On 7 May 1957, welcoming the signing, on 25 March, in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the Action Committee for a United States of Europe (ACUSE) adopts a resolution in which it calls on the governments of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to ratify as soon as possible the Treaties that they have already signed.

On 13 May 1957, Jean Monnet, President of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe (ACUSE), sends a letter to Cornelius Wilhelmus van Wingerden, Chairman of the Dutch Trade Union Federation and member of ACUSE, in which he calls for the prompt ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In April 1957, Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), offers his views on the implications that the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) may have for the future of Germany and of Europe.

On 9 May 1957, having decided to undertake a detailed analysis of the Rome Treaties, the Bundestag agrees at first reading to establish a special parliamentary committee on the Common Market and Euratom.

In July 1957, the European Directorate of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on the procedure for the ratification in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) — on 3 May 1957 by the Bundesrat and on 5 July by the Bundestag — of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 4 July 1957, during the third reading in the Bundestag of the draft law on the Treaties of 25 March 1957 establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the CDU, CSU and the German Party parliamentary groups submit a motion for a resolution which lays down the objectives with which the Bonn Government must comply in connection with the participation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the Common Market.

On 5 July 1957, following the favourable opinion of 28 June delivered by the Special Parliamentary Committee established on 9 May, the Bundestag adopts the Treaties establishing the Economic European Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) at the second and third reading.

On 6 July 1957, Maurice Couve de Murville, French Ambassador to Bonn, sends a telegram to Christian Pineau, French Foreign Minister, in which he describes the debates in the Bundestag on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 13 July 1957, the Bulletin of the Press and Information Office of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) welcomes the ratification by the Bundestag of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 27 July 1957, in agreement with the Bundesrat, the Bundestag adopts the Act ratifying the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

‘Past the memorial (ECSC — POOLING OF COAL AND STEEL — PROSPERITY AND A LOWER COST OF LIVING FOR ALL! MCMLIII): "With the European Common Market will everything get cheaper, just as coal has since I've been in the ECSC?"' On 19 October 1957, in the daily newspaper Deutsche Zeitung, the German cartoonist Köhler portrays the hopes aroused in Germany by the creation of the European Common Market.

‘Adenauer shops at the Common Market.’ On 4 April 1957, the Belgian Communist daily newspaper Le Drapeau Rouge harshly criticises the vulnerability of the European Economic Community (EEC) and deplores Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s complacency with regard to the industrial cartels of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 12 April 1957, Gaston Moulin, Belgian Communist MP, publishes an article in Le Drapeau Rouge, the newspaper of the Belgian Communist Party, on the threat to the working class posed, in his opinion, by the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 26 November 1957, during the parliamentary debates in the Belgian Senate, Fernand Dehousse, a Socialist Senator from Liège and a fervent European federalist, sets out in detail why he is in favour of the Senate’s ratifying the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 25 December 1957, the Moniteur Belge publishes the Act of 2 December 1957 which embodies the approval, by the Belgian Parliament, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), together with other related acts.

In December 1957, Raymond Scheyven, Catholic Member of Parliament for Brussels, deplores the way in which the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) were submitted for ratification by the Belgian Parliament and levels a series of criticisms at the Treaties.

In February 1957, with a view to the forthcoming debates in the French National Assembly on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), Jean François-Poncet, Secretary-General of the French Delegation responsible for negotiating the Treaties establishing the Common Market and Euratom, forwards a note to the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly in which he outlines the progress of the Val Duchesse negotiations and the positions taken by the French Delegation.

In 1957, as debates are held in the French National Assembly on the ratification of the Rome Treaties, the French section of the European Movement drafts a document which analyses the arguments of opponents of the European Common Market and emphasises the advantages of the EEC Treaty for France.

On 4 April 1957, as debates are held in the French National Assembly on the ratification of the Rome Treaties, the French daily newspaper L’Aurore raises the question of France’s preparedness for the new demands of the future European Common Market.

On 15 May 1957, in connection with the ratification process for the Rome Treaties, Bernard Lavergne, Honorary Professor at the Paris Faculty of Law, economist and activist in French Socialist movements, harshly criticises the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 29 June 1957, referring to the ratification by the French Parliament of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the French regional weekly publication Le Nord Industriel et Commercial outlines its concerns over the potential dangers of the Common Market for the country’s economy.

On 3 July 1957, commenting on the ratification debates in the French National Assembly, Pathé Journal (Paris) outlines the economic and agricultural importance of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), signed by the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Rome on 25 March 1957.

On 4 July 1957, on the basis of the work carried out by the French Ministry of Trade and Industry, the French monthly economics publication L’Usine Nouvelle outlines the problems posed for the national economy by the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC), with particular regard to the association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

Drawing a political and economic lesson from the Suez Crisis and the problems of the oil shortage which it caused as from late 1956, the Six decide to create Euratom which seeks to make nuclear power a cheap and abundant source of energy.

On 9 July 1957, the French daily newspaper Combat outlines the dangers of ratifying too hastily the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), particularly given France’s lack of preparation.

On 9 July 1957, the French National Assembly adopts the bill authorising the President of the French Republic to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Annexes thereto, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957.

‘Common Market.’ On 9 July 1957, in the Paris daily newspaper Combat, the cartoonist Pinatel depicts the French people’s fear of any resurgence of the economic power of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the event of the ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).

‘I hope that it’s not just for outgoings! … Will it also bring me some revenue?’ On 10 July 1957, in the Parisian daily newspaper Combat, the cartoonist, Pinatel, comments on the debates held in the French Parliament on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and illustrates the gulf which separates the political leaders (from left to right: Pierre Mendès France, Christian Pineau and Robert Schuman) and the general public with regard to the advantages of the new European Treaties.

