One of the EU’s main architects, Jean Monnet, a French diplomat and economist, spent much of World War II in Washington, DC, as a negotiator for the European allies. After Germany’s defeat, he was convinced that only a united Europe could prevent another devastating war in the West.
欧盟的主要设计者之一是法国外交官兼经济学家让·莫内，二战期间，他作为欧洲盟军谈判代表在华盛顿呆了很长时间。德国投降后，他认定只有统一的欧洲才能防止西方再一次爆发灾难性的战争。“欧洲不会有和平，”他在回忆录中写道，“如果各国在国家主权的基础上得以再造的话。”