EU Timeline: 1940s

Significant events:

1946     |     1947     |     1948     |     1949

---

1946

19 September

Winston Churchill calls for a 'United States of Europe' led by France and Germany in a speech he gives at the University of Zurich.

17 December

The European Federalists Union is formed.

---

1947

14 May

Supported by Winston Churchill, the United Europe Movement is created, against supranational institutions and in favour of intergovernmental cooperation.

27 to 31 August

The European Union Federalists Congress meets in Montreux.

13 to 14 December

Federalist and Unionist organisations get together within the International Coordination of Movements for the Unification of Europe Committee.

---

1948

1 January

Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands (the Benelux countries) establish a custom convention.

7 to 11 May

Sponsored by the International Coordination of Movements for the Unification of Europe Committee, the Europe Congress meets in The Hague, chaired by Winston Churchill and attended by 800 delegates. The Congress recommends that Europe's individual states prepare for political and economic integration.

---

1949

28 January

France, Great Britain and the Benelux countries invite Denmark, Ireland, Italy Norway and Switzerland to help prepare the statute for and set up a Council of Europe.

5 May

The statute of the Council of Europe is signed in London.

3 August

The statute of the Council of Europe is enforced.

10 August to 8 September

The first session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is held in Strasbourg with the Belgian foreign minister and former premier Paul-Henri Spaak as its head. Federalist members of parliament move for the creation of a supranational European political authority.

[Back to top]