Les identités économiques européennes en débat dans les années 1960: "Europe arbitre" et Europe volontariste

Two main conceptions of the economic identity of Europe have developed within the European Economic Community (EEC) since the 1960s. On the one hand, « referee Europe » is based on regulated liberalism. European and national institutions should intervene to monitor markets, but their actions must remain neutral. This vision led to consensual policies such as the « common Market ». It also triggered more controversial projects, such as competition policy. On the other hand, a vision of a « voluntarist Europe » developed, based on clear political choices. It led to various projects in industrial and regional policy. This conception of identity is more political and less technocratic, but more difficult to implement.