European Integration 1952-1985: A Historical Overview

1. Lecture 3: The early development ofthe European Union - 1952-1985. Prof. Andreas Bieler

2. Structure of the lecture: • I. Post-war international developments; • II. Post-war domestic developments; • III. First steps of European integration; • IV. 1966 to 1985: The “dark ages” of integration?

3. I. Post-war international developments: • 1947 Marshall plan for the reconstruction of European economies; • 1948 Council of Europe; • 1949 Establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;

4. II. Post-war domestic developments: • France; • Germany; • Britain;

5. III. First steps of European integration: • 1952 European Coal and Steel Community; • 1954 European Defence Community; • 1957/58 European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community;

6. 4. Neo-functionalist explanation of European integration: • start of European integration in 1952 was the result of the common recognition that co-operation in the reconstruction of national industries would yield higher welfare gains; • move to EEC and Euratom in 1957/58 as a case of functional spill-over; • completion of Customs Union in 1968 ahead of schedule as an instance of political spill-over;

7. 5. The empty chair crisis in 1965/66: • De Gaulle’s vision for the EU: a union of independent states; • Commission package deal in 1965 including own resources for the EU; • Luxembourg compromise: establishment of the right to a national veto;

8. 6. Intergovernmentalist explanation: • start of European integration in 1952 was due to a convergence of state’s interest on economic co-operation, an area of ‘low politics’; • this was possible, since the bipolar structure of the Cold War made military competition between Western European countries impossible; • 1954 EDC failed, since states are not prepared to integrate in an area of ‘high politics’; • halt of integration in 1965/66 due to missing convergence of national interests;

9. IV. 1966 to 1985: The ‘dark ages’ of integration? • the question of British EU membership; • several rounds of enlargement after Pompidou became the new French President; • October 1970 – establishment of European Political Co-operation; • 1974 – institutionalisation of regular European Council meetings;

10. 1966 to 1985: The ‘dark ages’ of integration? 5. 1979 – first direct elections to the European Parliament; 6. 1979 – launch of the European Monetary System; 7. Intergovernmentalist explanation: intensification of co-operation, but no further step of integration, i.e. the pooling or transfer of sovereignty;