The main architects of the European Union include influential figures like Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, and Walter Hallstein, who were pivotal in advocating for European integration after World War II. Their efforts aimed to promote peace, stability, and economic cooperation among European countries, laying the groundwork for what would become the EU. Schuman's declaration in 1950 proposed the formation of a coal and steel community, which was the initial step toward closer ties. These architects envisioned a united Europe as a means to prevent future conflicts and enhance collective prosperity, significantly shaping the continent's political landscape.