Latest news with #RobertSchuman
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The birth of the EU: Europe celebrates 75th anniversary of the Schuman declaration
9 May 2025 marked the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman (1886-1963) to pool the production of coal and steel – vital raw materials for Europe's industry and economy – with Germany. This was done through the Economic Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), and though they did not know it at the time, the creation of this market planted the seeds that would eventually grow into the European Union (EU). Given the current climate of economic turmoil, this may seem an inopportune moment to remember such an anniversary. However, our current geopolitical scenario makes it all the more important to remember the enormous significance of the integration process sparked by the Schuman Declaration, both for Europeans and for the world at large. Leer más: The ECSC's proposal marked a major step towards reconciliation for France and Germany, two enemies who had been at war three times between 1870 and 1945: the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945). It was time to pursue lasting peace between these historically bitter rivals, one based on economic ties and mutual interest. It worked, so much so that the ECSC became the starting point for the 'Franco-German axis' that still underpins European cooperation to this day. Indeed, when he received the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Elysée Palace on 7 May 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron made reference to the Franco-German 'réflexe' – the natural instinct for the two countries to cooperate. Moreover, the seed planted by the Schuman Declaration bore fruit in the form of a long period of peace in Western Europe – there has never been war between EU member states. This is an unquestionably huge achievement for a territory that had been in an almost permanent state of war since the fall of the Roman Empire. After this start, France and Germany invited the other democratic countries of Western Europe to join their project. Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg accepted, and the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) would form the next step in shaping today's European Union. In 1953, three years after the Schuman Declaration, Europe's nations sought to strengthen their economic and trade agreement with a political and institutional foundation. To this end, they considered creating the European Defence Community. However, the treaty drafted by Alcide De Gasperi, who served as Italian Prime Minister from 1945 to 1953, was rejected by the French National Assembly (even though it had been originally suggested by the French). The impetus for a common defence came from the existential threat that the Soviet Union posed to European security. Today history is repeating itself, as Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine is fuelling the need for Europe to mount a common defence. The difference now is that EU member states have decades of experience in cooperating with one another – the decision by European leaders to use EU funds to finance common defence-related projects is proof of this. Without the creation of the ECSC, and all it stood for, such an agreement would be unthinkable. Leer más: From the outset, the ECSC was a project of European cooperation. This cooperation was openly promoted and supported by the United States through the Marshall Plan and the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), known today as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This economic cooperation, which eventually took the form of the EMU, made it possible to put an end to the market fragmentation that had been so damaging to Europe after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As early as 1926, the Austrian politician and Count Richard von Coundenhove-Kalergi was asking the question 'how can European companies compete with American ones if they operate in a market divided into sealed-off compartments, as opposed to the large single market in which their American rivals operate?' Thanks to the process of economic integration launched by the Schuman Declaration, this disadvantage has been significantly reduced. European companies owe much of their competitiveness to the continental base that the EMU has provided. Moreover, having achieved such integration may now give Europeans – if they are able to speak as one – the ability to negotiate in the multipolar world of economic and political giants that is currently taking shape. None of this would have been possible if Jean Monnet, then Planning Commissioner in the French Government, had not proposed the idea of creating the ECSC to Minister Robert Schuman, and if Schuman had not had the vision, and the boldness, to present it in the form of the Schuman Declaration. As Europeans we owe our present, and quite possibly our future, to this decision. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos académicos. Lee mas: Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump's new global order The EU was built for another age – here's how it must adapt to survive Germany's new government wants to be a foreign policy power Emilio José González González no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.
