The integration process was spearheaded by a small group of farsighted statesmen who subscribed to open-society principles and practiced what Karl Popper called “piecemeal social engineering.” They recognized that perfection is unattainable; so they set limited objectives and firm timelines – and then mobilized the political will for a small step forward, knowing full well that when they achieved it, its inadequacy would become apparent, requiring further steps.
一体化进程的倡导者是一小群有远见的政治家，他们信奉开放社会原则，践行卡尔·波普尔所谓的“渐进式社会工程”。他们清楚不可能尽善尽美，因此制定了有限度的目标和确定的时间表——籍此来调动进一步采取行动的政治意愿。他们清楚地知道目标实现后其不足之处必定会很快暴露，进而敦促采取进一步的措施。欧洲煤钢共同体正是通过这种方式逐步转化为欧盟。