The European Union is lacking a “founding myth”? Not at all, here it is – and, in fact, it is no myth, but a real story: The destiny of European integration took shape on 9 May 1950, with the declaration of the French Foreign Minister Schuman, who launched the European Coal and Steel Community. The events of these days can be retraced hour per hour, the actors gain life and profile. The solution is revolutionary: It is the first “breach in national sovereignty”. This would become the path towards today’s EU. – The story once told, there is a lot to be learnt: What was the relation between the wish of the Western Allies to bind (West-)Germany into the Western Bloc and the Franco-German desire to ensure peace? What was the relation between the economy and (high) politics? What about the relation between structural constraints and personal political leadership – would other politicians than Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer have decided otherwise? This book tells the story of 9 May, our “Europe Day”, and reflects on its meaning.
Political leadership in the European Union: an introduction