In a pivotal moment for European collaboration, Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister, introduced the Schuman Declaration, which proposed the creation of a supranational authority to manage coal and steel production among European nations. Delivered in Paris, this declaration emphasized the need for cooperation to ensure peace and stability, particularly in the aftermath of World War II. The proposal aimed to place Franco-German industrial production under common management, thereby making war between these nations not only unthinkable but materially impossible. Schuman's vision rested on the principle that economic cooperation would lead to broader political integration.

The Schuman Declaration called for a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), urging six founding countries—Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany—to join in this collaborative effort. This collaboration would serve as a foundation for future political and economic integration, which was essential for sustainable peace. The initiative received widespread support and helped facilitate discussions that led to the establishment of the ECSC in 1951, marked by the Treaty of Paris.

The proposal was seen not merely as an economic strategy but as a transformative plan for fostering interdependence among European nations. While initially focusing on coal and steel, the ECSC laid the groundwork for broader integration efforts, ultimately leading to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. This network of cooperation has led to what is now recognized as the European Union, influencing both European relations and global economic structures.