Diagram showing the operation and organisation of the institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), as established by the Treaty signed in Paris on 18 April 1951.

In 1952, writing in the French magazine Notre Europe, Henry Teitgen, President of the Mouvement républicain populaire (MRP) (People’s Republican Movement) and Vice-President of the French Council for a United Europe, outlines the role of the future institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 3 July 1952, the French Government draws up a list of the institutional measures required for the application of the Paris Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 10 August 1952, Jean Monnet delivers the opening address at the first session of the High Authority of the ECSC and outlines the operation and supranational aspect of the institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

This film, made in 1958 by the Information Service of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), portrays the activities and the operation of the ECSC.

Having been invited by Jean Monnet to visit the offices of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg in 1955, Henri Rieben, Chairman of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe (Lausanne), discusses the mindset and determination of the first European civil servants.

On 23 July 2002, in Brussels, the flag of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is lowered during a ceremony held in the presence of Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and of Enrico Gibellieri, the last President of the ECSC Consultative Committee, to mark the expiry of the Treaty of Paris which established the ECSC for a period of 50 years. Later, at a reception at the Egmont Palace, Romano Prodi pays a warm tribute to the work of the first European Community and to individual former officials of the High Authority.

On 8 August 1952, on the eve of the inaugural session of the ECSC High Authority in Luxembourg, the Bulletin des Presse- und Informationsamtes der Bundesregierung reports on the activities to be undertaken by the new organisation.

On 10 August 1952, Jean Monnet inaugurates the first session of the ECSC High Authority, which he chairs, with an address in which he emphasises how important it is for the work of the Members of the High Authority to be seen to be independent of national influence.

On 10 August 1952, the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) takes place in Luxembourg under the presidency of Jean Monnet.

On 10 August 1952, Jean Monnet opens the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg with an address in which he sets out the key objectives of the ECSC and the High Authority.

On 10 August 1952, during the inaugural session of the ECSC High Authority in Luxembourg, Paolo Emilio Taviani, Italian under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, highlights the importance of the Schuman Plan in achieving European unity.

On 11 August 1952, against the background of the High Authority of the ECSC taking office in Luxembourg the previous day, the German daily newspaper Die Welt highlights the political and economic importance of European integration.

On 12 August 1952, after the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is set up in Luxembourg, the French daily newspaper Le Monde discusses the difficult tasks facing the new institution, one of whose objectives will be to overcome national idiosyncrasies.

‘Josy, good old Josy, so you managed to bring something back from Paris?’ On 5 August 1952, in the Socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt, the Luxembourg cartoonist Simon portrays the key role played by Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, in the agreement reached by the Six to have the seat of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) located provisionally in Luxembourg.

‘The Schuman Plan flag flies over the City of Luxembourg’. On 10 August 1952, as the High Authority is established in the capital of the Grand Duchy, the Schuman Plan flag flies over the City of Luxembourg.

On 10 August 1952, in an address given at the Luxembourg City Hall during the inaugural session of the ECSC High Authority, Jean Monnet, the first President of the High Authority, thanks the city for its hospitality and for the efficiency of the services that it has provided.

On 10 August 1952, Jean Monnet, first President of the new institution, gives an address at the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg.

On 10 August 1952, at the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg, Émile Hamilius, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, gives an address in which he emphasises the significance of the event.

Group photo taken at the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg on 10 August 1952.

On 10 August 1952, the inaugural session of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is held in Luxembourg City Hall.

On 11 August 1952, the day after the inaugural session of the High Authority in Luxembourg, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung paints a sober picture of Luxembourg and describes the lack of enthusiasm for this inaugural session.

‘Joseph: And you two, what do you think of that? The little Luxi has succeeded.’ On 16 August 1952, Luxembourg cartoonist Simon welcomes the role played by Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, in the temporary establishment of the ECSC High Authority in Luxembourg.

‘And even if the neighbours are jealous, we are the ones who have it.’ On 4 October 1952, in the satirical journal de Peck-Villchen, Luxembourg cartoonist Simon emphasises the role of the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Joseph Bech, in the temporary establishment of the seat of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg.

On 9 May 1953, following a ceremony held to mark the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, Jean Monnet (on the left), President of the ECSC High Authority, and Robert Schuman (on the right), MP for the Moselle, cross Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg City.

On 9 May 1953, following a ceremony commemorating the ‘Schuman Declaration’ Jean Monnet (left), President of the High Authority, and Robert Schuman (right), MP for the département of the Moselle, leave the seat of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg.

In this interview, Jacques-René Rabier, who worked for Jean Monnet at the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1953 to 1955 and was Director of the Information Service of the High Authority from 1953 to 1958, describes the establishment and initial work of the ECSC High Authority in Luxembourg during its early years.

In this interview, Jacques-René Rabier, who worked for Jean Monnet at the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1953 to 1955 and was Director of the Information Service of the High Authority from 1953 to 1958, reflects on the administrative organisation of the High Authority under the Presidency of Jean Monnet in Luxembourg.

In this interview, Jacques-René Rabier, who worked for Jean Monnet at the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1953 to 1955 and was Director of the Information Service of the High Authority from 1953 to 1958, explains the establishment and work of the High Authority’s Information Service.

