Common Sense About the Common Market

The Common Market between France, Western Germany, Italy and the ‘Benelux’ counties was not merely a reshuffle of tariff rates and trade agreements, but a political mile-stone in post-war history. Originally published in 1958, this book surveys the pre-history of the Common Market from the German Zollverein to the abortive customs union with Austria in 1931 and traces its roots amongst the tangled post-war politics of occupied Germany, the Ruhr Authority and the Coal and Steel pool. The book provides a summary of post-war economic developments in Europe and examines the guiding principles of the famous Spaak Report, comparing it with the text of the Rome Treaty. Finally the book deals with the challenge of the new developments to Great Britain.