BIGWIGS
BIGWIGS
The long, colourful history of the European Union is filled with all sorts of interesting - okay, fairly interesting - look, stop arguing! - people, and this page sets out to list some of those who have contributed most to the Great Cause of Political Union.
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King of the Franks who conquered large parts of Europe. Unfortunately his conquests were divided between his three sons after his death, thus undoing most of his work. His legacy was the Holy Roman Empire, which was neither holy, Roman nor an Empire, but which did evolve eventually into modern Germany (so he was the one to blame for what happened in the 20th century!).
CHARLES DE GAULLE (1890-1970)
President of France, who several times nearly broke the Union completely. In 1955 he opposed a plan to give the Union financial autonomy by adopting an 'empty chair' policy, which brought all Union business to a grinding halt. Having hidden out World War II in Great Britain, he twice blocked its entry into the Union (1963 and 1967), which only came about after his death.
ADOLF HITLER (1889-1945)
Probably the man who has come closest to achieving political Union thus far, although his efforts ultimately failed due to British opposition, most notably their refusal to be invaded. The most famous Austrian in E.U. history, though for some reason neither they nor Germany like to be reminded of him.
EDWARD HEATH (1916-2005)
Probably one of the most admired leaders in Europe (except in Britain, where he proved a totally incompetent prime minister and lied to the British over the conditions for E.U. entry). Not however the least inspiring leader - that title undoubtedly belongs to Helmut Kohl (see below).
SICCO MANSHOLT (1909-)
Dutch politician and that country's representative in this list, as he was responsible for creating the Common Agricultural Policy, undoubtedly the biggest cock-up in E.U. history prior to the E.R.M, single currency, constitution....
ROBERT SCHUMAN (1880-1963)
The man behind the famous Schuman Plan (don't be ignorant and say you've never heard of it1), out of which grew the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the predecessor of the Union. Was also prime minister of France.
JEAN MONNET (1888 -1979)
French bureaucrat who was jointly responsible with Schuman for the Schuman Plan, and was also behind the 1955 relaunch of the E.U. which nearly drove de Gaulle to bring the whole thing crashing down (see above). Note the French are proud of him, even if everyone else thinks he was actually a painter.
PAUL-HENRI SPAAK (1899-1982)
Belgium's equivalent of de Gaulle (yes, a famous Belgian!!), who also hid out in London during World War II and then drew up the Treaty of Rome in 'thanks'.
MARGARET THATCHER (1925-)
British prime minister 1979-90, who succeeded in uniting the whole Union against Britain when she refused to keep paying for it. Introduced the verb 'handbagging' to the Union vocabulary. It is rumoured that the day she fell from office is to be made a national holiday across the Union.
Probably the most committed president (or the president who should have been committed) the Union has ever had. Very popular in Europe, hated in Britain. Intensified the drive towards political union (German takeover) of Europe.
HELMUT KOHL (1930-)
Chancellor of Germany 1982-98, and one of the most admired men in Europe, particularly as he has shown the excellent ability to disregard what the little people (i.e. 80 million Germans) really feel about his plans for them. Now proven to have been totally corrupt in office, but shares with Hitler a strange knack of remaining popular anyway.
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