusion of Eastern European nations within this Council as well.  Further, the Council issued plans for the elimination of existing restrictions on the circulation of capital and labor between member states.  That same year (1955), French statesman Jean Monnet campaigned for the creation of an entity to be known as the "United States of Europe."

On March 25, 1957, two treaties were signed in Rome by six nations: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.  Underlying both was a sincere desire on the part of all to leave nationalism and its attendant rivalries and conflicts behind forever.  The first of these treaties, to be effective on January 1, 1958, merged these six countries into an economic union called the "European Economic Community" ("E.E.C." or "Common Market").  It created a free trade area, or customs union, among the six, whereby tariffs were to be progressively eliminated as among them; and a uniform or common tariff was adopted by the six in regard to the commerce of other nations.  Furthermore, a desire for progress toward complete economic, and subsequently political, integration was expressed.  The Union aimed at harmonization of social and economic policies; and free movement among the members of labor, capital, and services, including insurance and banking.  Additional harmonization, of taxation and quality standards, as well as a system for coordinating currency exchange rates, were also originated.

Subsequently, in 1966, a wise provision, at this start-up phase, referred to as the "Luxembourg Compromise," was added.  It permitted individual member nations to decline to join in concerning a particular proposal or program, if it were felt that that country's individual vital interests would be thereby compromised or jeopardized.

Headquarters for this brave new enterprise was established at Brussels.  A guiding body, or Commission, was appointed, consisting of two members from each of the six states.  Its function was not to legislate; but, rather, to propose and to plan. 

A second body, called the "Council of Ministers," and composed of persons appointed by the national governments of the respective countries, would reach decisions concerning these proposals and plans.  Also established at this time was a "European Court of Justice," to be located in Luxembourg.

Thereby, the union of Europe, as thus far accomplished, bore resemblance to the United States of America.  It had an executive (the Council of Ministers), a legislature (the Commission), and a judiciary (the Court of Justice).

Historians John A. Garraty and Peter Gay have summed up the benefits that resulted from these early steps when they state, in their Columbia History of the World, that as a result of this innovation, "the whole region [economically--for a time] boomed."

By the second of the two treaties referred to above, signed on the same date in 1948 in Rome, the same six nations agreed to coordinate their (nonmilitary) atomic research and technology.  A separate body was constituted, called the "European Atomic Community" (or "Euratom"), to deal with these matters.

In 1961, eighteen African nations were admitted to the E.E.C.as associate members.  A year later, the European Commission set monetary unity as an E.E.E.goal.