The setting up of the Customs Union
The setting up of the Customs Union
The calendar for customs union
Calendar and pace of establishment by steps of Customs Union
TableTable showing the three stages in the gradual establishment within the Six of a Customs Union concerning agricultural and industrial products between 1 January 1958 and 1 January 1970.
First stage (1958-1961)
‘The new year marks the beginning of the Common Market’ from De Volkskrant (27 December 1958)
TextOn 27 December 1958, the Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant comments on the beginning of the first stage of the Customs Union. Customs duties between the six Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) are reduced by 10 % while trade quotas are increased by 20 %.
‘Elimination of barriers to trade begins on 1 January’ from the Communauté européenne (December 1958)
TextOn 1 January 1959, the Six move to the first stage of the Customs Union and determine a 10 % reduction in customs duties and a 20 % rise in trade quotas.
Statistical table on the economic weight of the European Common Market (1958)
TextTable illustrating the economic weight of the future European Common Market in relation to the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union.
The first stage of the customs union (1 January 1959)
VideoOn 1 January 1959, the Six implement the first stage of the Customs Union. Customs duties between Member States are reduced by 10 % and trade quotas are increased by 20 %.
Decision taken by the representatives of the EEC Member State Governments with regard to the more rapid attainment of the objectives of the EEC Treaty (12 May 1960)
TextOn 12 May 1960, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers and on the initiative of the Commission, the representatives of the Governments of the EEC Member States decide to work more quickly towards attaining the objectives laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
'A decisive stage' from Le Populaire (14 May 1960)
TextOn 14 May 1960, the French Socialist daily newspaper Le Populaire comments on the decision taken by the representatives of the Six to speed up the implementation of the objectives of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
'What are the results of the Common Market's stepping up its pace?' from Communauté européenne (October 1960)
TextIn October 1960, the monthly publication Communauté européenne reviews the application of the measures adopted on 12 May 1960 by the Council of Ministers with a view to accelerating the implementation of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
‘Stepping up the pace of the Common Market’ from the Corriere della Sera (14 December 1960)
TextOn 14 December 1960, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera outlines the efforts being made by the European Commission to draw up a plan for the progressive abolition of customs duties at Community level.
Report by the Commission of the EEC on the execution of the Treaty establishing the EEC, Trade in the industrial sector (1962)
TextIn July 1962, the European Commission publishes a Report on the execution of the Treaty in which it welcomes, in particular, the introduction of the first measures to abolish customs barriers in the industrial sector.
Interview with Bino Olivi: economic growth and the establishment of a customs union (Sanem, 4 April 2007)
VideoIn this interview, Bino Olivi, former official in the Directorate-General for Competition Policy of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), refers to the reasons behind the acceleration in the establishment of a customs union and considers the scale of economic growth in Italy and in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
Second stage (1962-1965)
Statement by Karl Carstens (15 January 1962)
TextOn 15 January 1962, the German Junior Minister, Karl Carstens, makes a statement in Bonn concerning the Brussels negotiations relating to the transition to the second stage of the Customs Union.
‘Will the Community of Six hinder the progress of the non-Communist world?’ from Le Monde diplomatique (February 1962)
TextIn February 1962, at the beginning of the second stage of the planned transitional period for the establishment of the Common Market, the French monthly publication Le Monde diplomatique considers the implications of the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) for the world economy.
Interview with Antonio Segni from the Corriere della Sera (15 June 1962)
TextOn 15 June 1962, Antonio Segni, the Italian Foreign Minister, grants the Milanese daily newspaper Corriere della Sera an interview on the implications of the second stage of the European Customs Union.
‘Where is the European economy going?’ from La Libre Belgique (30 June 1962)
TextOn 30 June 1962, commenting on the latest reduction of intra-Community duties on industrial and agricultural products, Fernand Baudhuin, Professor of Economics at the University of Louvain, outlines how the combined effects of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the favourable economic conditions are promoting full employment and enhancing the prosperity of the Six.
‘Halfway there’ from the Corriere della Sera (4 July 1962)
TextOn 4 July 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera emphasises the economic and political implications of the transition to the second stage of European Customs Union.
Memorandum from the Commission (24 October 1962)
TextIn October 1962, the European Commission publishes a memorandum on the Community’s action plan for the second stage of the Customs Union, relating, in particular, to the rules on competition, the common agricultural policy and social policy.
Third stage (1966-1968)
‘Europe — Schuman’s Unfinished Symphony’ from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (29–20 June 1968)
TextOn 29 and 30 June 1968, in its comments on the completion of the tariff union among the Six, due to take place on 1 July 1968, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung paints a critical picture of the state of the European Economic Community (EEC).
Declaration by the Commission of the European Communities (1 July 1968)
TextOn 1 July 1968, as the Common Customs Tariff comes into force and, a year and a half ahead of schedule, customs duties on industrial and some agricultural products are abolished, the European Commission publishes a statement in which it describes the implications of the Customs Union for the Six.
'Customs union' from Le Monde (1 July 1968)
TextOn 1 July 1968, in its comments on the completion of the tariff union through the abolition of the last remaining customs duties between the Six at the end of the transitional period, the French daily newspaper Le Monde describes the impact of the Customs Union on international and intra-Community trade.
‘Towards a Community of peoples and of nations’ from the Communauté européenne (June–July 1968)
TextOn 1 July 1968, the Customs Union of the Six is completed. Raymond Barre, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for economic and financial affairs, comments on the event in the editorial of the monthly publication Communauté européenne.
Address given by Jean Rey (Brussels, 1 July 1968)
Audio extractOn 1 July 1968, Jean Rey, President of the European Commission, announces the completion, following the transitional period, of the Customs Union among the six Member States of the European Communities.
Animated film on the Customs Union (1968)
VideoAs shown in this animated film of the time, the final intra-Community customs duties on industrial and some agricultural products were abolished on 1 July 1968, at the end of the transitional period.
‘Customs officers are still around' from the Communauté européenne (March 1969)
TextAlmost a year after the completion of the Customs Union, Jean Lecerf harshly criticises the weaknesses and the inconsistencies of the system in the monthly publication Communauté européenne.