In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the intergovernmental negotiations on the European Defence Community (EDC), the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom, recalls the work of Johan Willem Beyen, Netherlands Foreign Minister between 1952 and 1956, with particular regard to the revival of European integration, after the failure of EDC, with the establishment of a comprehensive common market.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegations to the negotiations on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the implications and the results of the Messina Conference (held from 1 to 3 June 1955) attended by the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) with a view to discussing terms for a revival of the process of European integration.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, outlines the procedures adopted by the Spaak Committee with a view to the drawing up of a report on the establishment of a European Common Market.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the implications and the course of the meeting held on 29 and 30 May 1956 between the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the working atmosphere during the Val Duchesse negotiations on the revival of European integration.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, emphasises the positions of the Six in Val Duchesse on the possible association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) with the future European Economic Community (EEC).

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the way in which the Netherlands defined its position in relation to the challenges posed by European integration, recalling, in particular, the nature of the relationship between the Prime Minister, Willem Drees, and his Foreign Ministers, Johan Willem Beyen and Joseph Luns.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the ceremony held to mark the signing, on 25 March 1957 in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).