Jean Monnet, 'the inspirer'

Born into a family of cognac merchants, Jean Monnet began a globe-trotting career as a very young man before deciding to throw all his energies into Franco-British cooperation during the First World War. After the war, he took a post at the League of Nations then returned to the family business, only to head off again, to the United States of America and China as an investment banker. During the Second World War, Monnet worked first in London, again promoting Franco-British cooperation, and then in Algiers, where he helped to establish the French authorities that moved back to Paris when the war ended. He was then appointed Commissioner for 'the Plan', France's national economic blueprint. Largely responsible for drafting the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950, Monnet pursued his mission with plans for a European Defence Community, for Euratom and for the European Economic Community. After 1955, he continued to influence events through the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, working on economic and monetary matters, promoting United Kingdom membership of the European Community and establishing the European Council. Monnet's entire life was shaped by the world wars and the necessity of forging agreements between people, regardless of their nationality, to tackle shared challenges. That is why he is universally recognised today as one Europe's founding fathers.