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Because of the failure to obtain a majority in the French Parliament , due to Gaullist fears that it threatened France's National Sovereignty , constitutional concerns about the indivisibility of the French Republic, and fears about Germany's remilitarization, the EDC was never ratified and the initiative collapsed on the 30 of August, 1954. Concomitant to these fears were a severe disjuncture between the original Pleven Plan of 1950 and the one defeated in 1954. Divergences included military integration at the division rather than batallion level and a change in the command structure putting the NATO Supreme Commander in charge of EDC operational capabilities. Then Prime-Minister, Pierre Mendès-France attempted to placate the treaty's detractors by attempting to ratify additional protocols with the other signatory states. These included the sole integration of covering forces, or in other words, those deployed within Germany, as well as the implementation of greater national autonomy in regards to budgetary and other administrative questions. Great Britain approved of the plan in principle, but agreed to join only if the supranational element was decreased. It would have established a Pan-European Military , divided into national components. In this military, the French, Italian, Belgium, Dutch and Luxembourg components would report to their national governments, whereas the German component would report to the EDC. This was due to the fear of a return of German Militarism , so it was desired that the German Government would not have control over the German military. However, in the event of its rejection, it was agreed to let the German government control its own military in any case (something which this treaty would not have provided.) The EDC also provided for centralised military procurement. The EDC would have had a common budget, arms and institutions. Today, the Western European Union , the European Union and NATO all carry out some of the functions which it was envisaged the EDC would have, although none approach the degree of supernational military control that the EDC would have provided for. SEE ALSO
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