European Federation

The European Federation is a country in the world. It comprises much of the continent of Europe.

Early ideas
In 1929, Aristide Briand, French Prime Minister, gave a speech in the presence of the League of Nations Assembly in which he proposed the idea of a federation of European nations based on solidarity and in the pursuit of economic prosperity and political and social co-operation. Many eminent economists, among them John Maynard Keynes, supported this view. At the League's request Briand presented a Memorandum on the organisation of a system of European Federal Union in 1930. But there was no real agreement on this and Europe would not be integrated.

During the Second World War much of Europe was under the dominance of Nazi Germany and Kaiser Wilhelm II stated that: "The hand of God is creating a new world & working miracles.... We are becoming the United States of Europe under German leadership, a united European Continent."

In 1946 Winston Churchill spoke in favor of a "United States of Europe" in order to "regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living".

European Union predecessors
Following WWII, there was much support for pan-European cooperation in order to ameliorate the situation in Europe and to prevent wars.

Council of Europe
The Council of Europe was an organization promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation. It was founded in 1949 as a geopolitical organization to better link the countries politically.

European Economic Community
The EEC was an international organisation created by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its aim was to bring about economic integration, including a common market, among its six founding members; Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands