Sturm und Drang (1974-1982)

Abstract

British accession heralded a period of what is often referred to as ‘euroscleroris’. In the 1970s and 1980s, serious deepening of European integration became virtually impossible. Many dedicated Europeans across and beyond the continent became increasingly anxious about the vitality of the whole project, but not Dutch policymakers. They became confirmed Europhiles in many ways, even emerging as forerunners in particularly sensitive domains like the Monetary Union, where Franco-German antagonism was explosive and British aversion deep-seated. They even went so far as to launch far-reaching proposals for deep monetary integration, like the Duisenberg Plan of the 1970s.