Scotsman
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Tories' cheap slurs about EU ring hollow as it mobilises to meet Putin threat
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Yesterday, and into this weekend, events took place across our shared continent to mark Europe Day. May 9 marks the 75th anniversary of the 'Schuman Declaration', made in 1950 by then the French foreign minister Robert Schuman, that laid out the framework for future European cooperation and, ultimately, the European Union as we know it today. The anniversary is not unrelated to this week's other big event, the 80th anniversary of VE Day. This morning, I will be hot footing it from an event in the City Square in Dundee – where we will gather to mark VE Day and the contribution that the city, including family members, made to the war effort – through to Edinburgh where a series of events will be taking place to mark Europe Day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Festival of Europe is discussing the future of the continent, bringing together parliamentarians, activists, academics and others from across it, at a pivotal time for all Europeans. For many on the Continent, VE Day and Europe Day are inextricably linked, with the European Union helping to preserve peace and democracy for decades (Picture: Thomas Samson) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images A lasting peace VE Day may have had more coverage this week – there was no Buckingham Palace or Edinburgh Castle flypast to mark Europe Day – but both are interconnected and a hugely significant part of our shared history. This is becoming all the more important as Europe mobilises, with defence spending going up and security at the top of the agenda. The EU, and the Schuman Declaration, arose from the ashes of the Second World War. In a Europe still devastated by that conflict, and at the time, still split between East and West, the declaration was an effort to bring lasting peace. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was no guarantee that we would not slip back into conflict in the aftermath of 1945, as Europe had done so many times before in the past. There was also the fact that, for so many, VE Day in 1945 did not mean liberation and an end to war and tyranny but rather just another version. That is critical to understanding how others have seen this week's anniversaries. Marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a statement this week, similar to those by other foreign ministries, reminding the continent that: 'May 1945 did not mark the end of the war for Estonia, and these so-called 'liberators' were, in fact, occupiers. The USSR used military force to occupy our land and suppress our attempts to restore independence.' Hunt's shocking USSR jibe It is the reason why supporting Ukraine and its aspirations to join the EU are so important to so many European countries. For them, joining the EU was the key moment and this explains why those who campaign for human rights, democracy and the rule of law will take to the streets draped in EU flags. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For Ukraine, rejoining the European family of nations and obtaining membership of the EU is so important to its citizens, so many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice or are prepared to do so in order for Ukraine to escape tyranny. In the aftermath of the UK voting to leave the EU – something that is still viewed with a sense of palpable bewilderment across the continent – the then Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt referred to the EU as being similar to the USSR in order to underline his anti-Brussels credentials with his party. The rebuke from across Europe was swift and the hurt very real. Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski said of the remarks: 'Did the Red Army force you to join? How many millions has Brussels exterminated? Gulag for demanding a referendum on independence? Apologise, Jeremy Hunt!' Latvia's ambassador to the UK, now the country's foreign minister, and normally the very picture of diplomatic restraint, Baiba Braže, tweeted: 'Soviets killed, deported, exiled and imprisoned [hundreds of] thousands of Latvia's inhabitants after the illegal occupation in 1940, and ruined lives of three generations, while the EU has brought prosperity, equality, growth, respect.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A massive success To understand the Europe in which we live, we must understand those sentiments. EU enlargement has been a massive success, and one of the best investments any of us will ever make as taxpayers in terms of stabilising our continent and building wealth. As well as the boosting its citizens' rights, EU membership resulted in the doubling of GDP per capita by 2019 for those who joined from Eastern Europe in 2004 and significant economic growth for existing states. It is not just in the east where the EU has been critical in stabilisation efforts, as illustrated with the transition to democracy in Spain or Portugal and peace in Ireland, where EU membership and investment were key to the process. Unreliable America Now the whole of Europe is mobilising in the face of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Nato remains important but, given the unreliability of the US, the EU has become a critical security actor. There is protection in economic might and being inside the largest trading bloc on Earth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It also means that, in terms of food and energy security, the bloc has become more self-sufficient providing greater resilience for its citizens. The proposed 800-billion-euro rearmament programme shows that the EU is serious about ensuring hard security to protect its values and citizens. Over the past few days, we have had an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by those who faced down the Nazis 80 years ago. The dwindling numbers of veterans and first-hand witnesses has made remembrance even more important. As ever, an anniversary is also about the future and what comes next. To that end, these are two anniversaries are worthy of our time as the whole of Europe enters into a new era in which the peace and security delivered 80 years is no longer guaranteed.
