Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was commonly known as Jean Monnet.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: November 9, 1888
Died: March 9, 1979
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: French
Profession: Diplomat, politician, and economist
Early Life and Background
Jean Monnet was born in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France. His family was middle-class and had no connections to politics or government. Monnet's early life was marked by a strong sense of duty and public service. He was educated at the École libre des sciences politiques in Paris and later worked as an economist for the French Ministry of Finance.
Major Accomplishments
Monnet is best known for his work in creating the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which laid the groundwork for the modern-day European Union. He served as the first President of the High Authority of the ECSC from 1952 to 1955, a position that gave him significant influence over European economic policy.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his work on the ECSC, Monnet was also a key figure in shaping post-World War II France. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community (EEC) and paved the way for further integration among European nations.
Impact and Legacy
Monnet's legacy is multifaceted and far-reaching. He is credited with helping to establish a united Europe, fostering economic cooperation, and promoting peace among nations. His work on the ECSC created a common market for coal and steel, which helped to rebuild war-torn Europe and set a precedent for further integration.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Monnet's quotes are widely quoted due to his significant contributions to European integration and his dedication to peace and cooperation. His vision of a united Europe has inspired generations of politicians, diplomats, and economists. Today, Monnet is remembered as one of the most influential figures in modern European history.
As the first President of the High Authority of the ECSC, Jean Monnet played a pivotal role in shaping the course of European integration. His work on the ECSC created a common market for coal and steel, which helped to rebuild war-torn Europe and set a precedent for further integration.
Quotes by Jean Monnet
Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one’s time until the right moment comes along.
There will be no peace in Europe if the States rebuild themselves on the basis of national sovereignty, with its implications of prestige politics and economic protection (...). The countries of Europe are not strong enough individually to be able to guarantee prosperity and social development for their peoples. The States of Europe must therefore form a federation or a European entity that would make them into a common economic unit.
Have I said clearly enough that the Community we created is not an end in itself? It is a process of change, continuing in that same process which in an earlier period produced our national forms of life. The sovereign nations of the past can no longer solve the problems of the present: they cannot ensure their own progress or control their own future. And the Community itself is only a stage on the way of the organized world of tomorrow.
The fusion (of economic functions) would compel nations to fuse their sovereignty into that of a single European State.
Make men work together show them that beyond their differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest.
People only accept change when they are faced with necessity, and only recognize necessity when a crisis is upon them.
