United States of Europe
united states of europe
The old Europe as we use to know has become the European Union with 27 members and over 500 million citizens.
An economical juggernaut that seemed to challenge the supremacy of the United States at every economical aspect we came to believe as sole domain of the United States.
What has happened that we did not realize is that across the Atlantic Ocean, a quiet revolution, slow but steady, transforming Europe from a loose steel and coal community (Ecsc) in 1950 to the European Union as we know today.
The European Union grew from the original six countries to twenty seven today and represents nearly 500 million people and a collective Gross National Product in the range from fourteen to fifteen trillion dollars.
After the Second World War, Europe was completely devastated and relegated to second place in the international arena due to the rising power of the United States and the Soviet Union. In view of the growing rivalry between the two superpowers, several western European leaders came to the conclusion that lasting peace could be guaranteed only if their nations were to come together in both political and economic terms. Cooperation between states was seen as the best means to prevent armed conflicts.
In 1950, the French foreign minister put forward the idea of a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). At that time, coal and steel production were the main war industries. Pooling these industries would prevent any new war between European neighbors. The ECSC was founded in 1951 by six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Decision-making power was entrusted to the High Authority. With the visionary Jean Monnet at the helm, it thus became the first independent supranational authority in Europe. Even before the Second World War ended, Jean Monet had been giving speeches in Britain arguing that “a European entity, encompassing a common economic unit” was essential to create a cooperative
The old Europe as we use to know has become the European Union with 27 members and over 500 million citizens.
An economical juggernaut that seemed to challenge the supremacy of the United States at every economical aspect we came to believe as sole domain of the United States.
What has happened that we did not realize is that across the Atlantic Ocean, a quiet revolution, slow but steady, transforming Europe from a loose steel and coal community (Ecsc) in 1950 to the European Union as we know today.
The European Union grew from the original six countries to twenty seven today and represents nearly 500 million people and a collective Gross National Product in the range from fourteen to fifteen trillion dollars.
After the Second World War, Europe was completely devastated and relegated to second place in the international arena due to the rising power of the United States and the Soviet Union. In view of the growing rivalry between the two superpowers, several western European leaders came to the conclusion that lasting peace could be guaranteed only if their nations were to come together in both political and economic terms. Cooperation between states was seen as the best means to prevent armed conflicts.
In 1950, the French foreign minister put forward the idea of a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). At that time, coal and steel production were the main war industries. Pooling these industries would prevent any new war between European neighbors. The ECSC was founded in 1951 by six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Decision-making power was entrusted to the High Authority. With the visionary Jean Monnet at the helm, it thus became the first independent supranational authority in Europe. Even before the Second World War ended, Jean Monet had been giving speeches in Britain arguing that “a European entity, encompassing a common economic unit” was essential to create a cooperative