The work of the Spaak Committee
The work of the Spaak Committee
Plans for an Atomic Energy Community
Report on nuclear energy and the market in coal in Europe (14 April 1954)
TextOn 14 April 1954, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) draws up a provisional report on the production and consumption of nuclear energy compared with the production and consumption of coal in Europe.
Louis Armand, Some Aspects of the European Energy Problem
TextIn June 1955, the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) publishes a report drawn up under the Presidency of Louis Armand, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the French State Railways (SNCF), which focuses on the energy problem in Europe and considers the issues concerning the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Louis Armand
ImageLouis Armand, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the French National Railway Company (SNCF), chairs the deliberations of the Euratom Group at the Intergovernmental Conference for the Common Market and Euratom held in Val Duchesse before becoming the first President of the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) from 1958 to 1959.
Dispatch from Gaston Palewski to Antoine Pinay (Paris, 7 July 1955)
TextOn 7 July 1955, Gaston Palewski, Minister attached to the Presidency of the French Council of Ministers with responsibility for issues concerning nuclear energy, sends a dispatch to Antoine Pinay, French Foreign Minister, in which he defines the tasks of the European Nuclear Energy Agency (ENEA) that he sincerely hopes will be established.
Note from the German delegation on the tasks of the Nuclear Energy Committee (18 July 1955)
TextOn 18 July 1955, the German delegation to the Spaak Committee submits a note in which it outlines the various points to be discussed in the forthcoming negotiations for the establishment of a European organisation for nuclear energy. The main aspects include the potential cooperation programmes between the Six and the institutional form the organisation will take.
Memorandum from the French Delegation on nuclear power (Brussels, 18 July 1955)
TextOn 18 July 1955, in connection with the work of the Spaak Committee and in order to coordinate the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in Europe, the French Delegation proposes to its counterparts the establishment of a European Atomic Energy Community.
First directive of the steering committee concerning the Conventional Energy Committee (19 July 1955)
TextOn 19 July 1955, the steering committee of the Spaak Committee adopts a directive, following the Messina Conference, in which it tasks the Conventional Energy Committee with examining the possibilities for establishing European cooperation in the area of gas and electricity. The Conventional Energy Committee should coordinate its study with the cooperation initiative on this topic being conducted by the OEEC and also with the activities of the ECSC.
Directive No 1 from the Steering Committee addressed to the Atomic Energy Commission (20 July 1955)
TextOn 20 July 1955, during the Messina Conference, the Steering Committee of the Spaak Committee adopts a Directive in which it instructs the Atomic Energy Commission, after the Messina Conference, to consider the means to establish a European Atomic Energy Community for industrial and peaceful purposes.
Note by Jean Monnet in the French position at the Brussels Conference on nuclear energy (26 July 1955)
TextOn 26 July 1955, Jean Monnet, former President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the future founder and President of the Action Committee for a United States of Europe (ACUSE), drafts a memorandum which sets out the position that the French Delegation adopted on nuclear energy during the negotiations of the Intergovernmental Conference established by the Messina Conference.
Letter from Albert Borschette to Joseph Bech on the meeting of Benelux experts on nuclear energy (21 September 1955)
TextOn 21 September 1955, Albert Borschette, Legation Secretary for Luxembourg in Belgium, reports to his Foreign Minister Joseph Bech on the discussion between experts from the Benelux on nuclear questions that took place on 15 September 1955 in Brussels. At this meeting, diplomats and scientists from the Benelux prepared for the ongoing negotiations in the Spaak Committee by reviewing their respective positions on the issues of patents, investments and training in the nuclear field.
Summary record of the work of the Commission on Nuclear Energy (22 and 23 September 1955)
TextFrom 22 to 23 September 1955, the Commission on Nuclear Energy of the Spaak Committee carefully reviews the possibility of joint action in the industrial application of nuclear power in Europe.
Memorandum from Louis Armand on the establishment of a European factory for the separation of uranium isotopes (Brussels, 4 November 1955)
TextOn 4 November 1955, Louis Armand, President of the Atomic Energy Commission within the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, emphasises to the Committee of Heads of Delegation that a working party responsible for analysing the affordability of a European factory for the separation of uranium isotopes must be set up as a matter of urgency.
Report of the Commission on Nuclear Energy (Brussels, 5 November 1955)
TextOn 5 November 1955, the Commission on Nuclear Energy of the Spaak Committee submits its detailed report on the establishment of a European Atomic Energy Community and cooperation in the industrial uses of nuclear power.
‘Atomic Europe begins to take shape: the “Euratom” core’ from Le Monde (17 November 1955)
TextOn 17 November 1955, reporting on the debates surrounding the negotiations on Euratom, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the interest that industrialists and politicians are taking in the development of nuclear energy for civilian use in the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
‘A first outline of atomic Europe: towards a proliferation of “clubs”?’ from Le Monde (18 November 1955)
TextOn 18 November 1955, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the nature of the cooperation of European countries on nuclear energy within organisations such as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).
