The Schuman Project (found at schuman.info) is an independent research initiative directed by historian David Heilbron Price. It is arguably the most detailed resource available for anyone looking to understand the “Institutional Gap” you’ve been exploring.
The project acts as a “intellectual watchdog,” arguing that the modern European Union has effectively “hijacked” or “counterfeited” Robert Schuman’s original democratic design.
Beow a synopsis of the analysis on Schuman.info:
1. The “Supranational” vs. “Federal” Distinction
The project emphasizes a distinction that is often lost in modern politics: Schuman did not want a Federal Europe (a United States of Europe) or an Intergovernmental Europe (a club of governments).
- Schuman’s Vision: A “Supranational Community” where power is delegated by the people to independent bodies that are strictly held accountable by a House of the People.
- The Project’s Critique: It argues the current EU is a “technocratic cartel” where unelected officials and heads of state make deals behind closed doors, which is the exact opposite of what Schuman proposed in 1950.
2. The “Great Charter” and Hidden History
One of the most unique aspects of the Schuman Project is its focus on the 1951 Charter of the Community. Price argues that the EU has “forgotten” or “hidden” its own founding democratic principles.
- The project highlights that Schuman’s original plan required direct elections and public transparency as a prerequisite for any power transfer.
- It accuses modern EU leaders of “legal forgery”—passing treaties like the Lisbon Treaty which, according to the project, are “undemocratic, even anti-democratic” because they bypass the direct consent of the people (referendums).
3. The “Democratic Deficit” as a “Democratic Deceit”
While mainstream media calls it a “deficit,” the Schuman Project labels it a “Deceit.” * It provides evidence that the European Commission has moved away from being a “technical servant” of the nations (as Schuman intended) to becoming a political body that lacks the moral authority Schuman believed was necessary.
- It specifically critiques the Council of Ministers for acting as a “secretive legislature,” which Schuman warned would lead to the very nationalism and distrust we see today.
4. Key “Schuman Project” Resources for Your Research:
If you are looking to cite this project in your final document, these are their strongest sections:
- “The Warning of Political Counterfeiters”: Based on Schuman’s 1963 warnings that politicians would try to strip the “soul” out of the community and replace it with a cold bureaucracy.
- “Schuman vs. Monnet”: The project argues that Jean Monnet (the technocrat) has been unfairly credited at the expense of Schuman (the democrat), leading to an EU that prioritizes efficiency over human rights and democracy.
- “The Five Key Institutions”: A breakdown of how Schuman’s original 5-pillar system was designed to prevent the centralisation of power we see today. See https://www.schuman.info/supra5.htm