Integration in the system of protection of the Western European countries national economic interests in the post-war period

Abstract

The protracted war intensifies Ukraine’s political, financial, and economic dependence on partner countries, which determines the importance of protecting national interests and strengthening its own competitive advantages. At the same time, further integration of the country into the global economic space is a victory, national security, and a successful post-war recovery guarantee. It determines the importance of the historical assessment of the integration processes’ role in national economic development. The purpose of the study is to summarize the results of the European integration impact on the post-war economic reconstruction of the Western European countries in terms of overcoming the region's financial and economic dependence on foreign aid and protecting national interests. Concepts of international economic integration are the theoretical basis of the research. The research methodology is based on the problem-logical, historical-genetic, comparative, and statistical analysis. The research determines that the formation of regional European associations and the involvement of Western European countries in the integration processes, which was carried out through the trade barriers reduction, the multilateral agreements, and the assistance regime agreements, was caused by a number of conditions and factors, including harmful post-war social and economic consequences, the destabilization of American-European trade and the dollar deficit, powerful foreign aid within the framework of the Marshall Plan, which contributed to the restoration of the industrial and commercial potential of countries, the joint policy of the US and Western European countries regarding security, peace, and prosperity. It has been proven that in the post-war reconstruction terms, trade and economic integration became a determinant of the activation of intra-European trade, the formation of a single European market, the strengthening of export technology, which helped to overcome the financial and economic dependence of the region on the USA and the realization of the national competitive advantages of the Western European countries in international trade. The integration processes were an induced, but objective response of the Western European governments to post-war threats and risks. Although integration involved some limitations of countries in terms of legal regulation and the joint implementation of trade, monetary, and financial policies, it led to the formation of a system of supranational economic management based on democratization, harmonization, and consolidation, contributed to the realization of national interests in terms of political security and economic growth.