Hans von der Groeben
Encyclopedia
Hans von der Groeben was a German diplomat, scientist and journalist and member of the European Commission
.
Von der Groeben was born in Langheim (today Łankiejmy, Poland
) near Rastenburg, East Prussia
.
A son of landowner Georg von der Groeben and Eva von Mirbach, he studied jurisprudence
and political economics at the Universities of Berlin, Bonn and Göttingen
. After the state exams he became a government advisor in 1933 at the Ministry of Nutrition (Reichsernährungsministerium) and in 1937 transferred to his final advisory position for credit and cooperatives (Referats für das Kredit- und Genossenschaftswesen).
For periods during the Second World War he served as a reserve in the armed forces, ending up as a first lieutenant. After the war he became a director of government in the Treasury of Lower Saxony
. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ludwig Erhard
recruited him from there to work on Germany's response to the Schuman Declaration
for better Franco-German relations. From 1953 he represented the Federal Government in the coordinating committee of the European Coal and Steel Community
.
He ranks among the fathers of the European Union, he was one of the authors of the Spaak report, calling for the establishment of the European Economic Community. He was vice-chair of the German delegation, led by Alfred Mueller Armack at the 1956 Brussels Conference which led to the Treaty of Rome
and was chair of the "Common Market" committee. He is responsible for the fact that the EEC
received a contractually specified free market framework and found a kindred spirit in the French delegation leader, Robert Marjolin
.
When the Treaty of Rome came into effect on 1 January 1958, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
appointed Von der Groeben as the second German member of the first European Commission
, along with Walter Hallstein
who became the commission president.
Responsible for competition policy, Von der Groeben set the foundations of the European anti-trust rights, introduced the value added tax system as well as the adjustment of the control systems and the European joint patents. The December 1961 adoption of the European anti-trust rights is based on his efforts to unite the French and German systems.
He remained a member of the second Hallstein Commission
and the Rey Commission
, serving until 1970. After leaving the commission in 1970 he became an advisor to the CDU
on questions of European policy and worked actively as a scientists and journalist.
In 1967 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Frankfurt
.
He married Gunhild von Rosenberg in 1934 and they had 3 children.
Von der Groeben died in 2005, aged 97, in Rheinbach
near Bonn
.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
Von der Groeben was born in Langheim (today Łankiejmy, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) near Rastenburg, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
.
A son of landowner Georg von der Groeben and Eva von Mirbach, he studied jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and political economics at the Universities of Berlin, Bonn and Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. After the state exams he became a government advisor in 1933 at the Ministry of Nutrition (Reichsernährungsministerium) and in 1937 transferred to his final advisory position for credit and cooperatives (Referats für das Kredit- und Genossenschaftswesen).
For periods during the Second World War he served as a reserve in the armed forces, ending up as a first lieutenant. After the war he became a director of government in the Treasury of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ludwig Erhard
Ludwig Erhard
Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966. He is notable for his leading role in German postwar economic reform and economic recovery , particularly in his role as Minister of Economics under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer...
recruited him from there to work on Germany's response to the Schuman Declaration
Schuman Declaration
The Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 was a governmental proposal by then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to create a new form of organization of States in Europe called a supranational Community. Following the experiences of two world wars, France recognized that certain values such as...
for better Franco-German relations. From 1953 he represented the Federal Government in the coordinating committee of the European Coal and Steel Community
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
.
He ranks among the fathers of the European Union, he was one of the authors of the Spaak report, calling for the establishment of the European Economic Community. He was vice-chair of the German delegation, led by Alfred Mueller Armack at the 1956 Brussels Conference which led to the Treaty of Rome
Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
and was chair of the "Common Market" committee. He is responsible for the fact that the EEC
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
received a contractually specified free market framework and found a kindred spirit in the French delegation leader, Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin was a French economist and politician involved in the formation of the European Economic Community.-Early life and education:...
.
When the Treaty of Rome came into effect on 1 January 1958, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
appointed Von der Groeben as the second German member of the first European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, along with Walter Hallstein
Walter Hallstein
Walter Hallstein was a German politician and professor.He was one of the key figures of European integration after World War II, becoming the first President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, serving from 1958 to 1967. He famously defined his position as "a kind of Prime...
who became the commission president.
Responsible for competition policy, Von der Groeben set the foundations of the European anti-trust rights, introduced the value added tax system as well as the adjustment of the control systems and the European joint patents. The December 1961 adoption of the European anti-trust rights is based on his efforts to unite the French and German systems.
He remained a member of the second Hallstein Commission
Hallstein Commission
The Hallstein Commission is the European Commission that held office from 7 January 1958 to 30 June 1967. Its President was Walter Hallstein and held two separate mandates.-Work:...
and the Rey Commission
Rey Commission
The Rey Commission is the European Commission that held office from 2 July 1967 to 30 June 1970. Its President was Jean Rey.-Work:It was the first Commission of the merged European Communities. It was the successor to the Hallstein Commission and was succeeded by the Malfatti Commission...
, serving until 1970. After leaving the commission in 1970 he became an advisor to the CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
on questions of European policy and worked actively as a scientists and journalist.
In 1967 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Frankfurt
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe University Frankfurt was founded in 1914 as a Citizens' University, which means that, while it was a State university of Prussia, it had been founded and financed by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt am Main, a unique feature in German university history...
.
He married Gunhild von Rosenberg in 1934 and they had 3 children.
Von der Groeben died in 2005, aged 97, in Rheinbach
Rheinbach
Rheinbach is a town in the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis district , in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It belongs to the administrative district of Cologne .-Geography:...
near Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
.