Arab News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Building bridges, not walls key to EU-Saudi Arabia ties
On May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made a groundbreaking proposal to place French and German coal and steel production under a shared authority. This vision became the foundation of the EU. In 1945, few could have predicted that nations once bent on each other's destruction would come together to form such a strong economic and political union. Yet they did. What became known as the Schuman Declaration sought to make war 'not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.' In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. The vision of a united Europe was forged from a conscious decision to base peace and security on cooperation, interdependence and shared institutions, with a strong commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law. It is especially important to reflect on these origins today, as the world faces a growing number of threats and overlapping crises. At a time when international cooperation turns into global competition, the Schuman Declaration serves as a powerful reminder that peace is not a given — it must be continuously nurtured, defended and re-envisioned through cooperation. Europe is adapting to this changing world. We are stepping up our security and defense capabilities. We are ensuring the competitiveness of our economy while staying the course of our green transition, alongside our digital transformation. But no country or power can face today's challenges alone. This is why strengthening our partnerships with the Gulf region is a priority. In October last year, we held the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Brussels, which marked a historic moment, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending. This historical event launched a new and more ambitious chapter in our cooperation. It was a clear signal that the EU and the GCC member states are forging a strategic partnership for the 21st century. Against that backdrop, we are privileged to be Saudi Arabia's strategic partner as the Kingdom opens up to the world, having embarked on a spectacular social and economic transformation under the Vision 2030 program. This partnership grows stronger every day — solid, productive and expanding. We have found common ground across many sectors, including security, economic cooperation, energy, green transition, tourism, education, the arts and sports. Over the past year, our bilateral relations have achieved significant milestones. An exceptional number of high-level visits and exchanges between the EU and Saudi Arabia further strengthened our ties. We have common geopolitical interests. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing major crisis in Palestine and Israel frame the challenges of our shared future. The EU stands ready to play its full part in future peace talks on Ukraine and has welcomed the role played by Saudi Arabia to facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we have joined efforts to reinvigorate the political process toward a two-state solution and established the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-sponsored by Saudi Arabia, Norway and the EU. This significant step forward has led to the upcoming international conference in New York in June, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, to rally international support for concrete, coordinated efforts toward a just and lasting peace. In the economic field, we have laid a strong foundation. With approximately 2,500 European companies now operating in the Kingdom, Europe is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner and its first direct foreign investor. But we want to go further, whether through free trade agreements, sectoral collaborations or expanded dialogue. A year ago, we launched the European Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region. By creating a platform for companies, by companies, our goal has been to foster deeper and more robust economic partnerships. Since then, many joint projects have taken place under its umbrella, deepening our trade collaboration. Another area in which we have witnessed progress is our security cooperation. Two editions of the EU-GCC Structured Security Dialogue focused on key areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, counterproliferation and counterterrorism. Moreover, through naval operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES, the EU contributes to safeguarding maritime security and ensuring the freedom of navigation in this region, from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. No country or power can face today's challenges alone. This is why strengthening our partnerships with the Gulf region is a priority. Christophe Farnaud Building for the long term means that culture is a priority. Higher education is key. Investing in young people is one of the most meaningful and forward-thinking ways to strengthen our ties. We are proud of the growing partnerships with Saudi universities, from King Saud University and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the University of Business and Technology in Jeddah. I am pleased to see the increasing interest in the EU's Erasmus+ program, which is now open to Saudi students. I hope this will lead to even more exchanges and shared experiences across our campuses. More broadly, our shared interest in more cultural exchanges is reflected by the continued success of two of our flagship initiatives, the EU Music Week and the EU Food Festival. To deepen people-to-people exchanges, the EU-GCC Summit also confirmed the goal of a visa-free travel arrangement. The process is complex technically and politically. It will take time. In the meantime, the new rules introduced last year, enabling Saudi nationals to obtain multiple-entry short-stay visas valid for up to five years, are a meaningful step forward. Our dynamic partnership makes us more resilient, stronger and better equipped to move forward. We have a lot more to do together, for peace and prosperity.
