The Schuman Declaration

Seventy Years Ago and Today

Abstract

Seventy years ago, the Schuman Declaration launched the process of European integration, that can be described as the most successful process in  European history. However, the history of European integration has been characterised not only by unique achievements, but also by challenges, dilemmas and recurring crises demanding reforms. This is the reason why the most frequently used words regarding this history are crisis and reform. The basic challenges are still there, such as the – very much simplified – conflict between ‘sovereignists’ and ‘federalists’, the disequilibrium among the economic, political and cultural dimensions of the integration and the deepening divides between geographic regions (North–South, East–West). For the first dilemma, the essay suggests a solution based upon the re-interpretation of the concepts of both nation and federalism, returning to the author’s idea published 25 years ago about the ‘Europe of nations above states’. It also advocates the re-establishment of the balance among the economic, political and cultural dimensions, in particular by reinforcing the cultural one. This would primarily require the acceptance of collective identities, national and European, as well as the strengthening of the common elements of European identity based upon the Christian roots of Schuman’s ‘espace de civilisation’.