In this interview, Georges Berthoin, Principal Private Secretary (from 1952 to 1956) to Jean Monnet and then to René Mayer during their respective Presidencies of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, describes the atmosphere prevailing within the High Authority and the Community administration in Luxembourg in the early 1950s.

In this interview, Max Kohnstamm, Secretary of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1952 to 1956, discusses Jean Monnet’s working methods and the prevailing atmosphere at the seat of the High Authority in Luxembourg in the early 1950s.

Table showing the composition of the ECSC High Authority from 1952 to 1967.

On 8 September 1952, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, chairs the inaugural session of the Special Council of Ministers of the ECSC in Luxembourg and delivers an opening address in which he outlines the specific role of the institution.

On 8 September 1952, in Luxembourg, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, delivers the opening address at the ECSC Special Council of Minsters — having been appointed its first President on the basis of the alphabetical order of the names of the Member States — in which he outlines the Council’s objectives.

On 8 September 1952, Jean Monnet, President of the ECSC High Authority, replies to the opening address delivered by the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, who, as President of the ECSC Special Council of Ministers, inaugurates its first meeting.

Discussions between the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Joseph Bech (left), the Italian Junior Foreign Minister, Paolo Emilio Taviani (middle), and the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer (right), at the inaugural session of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg on 8 and 9 September 1952.

On 9 September 1952, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort reports on the course of the inaugural session of the Council of Ministers of the ECSC, held in Luxembourg City the previous day.

On 9 September 1952, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera analyses the implications of the inaugural session of the ECSC Special Council of Ministers which the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer chaired the previous day.

On 10 September 1952, as the ECSC Council of Ministers is set up in Luxembourg, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool reports on the issues involved in the European unification process.

On 11 September 1952, following the inaugural working session of the Council of Ministers of the ECSC, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, gives an interview to Radio Luxembourg in which he outlines what is involved in the pooling of coal and steel resources in Europe.

‘Buried alive … Acheson:… “Let bygones be bygones!”’ On 13 September 1952, at the first meeting in Luxembourg of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the Dutch cartoonist, Opland, illustrates the determination of the Six (under the watchful eye of the United States) to put an end to the wars which have torn apart the Old Continent and to work together for the establishment of a united Europe.

From 1952 to 1967, the ECSC Special Council of Ministers holds its sessions in the Cercle Municipal situated on the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg.

On 10 September 1952, the first meeting of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) opens in Strasbourg with the Belgian, Paul-Henri Spaak, in the chair.

On 10 September 1952, in Strasbourg, the Belgian, Paul-Henri Spaak, chairs the first session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 11 September 1952, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the ECSC, opens the inaugural session of the Common Assembly with an address in which he sets out the role of the first Community institutions and emphasises the importance of establishing a single market in Europe.

On 11 September 1952, at the inaugural session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Strasbourg, Giovanni Persico (left), Chairman of the Rules Committee, and Antonio Boggiano-Pico, Italian delegate to the Assembly (centre), discuss business with Paolo Emilio Taviani, Junior Minister in the Italian Foreign Ministry.

On 12 September 1952, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the appointment of Paul-Henri Spaak as President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in Strasbourg.

Jean Monnet (on the right), President of the ECSC High Authority, discusses with Paolo Emilio Taviani (on the left), Italian Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, at the first session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Strasbourg on 11 September 1952.

On 11 September 1952, on the fringes of the first session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Strasbourg, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer (on the right), discusses with German MP Hermann Puender (on the left), one of the five Vice-Presidents of the Assembly.

The first President of the Court of Justice of the ECSC is the Italian, Massimo Pilotti. In his opening address, he notes the difficulty facing the Court in its work when it is called upon to settle a new type of potential conflict: between States and a supranational authority.

On 10 December 1952, in Luxembourg, the first seven judges at the Court of Justice of the ECSC are sworn in. One after the other, they swear to perform their duties impartially and conscientiously and not to divulge the confidential substance of their deliberations.

On 10 December 1952, Judges of the Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) hold their first working sitting in Luxembourg. From left to right: Charles Léon Hammes, Adrianus van Kleffens, Petrus Josephus Servatius Serrarens, Massimo Pilotti, Otto Riese, Jacques Rueff and Louis Delvaux.

On 10 December 1952, in Luxembourg, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), opens the inaugural session of the Court of Justice of the ECSC.

List of former Members of the Court of Justice (Judges, Advocates General and Registrars) since its constitution.

On 9 August 1952, on the eve of the session inaugurating the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort notes the historic importance of this date both for Luxembourg and for European integration.

On 9 August 1952, on the eve of the session inaugurating the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort publishes an article by Lambert Schaus, a former Luxembourg Minister, analysing the limitation of national sovereignty under the Schuman Plan.

On 10 August 1952, in an article published in the Belgian daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, the Belgian economist Fernand Baudhuin considers the repercussions that the implementation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) may have on the country’s industry.

On 13 August 1952, shortly after the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is set up in Luxembourg, the German economic daily newspaper Handelsblatt outlines the issues surrounding the implementation of the ECSC and considers the factors that will enable it to succeed.

On 14 September 1952, Soviet radio broadcasts a programme which harshly criticises the Schuman Plan and the role played by the United States in the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 15 October 1952, the Dutch journal Internationale Spectator comments on the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) after its entry into force on 23 September.