The Treaty of Lisbon and the Irish Impasse. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 8 No.18, August 2008

Lorca, Francisco J. (2008) The Treaty of Lisbon and the Irish Impasse. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 8 No.18, August 2008.

Abstract

[From the Introduction]. The construction of a unified Europe has become the most desirable but most difficult political goal to obtain of past centuries. After years of bellicose conflicts, a handful of visionary political leaders, led by Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, convinced a great number of Europeans of the benefits of a unified Europe, despite the difficulty in persuading Europeans used to a long history of countries constantly changing names, boundaries, and religions. The closest Europe can be considered to have been to what could be considered “integrated” was during the “Pax Romana” under the Roman Empire. From its mythical beginnings with founding of Rome by Romulus and Numa-Pompilio it developed into an empire under the rule of Emperor Augustus. It achieved maximum splendor under the rule of the emperor Hadrian from the Hispania Province, who expanded the Roman Empire to England, as evidenced by his construction of the now famous Hadrian’s Wall, delimiting the frontier of the Empire.