Suchergebnisse

Although the collapse of both the European Defense Community and the European Political Union was strongly felt, new measures were soon taken to strengthen European integration, which eventually led to the creation of the European Economic Community and the Euratom. The proposition was made to apply the same concept used in the European Coal and Steel Community to other sections of European economy. Federal Finance Minister Ludwig Erhard was categorically against this proposal from the very start; instead, he insisted upon a loose alliance between sovereign states based upon market demand and the natural development of economic interests. Erhard met with opposition in the person of Franz Etzel, the Vice President of the High Commission of the European Coal and Steel Community, who was an equally committed and determined proponent of a different school of thought. Etzel's argument was that only institutionally defined criteria would ensure the growth and stability of the alliance of the six member states. Indeed, the crisis that arose toward the end of 1956 was resolved due to Etzel's strong advice to accept the concessions made to France. (Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte / FUB)