The work of the Common Market Group
The work of the Common Market Group
The Customs Union
Address given by Paul-Henri Spaak to the ECSC Common Assembly (Strasbourg, 13 March 1956)
TexteOn 13 March 1956, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, makes a statement to the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in which, emphasising the importance of a Common Market based on a customs union between the Six, he gives a progress report on the work of the Intergovernmental Committee, which he chairs, set up in connection with the revival of European integration.
Memorandum from the Netherlands Delegation on the common commercial policy (Brussels, 26 September 1956)
TexteOn 26 September 1956, the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom drafts a memorandum on the implementation of a common commercial policy towards third countries and on the tasks of the future European Commission.
Note from the Italian Delegation on the Common Market (Brussels, 26 September 1956)
TexteOn 26 September 1956, during the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, the Italian Delegation forwards to the Committee of the Heads of Delegation a note in which it reaffirms the principles which are essential for the fair operation of the Common Market.
‘The difficult path to the Customs Union’ from Der Volkswirt
TexteOn 27 October 1956, the German economic newspaper Der Volkswirt warns its readers of the commercial risks of a European Customs Union.
Memorandum from the German Delegation on the level of the external tariff of the Common Market (Brussels, 26 November 1956)
TexteOn 26 November 1956, the German Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom submits a memorandum on the procedure for fixing the level of the common external tariff (CET) of the future European Economic Community (EEC).
Note from the Services of the French Foreign Ministry on the proposed Common Market (5 December 1956)
TexteOn 5 December 1956, the French Foreign Ministry summarises the progress of the Val Duchesse negotiations on the Common Market and outlines the possible difficulties arising from the implementation of the future Treaty establishing a European Economic Community (EEC).
Note on the principles of or guidelines for the common trade and tariff policy (Brussels, 17 December 1956)
TexteOn 17 December 1956, the experts attending the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom analyse the appropriateness of including in the future Treaty the principles of or, at the very least, the guidelines for the common trade and tariff policy of the Member States of the future Common Market vis-à-vis third countries.
'No customs duties within Europe' from Il nuovo Corriere della Sera (1 January 1957)
TexteOn 1 January 1957, the Italian daily newspaper Il nuovo Corriere della Sera describes the efforts of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to establish a Common Market and a European customs union.
Brochure published by the Action Committee of the European Movement on the Common Market (1957)
TexteIn 1957, the Action Committee of the European Movement publishes a brochure in which it analyses the economic implications of the establishment of a Common Market in Europe.
Agricultural policy
Note from the French delegation on agriculture in the Common Market (Brussels, 3 October 1956)
TexteOn 3 October 1956, the French delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom drafts a note on the situation of agriculture in the Common Market.
Draft minutes of the meetings of the Common Market Group relating to agriculture (13 October 1956)
TexteOn 13 October 1956, draft minutes of the meetings of the Common Market Group held on 2, 3 and 9 October 1956 in Brussels outline the progress of the work carried out by the Delegations from the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) regarding the role of agriculture in the future European Economic Community (EEC).
Note on the safeguard clause for Luxembourg agriculture in the Common Market (Brussels, 11 December 1956)
TexteOn 11 December 1956, the Luxembourg Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom draws up a note on the application of a safeguard clause for Luxembourg agriculture in the future Common Market.
Note from the Ministry of Agriculture on Luxembourg agriculture in the Common Market (28 December 1956)
TexteOn 28 December 1956, an internal note from the Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture emphasises the special situation of Luxembourg agriculture in the light of the economic implications of the Common Market.
‘Conditions for a common agricultural market’ from Combat (16 January 1957)
TexteOn 16 January 1957, the French daily newspaper Combat outlines the difficulties involved in the establishment of a European common agricultural market.
‘The revival of European integration’ from La Libre Belgique (28 January 1957)
TexteOn 28 January 1957, at the Val Duchesse Conference attended by the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique gives an account of the difficult negotiations on agriculture and, in particular, provides a summary of statements made to the press by Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom.
‘Compromise on agriculture secured at the conference attended by the Six’ from Le Soir (28 January 1957)
TexteOn 28 January 1957, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir reports on the difficult negotiations on agriculture conducted between the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Val Duchesse and outlines the main thrust of a possible compromise.
Note from the Heads of Delegation of the Six on the problem of agriculture (Brussels, 25 January 1957)
TexteOn 24 January 1957, the Heads of Delegation of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) taking part in Brussels in the work of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom discuss a number of issues that have not yet been resolved with regard to the agricultural situation in the future European Economic Community (EEC).
‘The Common Market and agriculture’ from La Revue politique (March 1957)
TexteIn March 1957, in an article published in the mouthpiece of the Belgian Christian Social Party (PSC), La Revue politique, MP Maurice Van Hemelrijck describes the principles and arrangements governing the future common agricultural policy (CAP) as laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
Reactions of the farming community to the Common Market
Resolution by the German Farmers’ Union on the reform of the agricultural structure (4 December 1956)
TexteOn 4 December 1956, the German Farmers’ Union adopts a resolution that reaffirms the importance of agricultural reform to prepare the German rural community for the future Common Market.
‘The Common Market and agriculture’ from the Deutsche Bauern-Korrespondenz (22 December 1956)
TexteOn 22 December 1956, the Deutsche Bauern-Korrespondenz, monthly journal of the German Farmers’ Union, considers the impact of the Common Market and the customs union on agriculture.
Position of the CNPF on the agricultural implications of the Common Market (Paris, 15 February 1957)
TexteOn 15 January 1957, in Paris, Ernest Lemaire-Audoire, President of the Union of Meat Wholesale Trade Representatives and President of the National Council of French Employers’ (CNPF) Study Committee on Agricultural Issues, presents a report in which he emphasises the need to include, subject to certain conditions, agricultural products in the future European Economic Community (EEC).
Resolution adopted by experts from professional agricultural organisations in the six Member States (Brussels, 18 January 1957)
TexteOn 18 January 1957, experts from professional agricultural organisations in the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) adopt a resolution on the development of a common agricultural policy (CAP) for the future European Economic Community (EEC).
Address given by Henri Dorgères d’Halluin on agriculture and the Common Market (15 January 1957)
TexteOn 15 January 1957, as debates on Europe are held in the French National Assembly, Henri Dorgères d’Halluin, MP for the Ille-et-Vilaine département allied to the Paysan (Countryside) political group, expresses his concerns at the place that French agriculture will occupy in the future Common Market.
‘The effects of the European Common Market on our agriculture’ from Il nuovo Corriere della Sera (25 January 1957)
TexteOn 25 January 1957, in connection with the drawing up of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom in Val Duchesse, the Italian daily newspaper Il nuovo Corriere della Sera considers the future of agriculture in the Common Market.
Reactions of the farming community to the Common Market
'The Common Market and agriculture' from the Luxemburger Wort (26 March 1957)
TexteOn 26 March 1957, the day after the signing, in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort publishes an article by Émile Colling, Luxembourg Agriculture Minister, describing the possible effects of the Common Market on the agriculture industry.
Position of the Central Committee of German Agriculture on the Common Market (12 April 1957)
TexteOn 12 April 1957, the Central Committee of German Agriculture takes a stance on the European Economic Community (EEC) and expresses its concerns at the possible consequences of the Common Market for German agriculture.
Position adopted by the Landbouwschap on the European Economic Community (20 June 1957)
TexteOn 20 June 1957, the Netherlands Chamber of Agriculture (Landbouwschap) takes a stance on the European Economic Community (EEC) and analyses the possible effects of the Common Market on the Dutch rural community.