The Fouchet Plan De Gaulle’s Intergovernmental Design for Europe

The Fouchet Plan
a later date. Other member states might calculate that, given de Gaulle’s age
(71 in 1961) and the uncertain political situation in France (with the Algerian
war and absence of a parliamentary majority making it increasingly necessary
to govern by referendum), there was a fair chance that the current French
President would no longer be in power by the time the three-year review took
place (in 1965 at the earliest). As Couve de Murville later wrote, somewhat
mischievously: ‘Since nothing else was possible, why not welcome proposals
which would at least set Europe on a political path? One could always look at
them again later, and in any case de Gaulle would not last forever.’ 37
Hardening opposition
The immediate reaction of France’s partners to the first Fouchet Plan was
mixed. Three countries – West Germany, Italy and Luxembourg – suggested
they could do business on the basis of the French text, whilst seeking additional
guarantees in respect of the importance of NATO and the integrity of the
existing EC. The French in return implied that movement on these points might
well prove possible, with a tacit commitment to try to amend their proposal
accordingly. The Netherlands, by contrast, said the whole proposal was
unacceptable. Belgium, for the first time, moved from the neutral camp into a
position of opposition. This shift caused widespread surprise and was to prove
of major importance.
Paul-Henri Spaak, who had recently returned to the post of Belgian foreign
minister (from that of NATO Secretary General), was central to the change of
position in Brussels. Having initially given the French initiative the benefit of
the doubt, he now seems to have decided to penalise de Gaulle for two
37 Couve, op cit, p361.
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