Monnet

Monnet is a French surname. The most widely known bearer is Jean Monnet (1888–1979), a French economist and civil servant who played a central role in the development of European integration after World War II. He helped formulate the coalition of ideas that led to the Schuman Plan and the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, which is regarded as a foundational step toward today’s European Union. Monnet’s advocacy for cross-border cooperation and long-term economic integration earned him recognition as one of the founding figures of the European project.

Beyond Jean Monnet, the surname is carried by other individuals in France and in other countries, including figures in politics, academia and business, though none has matched Monnet’s international profile.

Institutions and programs have been named in honor of Jean Monnet. The most prominent is the European Union’s Jean Monnet Programme, established to promote teaching, research, and debate on European integration by funding chairs, centers, and projects at universities and research institutes worldwide.

The name Monnet continues to appear in contemporary contexts, reflecting its association with French heritage and with the broader history of European integration.