Has_the_Vision_of_Jean_Monnet_Been_Realized._Critically_Discuss_This_Statement

Has the vision of Jean Monnet been realized. Critically discuss this statement Previous 1945, there had been many failed attempts to unify the countries of Europe, for example the Roman Empire, the Napoleonic Empire and Adolf Hitler’s WW2 effort to conquer Europe, were all unsuccessful, failing to bring any lasting peace or unity to the continent. By aiming to create a single Empire, one religion and one ruler for all, resulted every time in war, bloodshed and division. But due the vision, strategic thinking and innovation one man Jean Monnet, the process of healing the deep wounds and distrust brought on by thousands of years of conflict and starting the process of economic and social change, not to mention lasting peace which was never thought possible. During this essay we will investigate Jean Monnet’s life, to gather a picture of who he was and what where his beliefs. By doing so gaining an understanding of his vision, his motivation, his design for change, and how he set about implementing this plan. Lastly we will look at how Europe has changed since 1945, examining the European Union to see if his dream has been achieved. Jean was born in Cognac in 1888, to family of wealthy cognac merchants. His mother was a devout Catholic and his father radical socialist, Jean acquiring many liberal and anticlerical views from his father. He left home at sixteen moved to London were a colleague of the family trained Jean as a wine merchant. He soon learned how to speak English and gained knowledge of the world of business and trade, he began travelling the world to Europe, Canada and the United States and soon promoting and selling his families product. "This gave him a direct, down-to-earth insight into Anglo-American psychology in depth not just of the thin upper layers of society—that proved to be exceptionally productive in understanding the hinterland of the bankers, economists, businessmen, industrialists, politicians, and statesmen in English-speaking cultures with whom he had to deal to get things done." . (Kotlowski, 2000, p.62) Jean noted during his travels in those early days “the "grandes maisons" of the Cognac business, such as Hennessy and Martell, did not try to put the smaller cognac manufacturers, such as J.-G. Monnet, out of business.” . (Kotlowski, 2000, p.66) The effect of this particular realisation develops further, later in Jeans life, in his adamant persistence that all nations in the European Community, regardless of size, must have must have equal say in decision making. At the beginning of the First World War Jean was turned down for military service due to poor health, however he felt a duty to serve his country where he could be useful. He learned that that the French and the British were to become allies, and set about coordinating supply of military equipment between the countries, making it more economically efficient , “he was sent back to London, where he worked for the Inter-Allied Maritime Commission, and co-ordinate supply and shipping to the Allied forces”. (www.telegraph.co.uk) By the end of WWI Jean had made a name for himself, for his achievements during the conflict. In 1919 he was appointed deputy to the secretary-general of the League of Nations. As an international civil servant “His commitment to seeking new structures which could more effectively avoid international conflict was to underpin his work for European integration after the Second World War.” (Henig, 1997, p.21) However he stood down after 1923, because he “became frustrated by one particular feature of the League: every member state had the power of veto, so decisions could only be taken unanimously. As he was later to put it 'the veto is the profound cause and at the same time the symbol of the impossibility of overcoming national egoism”. (Booker, North, 2003, p.15) That same year Jeans father died, so he took control and reorganized, the family business which had been struggling financially. Over the next few years Jean became a freelance economist, helping to stabilize the Polish and Romanian Currency, and aiding countries such as China, and the United States, from financial difficulty, brought on by the great depression, by offering new ideas and plans to restore their economy . Monnet had no political ambitions of his own-none. Even though he was a prominent international banker for much of the 1920s and 1930s, his personal prosperity was secondary to his wider goal of solving economic problems that might otherwise lead to national and international crises and conflicts of major proportions. (Kotlowski, 2000, p.59) In 1939 the Second World War began. Jean was called back to resume his previous position as French-British coordinator of wartime supplies. By 1940, German Nazi troops had invaded France, Jean began to involved himself in defence procedures. But he French resistance quickly began to collapse and daring Jean Monnet immediately took initiative by proposing a French-British Federal Union which would entail joint government, common citizenship and a single war strategy to occur immediately “He proposed a project for immediate federal union between France and Great Britain to Churchill and De Gaulle, who accepted it. The joint communiqué reads as follows; 'The two governments declare that in future France and Great Britain will no longer be two nations but a single Anglo-French Union. The constitution of the Union will entail common organisations for defence, foreign policy and economic affairs... The two Parliaments will be officially united”. (www.jef.eu ) But before the Federal Union was agreed France before had already been defeated. However Jean continued planning and implementing new schemes, that same year the British Supply Council sent him to Washington, D.C. to discuss the purchase of military supplies. Owing to his high position and impressive reputation for being a pragmatist who got things done, Jean had easy access to talks with President Roosevelt. Jean realized he had a great opportunity to make America Britain’s Ally which would greatly increase their chance of defeating the Nazis. Jean soon became one of Roosevelt’s most trusted economic advisers, and convinced him to initiate a huge arms manufacture program which would provide their Britain with their much needed military supplies. He also helped initiate the American mobilization program and coined the phrase "the arsenal of democracy," which President Roosevelt employed to describe early United States contributions to the war. (Kuisel, 2000, p.59) Whilst the war was still raging in 1943 Jean, was beginning to express the idea European unity. Declaring to the French Committee of National Liberation, "There will be no peace in Europe, if the states are reconstituted on the basis of national sovereignty; The countries of Europe are too small to guarantee their peoples the necessary prosperity and social development. The European states must constitute themselves into a federation." (Ertl, 2008, p.75) When the war ended in 1945, France, like many countries in Europe, was financially drained. Jean’s new focus became initiating a plan to stimulate Frances economic growth. However not even five years after the war, Jeans had concerns growing about the rising tensions between France and Germany. France was insisting on having control of coal and steel in the Ruhr, and