I would argue that the reason was to foster understanding and cooperation by dismantling national barriers for trade and industry between the early participating members but the outcome is of course the same.
The original reason for the first EU predecessor, still under the impression of then very recent WW2, the Steel and Coal Union, was literally to prevent any further war between its founding members, France and Germany, by interconnecting the industries most vital to waging a war at that time, steel and coal, to such a degree that going to war with each other would immediately ruin the economy of either. The coal and steel industry was deliberately chosen, because it was seen as the quickest and easiest path to achieve that goal. Large parts of the steel and coal industry were badly damaged or outright destroyed by the war and had to be rebuilt anyway, also you can’t possibly sustain waging a modern war without steel and energy.
The goals you are describing were seen as a means to the end of achieving the “no more war” goal.
I would argue that the reason was to foster understanding and cooperation by dismantling national barriers for trade and industry between the early participating members but the outcome is of course the same.
The original reason for the first EU predecessor, still under the impression of then very recent WW2, the Steel and Coal Union, was literally to prevent any further war between its founding members, France and Germany, by interconnecting the industries most vital to waging a war at that time, steel and coal, to such a degree that going to war with each other would immediately ruin the economy of either. The coal and steel industry was deliberately chosen, because it was seen as the quickest and easiest path to achieve that goal. Large parts of the steel and coal industry were badly damaged or outright destroyed by the war and had to be rebuilt anyway, also you can’t possibly sustain waging a modern war without steel and energy.
The goals you are describing were seen as a means to the end of achieving the “no more war” goal.