(UFSM -2004) Europe is born In spring 1950 Europe was on the edge of the abyss. With the onset of the Cold War, the threat of conflict between its eastern and western halves loomed over the continent. Five years after the end of World War Two, the old enemies were still 11a long way from 2reconciliation. What could be done to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to create the right conditions for a 1lasting peace between such recent enemies? The nub of the problem was the relationship between France and Germany. 10A link had to be forged between the two and all the 5free countries in Europe had to be 3united around them so that they could work together on building a community with 9a shared destiny. It was Jean Monnet, with his unique wealth of experience as a negotiator and man of peace, who 4suggested to the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, and the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, that 8a community of interest be established between their countries, in the shape of a jointly managed market in coal and steel under the control of an independent authority. The proposal was officially tabled by France on 9 May 1950, and was warmly received by Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The treaty establishing the first European Community. the European Coal and Steel Community or ECSC, was eventually signed in April 1951, opening up the door to 12a Europe of 6practical achievements. Further achievements were to follow until we finally reached the European Union as it is today, 7a Union now opening up to the eastern half of the continent from which it has too long been separated. http://europa.eu.int/abc/obj/chrono/40years/7days/en.htm 06/06/03 No fragmento a Union (ref. 7), h uma eufonia. O mesmo processo ocorre em
