The policymakers of European economic and monetary cooperation : staff and network of the European Commission’s directorate-general for economic and financial affairs, 1957-1992

Abstract

Economic and Monetary Union was one of the most important projects in the history of European integration. Yet, its history usually focuses on monetary rather than economic aspects, on a few very famous players, on central banks or, in economics, on major macro-economic mechanisms. This article proposes to investigate its historical evolution through the study of the European Commission, and, more particularly, of its most important Directorate-General for economic and monetary issues, namely the ‘DG II’ in charge of economic and financial affairs. Furthermore, the article adopts an original and deliberately actor-centred approach. Through a network and prosopographical analysis, it examines their links with key bodies in European monetary discussions and explores their professional trajectories. In addition to making visible actors otherwise largely overlooked, the article shows the existence of a network of people involved in European economic and monetary issues linking national, European, and global levels.