Congress of Europe

The Congress of Europe was a pivotal meeting held in The Hague in 1948, bringing together 750 statesmen from Western Europe. This gathering was a significant step in the post-World War II movement towards European unity. The congress advocated for political and economic integration, the establishment of a European Assembly, and the creation of a European Court of Human Rights.1

While some governments responded positively, the initiative ultimately led to the formation of the Council of Europe in 1949, which had limited powers. The push for deeper integration continued, leading to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, followed by the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, which eventually merged to form the European Communities. The idea of a united Europe had been discussed for centuries and actively promoted from the 1920s, gaining momentum as World War II approached.1