European Confederation

> "In the sphere of foreign policy we have in the most solemn form declared before the entire world the principles on which the German nation, without hatred or desire for vengeance against others, seeks peace and friendship with those who fifteen years ago still faced us as foes. In the profound recognition of the unavoidable consequences of a new war in Europe which could but lead to Communistic chaos we have done everything in our power to improve and to free from venom our relations with these nations which formerly faced us in enmity."
>
> Führer der Nation, Chancellor of Germany, **Adolf Hitler**, 1934

## European Confederation

The Flag and the Symbol of the European Confederation.

Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium.

### Motto

Joy, beautiful spark of Divinity, Daughter of Elysium!

## Institutional Seats

 **Brüssel, Germany**
* European Commission
* Court of Justice

 **Lyon, France**
* European Defense Community
* European Economic Community

 **Skagen, Denmark**
* Skagen Zone

 **Bolzano, Italy** (until 1960)
 **Vienna, Germany**
* Europol

 **Germania, Germany**
* Customs Union
* Central Bank

## Institution Overview

### Preceding Agencies

Pact of Steel, the Tripartite Pact, the Anti-Comintern Pact

## Institution Information

### Religion

Catholic Christianity, Protestant Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Nordicism, Der Bewegung

### Type

Supranational Union

The **European Confederation** (German: *Europäischer Staatenbund*; French: *Confédération Européenne*), commonly known as **Eurocon**, or as **Eurobund** by the Germans, is a supranational political and economic union of the member-states of Europe. The European Confederation is the first of its kind as a political entity, combining several different aspects of a confederation and federation on both a national and supranational scale. The European Confederation is the world's largest supranational political and economic union, with nine different institutions, five of which are located in Germany, seated in five different cities. Eurocon's activities range from facilitating European political unity, a unified economic system, a central bank in Berlin, a regional principle, a labour policy and economic and trading agreements.

The Confederation was first conceived by the German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in March 1943 alongside Cécil von Renthe-Fink, and most importantly Walther Funk, as a wartime proposal to help Germany coordinate with its allies against external threats from the West, by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, and from the East, by the now-defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, being succeeded by the The Former Soviet Republic of the Russian Union. The plan was initially rejected by the Führer Adolf Hitler, who was first apprehensive of Germany making promises to what he perceived as his enemies. However, Hitler had a change of heart, as after winning the war and declaring the Victory in Europe Day, many European countries, particularly those who were in-desperate need for economic aid and post-war restructuring, were willingly requesting for Germany's friendship in its fight against "Global Bolshevism". As such, Hitler reluctantly gave Ribbentrop the greenlight to go forward with his plans, on the necessary condition that Germany gains more from its neighbors than it loses.

The European Confederation was established when the Brüssel Declaration came into effect as the Treaty of Brüssel was signed in January 3, 1951, by a group of founding states known as the Founding Seven, namely, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, and Romania. Since then, several amendments have been made to the treaty, each either adding a new institution, or drastically altering the functions of an existing one. The most notable of these are the creation of the Skagen Zone through the Treaty of Skagen, the incorporation of Europol through the Bolzano Amendment also known as the "Meyszner Amendment", and the Dresden Amendment initiated by Chancellor Albert Speer, which drastically increased the powers of the European Commission.

## Background

### **German Ministry Planning**

Although talks of European unity existed amongst European intellectuals long before the Second World War, most believe that the first definitive instance of enacting such matters were started by the German Foreign Ministry and the German Institute for Foreign Studies (Auslandswissenschaftliches Institut), specifically by Werner Daitz, and Karl Megerle, who formed the foundation of a united Europe under German leadership. A memorandum in March 1943 outlined the steps needed to formalize the European Confederation, though it was rejected.

Ribbentrop later established the European Committee, a group of 14 diplomats in the German Foreign Ministry who were tasked with collecting information to help establish the European Confederation, in the aftermath of the war. Ribbentrop believed that as soon as Germany definitively won the war, it became necessary for the heads of states of the European Axis to be brought together to sign a new treaty in the city of Salzburg or Vienna. Yet again, the proposal was rejected by Adolf Hitler. Ribbentrop began falling out of favor by the 1950s, and was increasingly desperate to maintain his high-ranking status within Germany.

### **Creation of the Confederation**

The new President of Germany, Hermann Göring, though one who was usually at odds with Ribbentrop, offered support for his proposal of establishing the High Representative of the European Confederation, as part of Göring's geopolitical strategy, known as the Göring Doctrine, an economic, sociopolitical, and economic strategy to increase Germany's global influence and make it the center-point of regional and global politics. Ribbentrop agreed, and was briefly instated as Head of the Brüssel Commission, inviting France, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, and Romania to Brüssel to sign the new declaration and treaty in 1953. However, Ribbentrop, though the main signatory of the treaty which established the European Confederation, was not offered the post of High Representative itself. Instead, the post was offered to Ernst von Weizsäcker, the-then Ambassador to the Holy See, likely due to Göring's dislike towards Ribbentrop. Slovakia, Finland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, and Greece were all invited at a later date. Sweden soon became part of Germany's sphere of influence, and joined, however, Switzerland and Germany retained hostile relations, especially after the Menges Affair, which publicly exposed the plans of Operation Tannenbaum. Spain and Portugal joined together, whilst Albania and Montenegro were only brought in upon being recognized as independent states, though nominally under the Italian Empire.

