In an article published on 16 August 1947, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort reviews the French proposal for the establishment of a European Customs Union in order to resolve some of Europe’s economic problems.

On 23 August 1947, the French weekly publication Une semaine dans le monde publishes an article by René Courtin, General Delegate of the French Council for a United Europe, in which he considers the issues surrounding the proposed European customs union and outlines the numerous difficulties involved in such an undertaking.

On 12 September 1947, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom form a study group on customs union in Paris in order to study the possibilities of ensuring a healthy and stable economy for Europe in the light of the development of world trade.

On 22 December 1947, in Rome, the joint Franco–Italian Commission set up to study a customs union between France and Italy publishes its report on the proposed customs union between the two countries.

On 31 January 1948, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the implications of the plan for a regional customs union addressed by France to Italy and to the Benelux countries.

On 3 February 1948, two months after the entry into force of the customs convention concluded between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux), the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau speculates on the chances of success of a possible Scandinavian customs union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

In March 1948, the Study Group for Customs Union, established in Paris in September 1947, publishes its first report on the possibilities and the implications of the establishment of a customs union in Europe.

On 20 March 1948, in Turin, representatives of the French and Italian Governments ratify a Protocol with a view to the gradual establishment of a Franco–Italian customs union.

On 30 January 1949, Luigi Einaudi, President of the Italian Republic, considers the economic and financial implications of a customs union between Italy and France.

On 26 November 1949, Luxembourg cartoonist Simon illustrates the proliferation of plans for a customs union in Western Europe, particularly focusing on the plan for an economic association known as Fritalux concerning Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

‘…With varying success. The integration of Europe — Benefritarupogrieslavenganialux.’ On 3 December 1949, Opland, Dutch cartoonist, takes an ironic view of the proliferation of customs union plans in Western Europe.

On 5 December 1949, La Gazette de Lausanne considers the origins of the economic association project known as Fritalux involving Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and speculates on the possibility of including West Germany in the plan.