On 10 July 1957, the French National Assembly adopts by 342 votes to 239 the draft law which authorises René Coty, President of the French Republic, to ratify the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (ECC) and the European Atomy Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 2 August 1957, the Official Journal of the French Republic publishes the Act authorising René Coty, President of the French Republic, to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the annexes thereto, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In its July–August 1957 issue, the Socialist journal Cahiers Internationaux considers the ratification by the French Parliament of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) and paints a critical picture of them.

In July–August 1957, Jean Duret, Director of the Centre for Economic Research of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and member of the French Economic Council, considers the ratification by the French Parliament of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and criticises the economic choices made by the French Government, highlighting the threats that they represent for the working class.

In an interview conducted on 26 March 1997 in Brussels during the commemorative events held to mark the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), Jean-François Deniau, former member of the French delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, discusses the reactions in certain sectors of French society during the debates on the ratification of the treaties.

At the conference held from 25 to 28 March 1987 in Rome to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), Christian Pineau, former French Foreign Minister, gives an account of the French Government’s wish that the National Assembly ratify the EEC and EAEC Treaties as quickly as possible.

On 26 July 1957, Randolfo Pacciardi, Italian Republican MP, delivers an address to the Chamber of Deputies in which he calls on the Assembly to ratify the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 26 July 1957, Gaetano Martino, Italian Foreign Minister, delivers an address to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in which he calls for the adoption of the bill authorising Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the annexes thereto, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 30 July 1957, Attilio Piccioni, former Italian Foreign Minister and President of the Christian Democratic parliamentary group, delivers an address to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in which he argues in favour of adopting the draft law that seeks to authorise Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the annexes thereto, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 14 October 1957, the Gazzetta Ufficiale, Official Journal of the Italian Republic, publishes the Act which authorises Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the annexes thereto, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In this interview, Bino Olivi, former official in the Directorate-General for Competition Policy of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), outlines the economic implications of the Rome Treaties for Italy and recalls the political debate on this issue which took place at the time between the various Italian political parties.

On 6 August 1957, Pierre Saffroy, French Ambassador to Luxembourg, sends a letter to Christian Pineau, French Foreign Minister, in which he outlines the draft legislation submitted by the Luxembourg Government with a view to ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) by the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies.

On 10 September 1957, during the debates in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce delivers its opinion on the key elements of the Common Market and, in particular, on its impact on the country’s economy.

On 27 September 1957, the Luxembourg Council of State delivers its opinion on the main points of the bill for the approval of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

In 1957, during the debates in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the Luxembourg farmers’ union Centrale Paysanne gives its opinion on the key aspects of the EEC and considers the implications of the Common Market for the country’s agricultural sector.

On 19 November 1957, at the opening of the ratification debates in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, Pierre Werner, Finance Minister, delivers an address on behalf of the absent Prime Minister on the economic and institutional aspects of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 19 November 1957, during the debates on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, the Luxembourg Socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt welcomes the revival of solidarity in Europe.

On 20 November 1957, during the debates in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), Eugène Schaus, Member of the Luxembourg Democratic Party, reviews the possible implications of the Treaties for Luxembourg.

On 21 November 1957, during the debates on the ratification of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort outlines the advantages for Europe and Luxembourg of the Common Market and the customs union.

On 26 November 1957, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopts the draft law authorising Grand Duchess Charlotte to ratify the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 3 December 1957, the Mémorial, Official Gazette of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, publishes the Act of 30 November 1957 which embodies the approval by the country of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), the annexes and additional protocols and convention thereto, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and in Brussels on 17 April 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 3 December 1957, the Mémorial, Official Gazette of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, publishes the Act of 30 November 1957 which embodies the approval by the country of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), together with the annexes and additional protocols thereto, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and in Brussels on 17 April 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 7 December 1957, the Luxembourg trade union newspaper Arbecht comments on the ratification by the national Chamber of Deputies of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In July 1957, the Dutch employers’ associations make known their position on the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In 1957, the Dutch Social and Economic Council, a body composed of employers’ representatives and union representatives, delivers its opinion on the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 1 October 1957, as debates are held in the Second Chamber of the Netherlands on the ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), the majority of members of parliament are in favour of ratification, despite the treaty’s failure to meet certain Dutch requirements.

On 3 October 1957, Joseph Luns, Netherlands Foreign Minister, gives an address to the Second Chamber of the Netherlands in which he outlines to the members of parliament the reasons why he is in favour of ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), despite its shortcomings.

On 5 October 1957, the Dutch Liberal daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant reports the adoption the previous day by the Netherlands Second Chamber of the Act ratifying the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) by 114 votes to 12.

On 5 October 1957, the Netherlands Catholic daily newspaper De Volkskrant comments on the adoption, the day before, of the Act ratifying the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) by the Netherlands Second Chamber.

On 12 October 1957, commenting on the adoption, on 4 October, of the Act ratifying the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) by the Netherlands Second Chamber, the Amsterdam periodical Vrij Nederland outlines the implications of the future Common Market.

On 5 December 1957, the Staatsblad van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, Bulletin of Acts and Decrees of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, publishes the Netherlands’ Act for the ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), as well as the annexes and additional protocols and convention thereto, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and in Brussels on 17 April 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 5 December 1957, the Staatsblad van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, Bulletin of Acts and Decrees of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, publishes the Netherlands’ act on the ratification by the Netherlands of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), as well as the annexes and additional protocols thereto, signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and in Brussels on 17 April 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 5 December 1957, the Dutch Liberal daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant reports the adoption by the Netherlands Senate of the Act ratifying the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 3 and 4 December 1957, as debates are held in the First Chamber of the Netherlands on the ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), most of the senators, except for Harm van Riel and Geert de Grooth, are in favour of ratification, despite the treaty’s failure to meet certain Dutch requirements