Recently, European countries celebrated the anniversary of the creation of the EU, which is generally dated back to May 9, 1950, when the Schuman Declaration, a plan to create a coal and steel community among six European countries, was published. This was the first step towards the European Union that remains a fixed idea for Ukraine.
Robert Schumann, who is rightly considered one of the “founding fathers” of European integration, had good reason to fight for the unification of Europe. Schumann was born in 1886 in Lorraine, which at that time belonged to Germany. This territory often passed from one state to another as a result of numerous wars and geopolitical vicissitudes. The family spoke Luxembourgish. In 1912, Schumann studied law in Strasbourg (today the university is named after him). In 1913, he took part in the Catholic Congress in the French city of Metz, where he realized the importance of Christian values for European civilization. At the outbreak of World War I, for health reasons, he performed civilian service as a lawyer in the German administration.
After the war, as a result of the return of Lorraine to France, he became a French citizen and even a member of parliament. During the Second World War, Schumann was arrested by the Germans for his participation in the Resistance movement, but escaped and was forced to go into hiding. After the Second World War, he successfully continued his political career in France: he became Minister of Finance, Prime Minister in 1947-48, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Schuman was extremely concerned about security issues in Europe. The experience of the two world wars showed that peace and security required the creation of an institution that would restrain or mutually control the development of the military-industrial complex of the two largest European powers, France and Germany. Schumann began working on his main project, the creation of an industrial and economic association of the two longtime historical rivals in Europe. Schumann’s plan was realized in 1951 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg became members of the organization.
The Schuman Declaration contained three key points:
1. Immediate goal: Franco-German reconciliation. In order to prevent future hypothetical wars between the two countries, France proposes to introduce joint control over coal and steel production in France and Germany. A specially created High Authority would oversee the integration of these countries’ markets in the metallurgical and energy sectors.
2. Strategic goal: gradual creation of a political union that would make military conflicts between European countries impossible.
3. Gradualism: According to Schuman, a united Europe will not be created overnight, but only by concrete actions based on true solidarity.
This document is recognized as fundamental to the creation of the EU.
As the French Foreign Minister from 1948 to 1953, Schuman participated in the signing of the Charter of the Council of Europe (1949) and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (1950). And after a long process of integration and many international agreements, the modern EU was formed – an association of 27 countries based on common human and democratic values.
In 1958, Schuman was elected president of the European Assembly (1958-1960), which later became the European Parliament. From 1955 to 1961, he headed the European Movement. On September 4, 1967, the “father of Europe” died.
Residents of the city of Metz, where Schumann lived, began the process of beatification, believing that French-German peace and good neighborliness after years of enmity was a miracle performed by Schumann. For 14 years, residents collected evidence of the politician’s sainthood, although many experts advised Schuman’s supporters not to conflate politics with miracles. At the same time, the Vatican responded to the efforts to canonize the “Father of Europe.” Pope Francis signed a decree recognizing the “heroic virtues” of Schumann, an active Christian and politician. For now, the Catholic Church will honor Schumann as a “reverend”.
But the grandiose project of European unification initiated by Schumann, which the “Father of Europe” himself advised to be based on Christian values, is of unprecedented civilizational and value significance.
Author: Valeriy Maydanyuk