European integration before the European community (e.c): early ideas, tentatively, dreams and ambitions - Assignment Example

s European Integration before the European Community (E.C Early Ideas, Tentatively, Dreams, and Ambitions This paper entails the review of the title, “European Integration before the European Community (E.C.): Early Ideas, Tentatively, Dreams, and Ambitions.” The topic is mainly centered on the European integration before the European community. The review focuses on early ideas, tentativeness, dreams, as well as ambitions associated with the integration. Typically, Europe’s monitory union happens to be an aspect of the broader European integration process, which started during the World War 11 aftermath.

Other aspects include the various policies and treaties accompanied the European integration process. The article points out that the concepts and ambitions behind a united Europe go back to several centuries. The idea of uniting Europe can be linked to the Frankish Empire that was ruled by Charlemagne during the 9th century, the imperial conquest of Napoleon, and the failed universal revolution of Lenin, which was meant to overwhelm Europe first. This notion alone shows that the idea of having a common trade among European nations is hardly new, but rather older than it actually seems to be.

Many aspirations and dreams for a peaceful Europe have been in existence for years. Even Pierre Dubois, a French law philosopher had projected a future peaceful Europe through his work of writing. This brings in one of the many ambitions covered by the article. Early ideas about the integration process are seen in the attempt by early leaders to unit Europe, although their attempts failed. The article goes on to present the advancements in formulating the ideas of unity and peace among the European countries as well as the institutional form, which was achieved in 1693.

The case of ambitions towards the integrations is associated with William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, when he published the notion about European diet, Parliament, or States. The modern ideologies about the European integration ideas, ambitions, and dreams seen in the 20th century as far as the article are concerned. The article brings out the facts about the origin of European ideas as well as movements. These ideas and movements are said to have been initiated by various categories of people from different countries.

Most of these people were idealists or intellectuals from various milieus. Again, various political parties are said to have contributed a lot during the modern age of the integration. The article also insists on the dream, ambition, and efforts to make the idea come true by asserting that a congress was even arranged. This congress ended with various action plans of forming the united Europe. Churchill was one of the leading individuals calling for the European integration. His ambitions and dreams for a united Europe in the future were realized through his numerous speeches.

Although the governments somewhat involved, most contributions were initiated by key historical figures. Governments were still facing their own problems, and by then, they had to deal with such problems first. The government problems seemed to be more urgent than taking a different course and start planning for the future benefits of the integration. These governments had many difficulties to consider partial transfer of sovereignty mainly to the future European instances. The real action of the European integration is said to have been caused by even more official ideas, propositions, threats, as well as actions that were solely down to earth.

Much more the key factors contributing to the integrations was the action aimed at reconstruction Europe, which had been torn apart by war. Yet, another major contributor was the OEEC, which turned out to be an irreplaceable lieu for European cooperation apprenticeship. Since the World War II, countries like the United States had been creating visions on what the world could become, once in one peace. To most of the European nations, the major goal was to create oneness and a common trade area among the European countries first, and later focus on the rest of the world.

Many people thought that Europe needed to assemble into a federal bind. Briand was another dreamer and initiator of oneness among the European countries. His speech in Geneva moved many people who later saw the need to have a united Europe unlike the Europe that had been split apart by war. His idea nevertheless achieved a mixed welcome. He was calling for a European federative union system, which was opposed by the nationalists, but supported by many others. Nevertheless, the memorandum gave raise to many possibilities about the future of European integration.

First, it resulted to a great impulse towards the idea and its formulation. Various communities, individuals, and institutions joined the discussion. These included academics, the public, the press, federalists, as well as parliaments of respective governments. The discussion resulted to great hope as well as illusions about the idea and success of integrating European countries. Some countries were satisfied with the already existing commonwealth, asserting that it was adequate for a great Europe while others such as Germany were for the idea.

However, some key official of the countries that were already supporting the movement towards and integrated Europe were against the integration. An example of these individuals was the Germany’s mister of foreign affairs. The other effect of Briand memorandum and speech was the importance placed on it as it was later referred to as the ‘European Project.’ It was considered a real precursor for the treaties of European Community. The picture brought out by Briand was that of a moral union of European countries.

Through a common moral perspective, European countries were to end up with some basic agreements that could contribute to economic solidarity, harmonization of trade policies, and more importantly, creation of a common market. This project contributed further to widen Europe’s PTT, creation of a common highway system for Europe, canals, harmonized system of transport, technological infrastructures, a scientific universities’ cooperation, as wells as workers’ migrations. The article provides a clear picture of the way the idea, ambitions, tentativeness, and dreams were seen among various individuals, governments, and organizations.

While there were supporters of these ideas, there were those who tried effortlessly to see the attempts towards the integration fail. The article brings out the issue of resistance brought about by the threat perceived by some European countries. Those opposing the integration are said to have gone underground or gathered in Switzerland. In 1933, three smaller movements formed mergers with a core aim of propagating the European integration ideology. Switzerland was one of them, and this was the reason for being chosen as the center for the opposing side.

German was for the idea, but there were some of the countries resistant movements against the integration. Other opposing nations included Italy, France, and part of Germany. The European federalists among others came up after the World War II. Among the resisting countries and movements, Italian government seemed to take the lead. Even with the severe resistances and some trends the seemed to end the idea of integrating Europe, the World War II contributed to great advancements of the idea, especially given the effort of emerging key nationalists like Winston Churchill.

By the year 1950, political politics were reappearing. The European federalist was now having great hope for a peaceful future in Europe mainly after the integration. The resisting side never gave up the effort to terminate the idea, an effort that buried the already growing hope. The two sides never gave up the fight for their respective ideas, but the European federalist gained more power between 1945 and 1948 during a conference held at The Hague. For the integration, Great Britain was a key participant given that many people within the continental Europe wanted it to be part of the integration.

The main reason why different countries showed varied reactions is the perceived results as wells as the implied sovereignty transfer as an important criterion. Countries held completely different opinions and wanted to achieve the highest benefits possible if the integrations were to go through. Some countries wanted a free trade zone while other projected a high economic blow if this happened. Due to these perceptions, alternatives were generated including the EFTA, and the EEC, but much more were required for a united Europe.

The Treaty of Rome was however, a great achievement, but the real birth of a united Europe was initiated by the Schuman Plan in 1950. The prevailing mix of idea, hope, dreams, ambitions, and reactions later saw a united Europe. Nevertheless, its success has seen new emerging problems related to agriculture, human rights, regional development, legal harmonization, political and security cooperation, as well as environment. Problems to deal with such factors mark the future challenges of the EU.

The article presents the ideas in details explaining every aspect about what prevailed before the dream of having an integrated Europe came true.