The Contribution of France to the Unification of the European Economy

The European Union is a grouping of formally equal states, in reality however some subjects played and still play a special role in its development (or in the shaping of the forms of European integration preceding the European Union). From this point of view the position of France can be considered as an outright priority. Both with regard to the first (Monnet, Schuman) initiatives as well as the later contribution to the constructive evolution of the most comprehensive in the economic history of international relations of the integration team. It is also understandable that the possibilities of French interaction upon the collective situation result not only from intellectual prowess but also from advantageous political alliances with a bilateral character. This refers first of all to relations with Germany, which actually represent a bigger economic potential but for various historical reasons try however in general to adapt to the French suggestions. All the more so that France indicates much energy and ingenuity in sustaining its international prestige by means of combinations of economic, technological, political and cultural-civilisation factors. In this context it is worth stressing among other the French restraint - if not outright dislike - with reference to farther going conceptions of development of the Union in a federal direction.