What is the method Monnet, applied to create a European Coal and Steel Community

What is the method Monnet, applied to create a European Coal and Steel Community?
Prepared by Karlo Dzhantov

The French political and economic adviser Jean Monnet dedicated himself to the cause of European integration. He was the inspiration behind the ‘Schuman Plan’, which foresaw the merger of west European heavy industry. Monnet was from the Cognac region of France. When he left school at 16 he travelled internationally as a cognac dealer, later also as a banker. During both world wars he held high-level positions relating to the coordination of industrial production in France and the United Kingdom. As a top advisor to the French government he was the main inspiration behind the famous ‘Schuman Declaration’ of 9 May 1950, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community and, as such, is considered to be the birth of the European Union. Between 1952 and 1955 he was the first president of its executive body. His ideas of “supranational relations”, “community method – integration by community”, “integration step by step”, “qualified majority voting”, made the start of the community so successful.
Full text of the Schuman Declaration:
World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.To promote the realization of the objectives defined, the French Government is ready to open negotiations on the following bases.The task with which this common High Authority will be charged will be that of securing in the shortest possible time the modernization of production and the improvement of its quality; the supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets, as well as to the markets of other member countries; the development in common of exports to other countries; the equalization and improvement of the living conditions of workers in these industries.To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as the application of a production and investment plan, the establishment of compensating machinery for equating prices, and the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the rationalization of production. The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity.In contrast to international cartels, which tend to impose restrictive practices on distribution and the exploitation of national markets, and to maintain high profits, the organization will ensure the fusion of markets and the expansion of production.The essential principles and undertakings defined above will be the subject of a treaty signed between the States and submitted for the ratification of their parliaments. The negotiations required to settle details of applications will be undertaken with the help of an arbitrator appointed by common agreement. He will be entrusted with the task of seeing that the agreements reached conform with the principles laid down, and, in the event of a deadlock, he will decide what solution is to be adopted.The common High Authority entrusted with the management of the scheme will be composed of independent persons appointed by the governments, giving equal representation. A chairman will be chosen by common agreement between the governments. The Authority's decisions will be enforceable in France, Germany and other member countries. Appropriate measures will be provided for means of appeal against the decisions of the Authority.A representative of the United Nations will be accredited to the Authority, and will be instructed to make a public report to the United Nations twice yearly, giving an account of the working of the new organization, particularly as concerns the safeguarding of its objectives.The institution of the High Authority will in no way prejudge the methods of ownership of enterprises. In the exercise of its functions, the common High Authority will take into account the powers conferred upon the International Ruhr Authority and the obligations of all kinds imposed upon Germany, so long as these remain in force.
Analysis:
The date of the declaration is not accidental – just five years after the end of World War II. One of the victim countries – France offers peace to the country which caused the war – Germany.Maintaining peace is the actual objective of European integration, namely the safeguarding of peace is the first task of the model proposed by Monnet and Schuman and European integration will actually make war impossible.Monnet's been searching the answers of two questions - why current efforts have failed and what can be the successful mechanism for ensuring peace. The answer to the first question is simple: to be a successful integration process, it must be progressive and evolutive. And we must admit that it is the "evolutive approach" that guarantees today the successful progress of integration. "The actual solidarity" is something that Europe has never previously achieved and many of the implemented integration policies give us reason to say that the European Union is an area of solidarity - with its aid programs, the promotion, development and construction, not only in Europe but beyond. Of course, sought a way out of the age-old opposition of France and Germany.Natural element of the integration process "step by step" is the integration not only to be gradual, but modest in its original scope.The choice of coal and steel is not accidental. These two sectors of the economy are chosen for their crucial importance for the consolidation of peace and the strengthening of the French economy after the devastating war. Important also is the fact that steel mills regions of Germany and France are adjacent (Ruhr and Alsace) and even geographic proposed alliance has a clear logic.
The declaration is formally addressed to Germany. Schuman was born in Luxembourg and was influenced by the history of the border area between France and Germany and that as a result of his experiences in Nazi Germany, he believes that only a lasting reconciliation between France and Germany can lay the foundations of a united Europe.The meaning of the European Union is this to be an intermediate model between the state and inter-state structure, which is why the Lisbon Treaty adds new safeguards: the Union has only conferred powers; respect the sovereignty and constitutional identity of the member states; Charter of Fundamental Rights does not change the mode of competencies; It has a clear mechanism for accession and accordingly mechanism for leaving of the member countries.The text used the phrase "solidarity" instead of "common" production. Here it comes to actually complete and interweaving of both sectors in the participating countries and so future war practically become "impossible". "Solidarity production" does not allow one country to use products against the other. To arm secretly or suddenly attack. This approach, together with the correct selection of the sectors really makes war impossible between member countries.Integration is an economic process - precisely this is due to its success. A merger of the economies - particularly after the introduction of a single currency is a fact.Of course, the biggest aspiration of the Declaration is not only the creation of the Coal and Steel Community and ensuring peace. This is a project for comprehensive integration.European Coal and Steel Community is distinguished from other international organizations in that Member States act together, organized, but fully sovereign. But as distinguished from known until then international organizations, the proposed community is placed on international law. For its creation "negotiations" has been led, they end with the signing of the "contract". It is subject to "ratification" of national parliaments and "enter into force" in a given period of time. „The supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets” means the unification of markets, and this in turn means the creation of a common market - one of the most powerful tools of European integration. "United Europe" means real social solidarity between countries and its peoples, and when some of them get rich and develop well, it leads to improvement of life, wealth and development, and others. "Alignment of improvement" means an improvement to occur simultaneously and with the same pace and at the same time and with a total contribution.Typical of international organizations and their bodies to be composed of representatives of member countries. But here comes something completely new. Supranational High Authority and drawn independent individuals. Here comes the idea of supranational relations.
In a brief summary I will point out the consequences of this document:1. The creation of a mec