Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet was on of the original architects of European interqiation. He was known as
“The father of Europe”(Gillingham,2003’43)
In 1994, After the devaluation of the 2nd war, Monnet was consulted by foreign minister Robert Schuman as to the best course of action to promote ecnomoic growth in Europe. Monnet and Schuman who were both businessmen wanted to create a vision for European co op intrqiation. Monnet wanted to get civil servants to buy into countries. He knew the real work happened behind the scenes and using an inciemental approach, His largest contribution was his
“limited but decisive point”
Monnet believed that with economic integration that political integration would eventually be achieved, a process called “spinover” Monnet believed by having a unified Europe would create a process of sectorial ‘intergration’
“I am optimisit delermuned”
Jean Monnett was a Frenchman born in 1888.Monnet was highly a intelligent economist. In 1940 he went to work in Washington, working for the British Supply council to negotiate the purchase of war supplies. Short, after arriving he became an aclvisor to President F.D Roosevelt. As an advisor he inspired the implementation of the Victory Plan in 1941 which as John M. Kaynes argued shortened the war by at least one year. Monnets problem solving abilities and diplomatic approach came to light during the European Recovery Programme talks (E.R.P.). The E.R.P. had several management problems one of which, how American aid should be allocated. Monnet sujested that each nation should establish a plan like the French. The proposal was kniwn as the “The Marshall Plan”. The idea was not adopted but gave Monnet a substantial degree of diplomatic credibility.
Following the 2nd World War France was in need of economic reconstruction. Monnet advised the French goverment to rebuild France using German coal resourses increasing the French international competiveness. The plan was known as “The Monnet Plan”.
In 1943, Monnet became a member of the National Liberation Committee, the free French government in Algiers. Monnet said : “There will be no peace in Europe if the states rebuild themselves on the basis of national sovereignty, with its implications of prestige politics and economic protection(…).
The countries of europe are not strong enough individually to be able to guarantee prosperity and social development for there peoples. The States of Europe must therefore form a federation or a European entity that would make them into a common economic unit.
Following the liberation Monnet developed a plan that made it possible to revive the French economy. In 1950 Jean Monnet felt that with rise of international tensions, the time had come to try and unite the European countries. On the 9th of May 1950 Shuman made a declaration in the name of the French government, prepared by Monnet. It proposed placing all the France-German production of steel and coal under a common High Authority open to all countries. Shuman declared: “Through the consildation of basic production and the institution of new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and the other countries that join, this proposal represents the first concrete step towards a European Federation, inperative for the preservation of peace”.

Soon afterwards Germany, Italy , Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands replied favourably with the signing of the Treaty of France, the European Coal and Steel Community (E.C.S.C.) was born laying the foundations of the European Community.