## Leadership of the European Confederation

### High Representative of the European Confederation

The High Representative of the European Confederation, is the Head of the European Commission, the main committee of the European Confederation. The European Commission has the sole right to legislative initiation and the sole right to enforce them. In practice, the High Representative of the European Commission is the most powerful position in the Confederation. The current High Representative of the European Commission is Walter Hallstein.

## Member States and Signatories

### **European Confederation**

The European Confederation is the entirety of the organization, and membership at this level is the most fundamental and basic of memberships to be considered within the Confederation. As the name suggests, only countries within the continent of Europe as defined by the Brüssel Declaration are able to join the Confederation. Each member of the European Confederation is automatically part of the following institutions: the European Council, the European Commission, the Court of Justice, the Customs Union, and the Central Bank. Aside from this, there are several different treaties, each with different participants, such as the European Defense Community, the European Economic Community, the Skagen Zone, and Europol. These are referred to as independent treaties.

* Germany - January 3, 1951
* France - January 3, 1951
* Italy - January 3, 1951 (suspended since 1960)
* Denmark - January 3, 1951
* Norway - January 3, 1951
* Sweden - July 7, 1962
* Finland - June 7, 1958
* Bulgaria - February 2, 1952
* Romania - January 3, 1951
* Hungary - January 3, 1951
* Slovakia - March 18, 1951
* Croatia - September 23, 1953
* Serbia - September 14, 1953
* Spain - March 16, 1959
* Portugal - December 7, 1960
* Greece - January 21, 1952
* Albania - February 13, 1954
* Montenegro - February 13, 1954

### **European Defense Community**

The European Defense Community is the sub-organization which facilitates military cooperation, through the form of shared military and industrial research, equipment sharing, and combined planning. The European Defense Community is not to be considered a military alliance, but rather, a cooperative agency to strengthen the military capabilities of each individual member state. The European Defense Community works in-tandem with the Berlin Pact (BP), the actual military alliance led by Germany. As expected, Germany is the most powerful country within this defense community.

* Germany - January 3, 1951
* France - January 3, 1951
* Italy - January 3, 1951 (suspended since 1960)
* Denmark - January 3, 1951
* Norway - January 3, 1951
* Sweden - July 7, 1962
* Bulgaria - February 2, 1952
* Romania - January 3, 1951
* Hungary - January 3, 1951
* Slovakia - March 18, 1951

### **European Economic Community**

The European Economic Community is the sub-organization which facilitates economic cooperation with the intent of fostering economic integration amongst its signatories. Aside from each member being more involved in more radical endeavors undertaken by the Customs Union and the Central Bank. As expected, Germany is the country with the largest economy within this economic community.

* Germany - January 3, 1951
* France - January 3, 1951
* Italy - January 3, 1951 (suspended since 1960)
* Denmark - January 3, 1951
* Norway - January 3, 1951
* Sweden - July 7, 1962
* Bulgaria - February 2, 1952
* Romania - January 3, 1951
* Hungary - January 3, 1951
* Slovakia - March 18, 1951

### **Skagen Zone**

The Skagen Zone is an area comprising of the four "Germanic countries", Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, with the intent of connecting the four countries culturally, socially, politically, and economically. Despite Germany's world-power status, it remained one of the most secretive countries with strict border control. Only the three non-German members of the Skagen Zone, within the declared Skagen territories, are given more freedom to enter Germany, as part of Germany's Nordicization Programs. The stated eventual goal of the Skagen Zone, is to create a united Germanic community amongst the four nations. Sweden is by far, the least enthusiastic of the four, and has threatened on several occasions to withdraw their membership.

* Germany - September 15, 1962
* Denmark - September 15, 1962
* Norway - September 15, 1962
* Sweden - September 15, 1962

### **Europol**

The Europol was originally created through the initiative of Heinrich Himmler, the 4th Reichsführer-SS, who appointed August von Meyszner for the creation of the European Police, with the goal of being able to recruit servicemen from Germany's allies and beneficiary states into a new policing agency. Europol was formerly nominally part of the Schutzstaffel, and was established on 1949. Europol's most important mission by far, was its involvement in policing actions in the former Yugoslavia. In 1956, through the Bolzano Amendment, Europol was incorporated into the European Confederation.

* Germany - August 1, 1949
* France - August 1, 1949
* Italy - August 1, 1949 (suspended since 1960)
* Denmark - August 1, 1949
* Norway - August 1, 1949
* Romania - August 1, 1949
* Croatia - August 1, 1949
* Serbia - September 14, 1953
* Greece - August 1, 1949