The indignant Greek ambassador, Andronikos, hadn't even had time to complain before Prince Schwarzenberg's words stunned him into silence.
This wasn't the first time the Austrian Empire had founded an organization of this kind. The Zollverein and the Apennine Customs Union had both been similar in nature.
But the concept of Europe was far broader than Germany or the Apennines.
This conference was costing tens of millions of florins. Franz naturally wasn't doing all this for a tiny place like Albania.
He might as well hold a European congress and unify the currency and weights and measures as soon as possible. That would be a tremendous boost to future economic and technological development.
Since Europe's history had produced no figure like Qin Shi Huang, Franz had no choice but to take center stage himself.
In truth, Franz would have preferred to keep his head down and quietly rake in the profits. But in this era, and in Austria's position in particular, he couldn't afford to keep a low profile.
The proposal to establish a European Monetary Union was still a great shock to most of the national representatives present, especially the six countries that had only just heard about it.
Viscount Stratford instinctively felt he ought to object. A European Monetary Union would enhance the Austrian Empire's influence while causing some small states dependent on Austria to lose even more of their sovereignty and independence.
Austria would use its formidable industrial strength to encroach on its neighbors, widening the gap in power between nations.
"Your Highness, your country's proposal to establish a European Monetary Union seems unrelated to security in the Near East."
"No, Viscount Stratford. The purpose of a European Monetary Union is to strengthen economic ties among the nations. When every country's interests are closely intertwined, war will