Between 1945 and 1947, it was urgent to brought former war ennemies back together and consolidate peace efforts. The creation of NATO in 1949 strengthened the military cooperation between Americans and Europeans confronted with the massive presence of Soviet troops in the communist countries.

Initiatives were taken in order to rebuild the European economies thanks to the Marshall plan and to the creation of the European Organization for Economic Cooperation in 1948. The Council of Europe which was established in Strasbourg in 1949, dealt with the defence of democratic ideals and worked on the protection of human rights, with the creation of the European Court of Human Rights.