Common Market

"Jean Monnet, the Frenchman who had worked to shape a new postwar Europe. By creating the European Coal and Steel Authority, Monnet had pragmatically combined the coal and steel production of France, Germany, Italy, and the Benelux countries in order to facilitate the continent’s recovery from the ravages of the war and also to ensure that these industries would not be forced to turn to armaments to survive. Driven by a philosophy that was grounded in an appealing mix of pragmatism and idealism, Monnet also proposed the Common Market, a political and economic union that he hoped would guide Europe to a new century of cooperation."

"At that time, in shops and open-air markets, all cotton fabrics, even the bad ones, were sold under the name Boussac. Therefore, Boussac must proclaim that it only represents 10% of the market and that all its products are of quality. The opening of the Common Market, which was expected at the time shortly, could also dictate the necessity to enhance its brands compared to Italian or German productions."