he believed that if matters were not resolved, more conflict was enviable. Success depended on limiting objectives to specific areas, with a major psychological impact, and introducing a joint decision making mechanism which would gradually be given additional responsibilities. (ec.europa.eu) So Jean put forward an idea which would eliminate domination and merge French and German and steel supplies, under a supranational high authority, establishing equality. "by pooling basic production and the establishment of a new High Authority, whose decisions will be binding on France, Germany and the countries that join them, this proposal will lay the first concrete foundations of a European federation, which is indispensable to the maintenance of peace." (Salmon, Nicoll, 1997, p.45) After viewing Jeans proposal, the French Minister of Finance, Robert Schuman, released a government document, known as the Schuman plan. The purpose of this document was to unit historic enemies, France and Germany for interest of economic development under one authority. The principles in this document were as follows • Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built trough practical achievements which will for the first time create real solidarity. • The age-old hostility between France and Germany must be eliminated; any action taken must be concern these two countries in the first place, but it is open to any other European nations which share the aims. • Action must be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point: Franco-German production of coal and steel must be placed under a common High Authority. • The fusion of these economic interests will help to raise the standard of living and establish a European Community. • The decisions of the High Authority will be binding on the member countries. The High Authority itself will be composed of independent persons and have equal representation. The authority's decisions will be enforceable. (Salmon, Nicoll, 1997) “Out of all this will come forth Europe, a solid and united Europe. A Europe in which the standard of living will rise thanks to the grouping of production and the expansion of markets, which will bringdown prices” (Fontaine, 2000: p.43) Following negotiations, a Treaty was established in 1951, between six European countries, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. This was fifty year agreement for the management coal and steel production, was named the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Jean served as the first chairman of the ECSC in its headquarters in Luxembourg. Very soon it was clear that the ECSC was a success, Jeans next proposal was to merge other sectors of member economies. In 1957 with agreement of all six countries, the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) whose purpose was to create a common market in atomic energy, and the European Economic Community (EEC) whose function was to reduce tariff barriers was signed at Treaty of Rome. In 1967, the executives of the ECSC, EURATOM and the EEC were merged in what came to be known as the European Community (EC). (Jones, 2001, p.640) Step by step Jean continued to work for his dream of an integrated Europe, and as time past, it became clear that people within the EEC were becoming more wealthy, so other neighbouring countries looked to join. Following long talks an deliberation in 1973 Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark joined, followed by Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, then Sweden, Finland and Austria in 1995 leaving a total of fifteen countries. In 1992 The Treaty of Maastricht introduced to member state governments new areas of co-operation, firstly the name European Economic Community changed to the fimilur European Union (EU). The policies of the EU were divided into three pillars. 1. The first or 'Community' pillar concerns economic, social and environmental policies. 2. The second or 'Common Foreign and Security Policy' (CFSP) pillar concerns foreign policy and military matters. 3. The third or 'Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters' (PJCC) pillar concerns co-operation in the fight against crime. This pillar was originally named 'Justice and Home Affairs'. (http://knowledgerush.com) On January 1st 2002 the Euro was introduced to the EU creating a single European currency confirming that European integration had finally been achieved, a genuine union. Then in 2004, The European Union introduced ten more countries Cyprus, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia, Malta, Poland, and Slovenia. Other possible candidates to join the EU are Bulgaria and Romania, although no date has yet been set. Although the member countries of the European Union remain independent sovereign nations, they join together under a European Parliament, which is elected by the EU citizens, and the Council, which represents national government. The EU represents a desire for peace and cooperation among sovereign European states. Although Jean Monnet died on16 March 1979, before the EU was formed, however Jean left a clear message for the future of Europe “The essential thing is to hold fast to the few fixed principles that have guided us since the beginning: gradually to create among Europeans the broadest common interest, served by common democratic institutions to which the necessary sovereignty has been delegated. This is the dynamic that has never ceased to operate, removing prejudice, doing away with frontiers, enlarging to continental scale, within a few years, the process that took centuries to form our ancient nations.” (Monnet, 1978, p. 523) Having investigated Jean Monnet’s life, and gathering a clearer picture of who he was and what it was he envisioned. When comparing the Europe of today, to Europe pre 1945, one can see that, there is lasting peace in Europe between nations that were enemies for thousands of years. Member countries have gained much prosperity and an increased standard of living. It appears that Jeans vision, for a peaceful and prosperous, integrated Europe has been realised. Bibliography Cook, BA. (2001) “Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopaedia Volume II K-Z” New York: Garland Publishing Inc. http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2006/monnet.html 11 April 2009 Henig, S. (1997) “The uniting of Europe: from discord to concord” London/New York: Routledge. Fransen, F. (2001) “The Supranational Politics of Jean Monnet: Ideas and Origins of the European Community”. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. Kotlowski, D J. (2000) “The European Union: from Jean Monnet to the Euro” Athens: Ohio University Press. Booker, B. North, R. (2003) “The Great Deception: The Secret History of the European Union” London: Continuum International Publishing Group. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1399742/EU-Key-Figures.html (14 May 2009) http://www.jef.eu/index.php'option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=51 (14 May 2009) Kuisel, R F. (1983) “Capitalism and the State in Modern France: Renovation and Economic Management in the Twentieth Century.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Ertl, A W. (2008) “Toward an Understanding of Europe: A Political Economic Précis of Continental Integration” Florida Universal-Publishers. Brinkley, D. Hackett C P. 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