Father of Europe

Robert Schuman is an interesting acquaintance.

Monnet and Schuman

EU's main architects are the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman (1886-1963), and a senior French civil servant, Jean Monnet (1888-1979).  

Who is Robert Schuman?
Robert Schuman is an interesting acquaintance. He didn't talk about diversity, togetherness and other such lofty terms that the EU comes up with these days, but was much more pragmatic in his approach.

He was born in Luxemburg and studied law becoming a member of the French National Assembly in 1919. The Gestapo arrested him in 1940, but he managed to escape in 1942 and worked in the French resistance movement. He was founder of the "Popular Republican Movement" and served as a French minister on and off after WWII. Fascinating to think that the six countries that signed the Paris and Rome treaties some fifty years ago paving the way for the uniting of most of Europe started off with negotiations regarding coal and steel.

Coal and Steel
The European Coal and Steel Community was realized in 1952 as a six-nation western European economic union designed to bind France and Germany together. This community will officially disappear in 2008, as steel and coal no longer are strategic goods, but rather are struggling to survive or are being turned into tourist attractions housing galleries and businesses as Zollverein in Germany. Basically the concept back then was that Germany had coal and France the iron ore to make steel. If their assets could be combined then the nations would lack the means and incentives to go to war with each other once again creating a zone of stability and civilized values. This would soon lead to the EEC, European Economic Community in 1958, an institution that in many respects to this day is modelled on the French civil service. From 1958 to 1960 Schuman was the first president of the European Parliament that granted him the title of the "Father of Europe".

Back then they talked about establishing a "United States of Europe". Some might still have this as their long-term goal, but EU has also realized the importance of being supported by a broad base of European citizens. Therefore no one with any common sense dares talk about a "United States of Europe" today.

50-year Celebrations at the House of Robert Schuman
Schuman's house in Scy-Chazelles is today the property of the General Council of the Moselle. There is much to see in this lorrainese village on the mountain slope of the Mount St.Quentin, the hill that forms the background of the region of Metz. The Abbey of Cluny in Saone-et-Loire and the main courtyard of the Palate of the Popes in Avignon are located here, as well as the historical house, which is working on a permanent exhibition on Robert Schuman as well as houses educational facilities.

March 25, 2007 features: 18 panels presenting the history of European integration from 6 to 27 nations, Conference "Of the Treaties of Rome towards a European Common Market", Conference "Of the Treaties of Rome towards theatrical creation, Europe of Tomorrow" and a concert in the fortified church from the 12th century (Schuman is buried in the church).

Related Information
The Home of Robert Schuman is open to visitors every day from April 1-October 31 except Wednesday. From November 1st to March 31st: Open to groups only.
Maison de Robert Schuman, 8, rue Robert Schuman, F-57160 Scy-Chazelles
Tel : 0033 (0) 3 87 60 19 90, Fax : 0033 (0) 3 87 60 29 74
European Robert Schumann Centre, www.centre-robert-schuman.org/en/index_en.html