At the end of the 1940s and the early 1950s, the question whether or not to rearm West Germany was a fiercely and hotly debated topic in Europe. The Americans suggested doing this by integrating the Federal Republic in NATO. However, many Europeans feared the resurgence of German militarism. Nowhere was this more true than in France. Therefore, the French Foreign Minister René Pleven launched the so-called Pleven Plan, designed to allow West German units to be established, but only in small units. That way, Europe could profit from West Germany’s manpower, without the country becoming a military threat. Discussions on the European Defence Community were tough, but in the end was signed by the six Founding Fathers. The Dutch did so reluctantly, especially because the Americans were left out, favouring security arrangements in NATO and rearming and incorporating West Germany in the Western alliance. To the Netherlands, it was essential to incorporate the British and especially the Americans in the Western defense; the Dutch always favoured an Atlantic alliance, opposing too much supranationality in the European integration project. The Federal Republic of Germany on the other hand, saw it as an opportunity to regain sovereignty. In the end, the French National Assembly did not ratify the EDC-Treaty, opening the way to rearming West Germany and making it a full member of NATO. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=735130 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijn-lak-71793013/
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Dit artikel is een samenvatting van mijn proefschrift over Schumans Europa en zijn referentiekader dat de oorspronkelijke visie weergeeft van de grondlegger van de Europese eenwording, Robert Schuman. Het laat zien hoe zijn gedachten, persoonlijkheid, katholieke geloof en afkomst uit Elzas-Lotharingen samenkomen in zijn visie op Europese eenwording. Hij ziet de raison d'être van de Europese eenwording bij het Europees spiritueel en cultureel erfgoed. Effectieve solidariteit over de grenzen heen beschouwt hij een logisch gevolg daarvan. Schuman is van mening dat de integratie stapje voor stapje zal moeten plaatsvinden en generaties zal duren. De nationale belangen zullen in dit proces en in deze visie van eenwording zoveel mogelijk worden ontzien, tenzij deze ingaan tegen de gemeenschappelijk Europese belangen. Schumans zienswijze werpt een verfrissende blik op de huidige situatie van de EU en geeft inzicht in de oorzaak van de EU-problemen. Het levert daarmee een denkkader waarmee gewerkt kan worden aan de oplossing. ABSTRACT This article is an excerpt of a doctoral dissertion on Schuman's Europe and his frame of reference that represents the original vision of the founder of the European union, Robert Schuman. It displays that his thoughts, personality, catholic religion and origin from Elzas-Lotharingen come together in his vision on the European union. He sees the raison d'être of European integration to the European spiritual and cultural heritage. He considers effective solidarity beyond borders thereof as a logical consequence. Schuman believes that the integration will take place step by step and will take generations. The national interests will be spared as much as possible in the process, unless these go against the common European interests. Schuman's way of thinking casts a refreshing look on the current situation of the European Union and provides insight into the cause of the European problems. It provides a conceptual framework that can be used for a solution.
