The war left Europe in a divided state – both literally and figuratively. It was time to mend fences – it seemed to be everyone’s best interests. European governments widely expressed desire to ensure this would never happen again. There exist a few ways to ensure peace – through policy, through enforcement, through cultural and economic cooperation. The logic is simple — if people are working together and making each other wealthier, there would be no need for violence.
The first step towards a united Europe had been made in 1946, when Winston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister during the war, spoke at the University of Zurich:
"We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living…Our constant aim must be to build and fortify the strength of the United Nations Organisation. Under and within that world concept, we must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe. The first step is to form a Council of Europe. If at first all the States of Europe are not willing or able to join the Union, we must nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will and those who can."
This speech did not fall on deaf ears. Council of Europe was created in 1949, resulting from the 1948 Congress of Europe. The Council began its work as an organization dealing with democracy and human rights issues. During first several years following World War II the majority of collaborative efforts of nations were limited to defense, however.
In fact, initial economic policy adopted by European nations was not beneficial to everyone. The so-called Gaullist policy aimed at weakening Germany originated in France; its popularity went largely unchallenged until Robert Schuman, Prime Minister of France 1947 and 1948 and Foreign Minister 1948–1953 started unraveling it. The Schuman declaration was the definitive moment of his policy. Schuman proposed 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 proposal hoped to secure a lasting peace between France and Germany through mutually beneficial economic relations. “Coal and steel” were not randomly chosen resources – they were largely symbolic as these were primary drivers of the war effort. The Europe Declaration, signed on 18 April 1951 at the Treaty of Paris between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), reads:
"By the signature of this Treaty, the participating Parties give proof of their determination to create the first supranational institution and that thus they are laying the true foundation of an organised Europe. This Europe remains open to all nations. We profoundly hope that other nations will join us in our common endeavor."
The event cemented future peace and economic cooperation in the region, paving the way to European Union as we now know it. It has become celebrated annually as Europe Day.
