Robert van Schendel
Robert van Schendel was a European federalist who led the European Movement International for 25 years, from 1955 to 1980. As secretary general, he coordinated a pro-European civil-society network and helped build support for a Europe with shared institutions.
During the 1965-1966 Empty Chair Crisis, sparked by President Charles de Gaulle, van Schendel worked to defend the European Community’s way of working together across borders. In July 1965 he sent a call to all national sections for demonstrations in Brussels and for an emergency congress in Cannes in October 1965. A large Europeanist demonstration was held in Brussels on July 19, 1965.
He also worked with the College of Europe in Bruges, serving as executive director in the late 1960s and representing the college at official ceremonies, such as the opening of the 1967/68 academic year. Van Schendel was involved in debates about enlarging the European Communities, especially Spain’s future membership while Franco ruled. In 1981 he published an analysis of Spanish attitudes toward EC accession.
He took part in public events, such as a 1973 news conference in London with Lord Harlech and Professor Eugene Rostow to discuss transatlantic relations, and he met with leaders like Jean Rey to talk about integration crises.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:41 (CET).