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Europe Day marks 75 years of integration and crisis management
When you walk into Ursula von der Leyen's office, one of the first things you notice is a large picture on a wall, near a set of sofas where the European Commission president hosts guests. The picture shows the Treaty of Rome being signed in 1957, a key moment in the history of the political community that would eventually become the European Union. The treaty set up a common market between the original six; France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, binding their economic future closer together. It built on the European Coal and Steel Community established six years before, which pooled coal and steel production in the aftermath of the second World War. The idea was that, by entwining the economies of Germany and France together, you would make another war in the heart of Europe between the two powers impossible. READ MORE Friday marks 75 years since then-French foreign minister Robert Schuman proposed the concept of European peace through economic co-operation. Several treaties later, 22 more member states, a euro currency, the 2008 financial crash, the UK's exit, plus a war in Ukraine, and you get the EU of today. The European club that expanded during decades governed by a rules-based global order now finds itself in one where it seems might makes right. The United States under Donald Trump has ruptured the transatlantic partnership that was a foundational bedrock of the EU. Sweeping tariffs have been put on trade. The US has suggested it might not come to the aid of its old allies in the event of a future attack by Russia. That has really heightened anxiety in eastern EU capitals. 'The US security blanket allowed [Europe] to build its welfare state, to choose butter over guns,' says Matthias Matthijs, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University who specialises in EU politics. That era seems to be over. 'American support for EU integration is gone or has become conditional at best,' he says. Big hopes are being pinned on new German chancellor Friedrich Merz. Many are looking to him to restart the Franco-German engine that once powered European politics, but has been stalling for years. 'We know through history that political systems have risen and fallen with regularity ... Assessing where the [European] system is at now is particularly difficult, because of the uncertainty in global politics,' says Brigid Laffan, European University Institute emeritus professor. 'The EU has effectively been very severely tested since the financial crisis of 2008 onwards and the EU has come through that in reasonably good condition,' she says. There was the euro and debt crisis, the 2015 migration crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 'When push came to shove in all those other crises, the EU proved to be resilient and robust,' Laffan says. A peace deal in the Ukraine war that emboldens Moscow and cripples Kyiv could dwarf those previous tests, by raising the prospect of Russia some day attacking a neighbouring EU state. There are problems inside the house as well. The EU may finally have to grasp the Viktor Orbán-shaped nettle that has long been a major irritation. Hungary's pro-Trump, far-right prime minister has become even more brazen in blocking foreign policy decisions that need unanimous support. Slovakia's populist leader Robert Fico has shown some signs of following suit, to oppose support for Ukraine. They could be joined by another obstructor, if far-right front-runner George Simion wins Romania's presidential election later this month. Other EU states will ultimately not allow efforts to protect their own security be compromised by one rogue leader in Hungary, Laffan believes. So something might have to give soon, particularly if there are any suspicions around the results of parliamentary elections in Hungary next year, she says. The EU has gone through several stages of enlargement and has always faced problems in how it takes decisions, Matthijs says. A more powerful European Commission has been one of the defining features of the union in recent years, he adds. Who do you call when you want to call Europe? 'It used to be Angela Merkel and now it's von der Leyen,' he says. Many national capitals are quietly happy that the EU's executive arm is in charge of the bloc's response to Trump's tariffs. That has made it difficult for the US administration to exert pressure on individual states and allows for a stronger EU-wide retaliation, which officials hope might push Trump to cut a deal. Working from the 13th floor of the commission's Berlaymont office in Brussels, von der Leyen has established herself as a commission president who does reasonably well in a crisis. The first four months of Trump's White House return suggests Europe will have no shortage of them over the next few years.