Memorandum from Bertrand Goldschmidt on the establishment of a European factory for separating uranium isotopes (Paris, 19 December 1955)
TextOn 19 December 1955, the Frenchman Bertrand Goldschmidt, Head of the French Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Chairman of the working party responsible for studying the problems involved in establishing a European factory for separating uranium isotopes, created by the Intergovernmental Committee which was set up by the Messina Conference, submits a memorandum to the experts from the six Member States in which he insists on the need to have the preliminary studies undertaken at an early date so that the Six may acquire supplies of enriched uranium.
‘Euratom’ from Le Soir (25 December 1955)
TextOn 25 December 1955, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir describes the implications and the progress of the negotiations in the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference on Euratom, with particular regard to the status of uranium from the Belgian Congo.
OEEC report on opportunities for action in the field of nuclear energy (January 1956)
TextIn January 1956, the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) publishes a report on the opportunities for action in the field of nuclear energy, emphasising the backwardness of the European nuclear power industry compared to that of the USA.
Memorandum from the French Delegation on the terms for international cooperation in research into the separation of uranium isotopes (Brussels, 5 January 1956)
TextOn 5 January 1956, the French Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference established by the Messina Conference calls for the adoption of a memorandum of understanding in order to support international cooperation in research into the separation of uranium isotopes.
Recommendation on the establishment of a study group on the European factory for separating uranium isotopes (Brussels, 13 January 1956)
TextOn 13 January 1956, the working party responsible for studying problems relating to the establishment of a factory for separating uranium isotopes adopts a recommendation in favour of setting up a study group to coordinate the preparations for the building of such a factory.
Report from the working party responsible for studying the problems associated with the construction of a European factory for separating uranium isotopes (Brussels, 14 January 1956)
TextOn 14 January 1956, the Spaak Committee working party responsible for studying the problems associated with the construction of a European factory for separating uranium isotopes submits a report in which the experts on nuclear power from each Member State analyse the role of uranium 235, the progress of isotope separation techniques, their economic evaluation and the possibility of establishing a common studies organisation.
'Euratom' from Le Figaro (19 January 1956)
TextOn 19 January 1956, commenting on the negotiations in progress on Euratom, the philosopher Raymond Aron publishes an article in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro in which he sets out the difficulties standing in the way of European cooperation on nuclear issues.
‘Euratom has the wind in its sails' from Le Monde (22 January 1956)
TextOn 22 January 1956, in the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Pierre Drouin summarises the attitudes of each of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) towards the economic and political implications of the establishment of Euratom.
‘How fares Germany’s nuclear industry?’ from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (11 February 1956)
TextOn 11 February 1956, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung outlines the situation of the nuclear industry of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and identifies the advantages and limitations of a European Atomic Energy Community.
Plans for an Atomic Energy Community
‘Germany and Euratom’ from Documents (February–March 1956)
TextIn its February–March 1956 edition, the monthly journal on German affairs Documents comments critically on the efforts made by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to catch up with its European partners in the field of nuclear power.
‘Integrating Europe’ from L’écho de l’industrie (17 March 1956)
TextOn 17 March 1956, L’écho de l’industrie, the official publication of the Business Federation Luxembourg (Fedil), analyses the issues surrounding the economic unification of Europe and particularly focuses on the question of the establishment of an atomic pool and European cooperation in this area.
‘What will Euratom be?’ from Le Monde Diplomatique (March 1956)
TextIn March 1956, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique speculates on the political and economic implications of the future European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and refers to the numerous debates that it is provoking in France and elsewhere.
Victor Bodson, ‘Luxembourg and the peaceful use of nuclear energy’ from Tageblatt (17 April 1956)
TextFrom 17 to 20 April 1956, the Luxembourg socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt publishes a series of articles written by the Luxembourg Minister for Transport and Electricity and Head of the National Nuclear Energy Council, Victor Bodson. In this first article, he outlines the political context of the negotiations on Euratom and the future issues at stake for the nuclear industry.
Victor Bodson, ‘Luxembourg and the peaceful use of nuclear energy’ from Tageblatt (19 April 1956)
TextFrom 17 to 20 April 1956, the Luxembourg socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt publishes a series of articles written by the Luxembourg Minister for Transport and Electricity and Head of the National Nuclear Energy Council, Victor Bodson. In this article, he outlines the potential arrangements for cooperation within Euratom in the areas of training and the nuclear common market. He also describes the growing need for electricity, particularly in Luxembourg, which justifies the increased use of this energy source in the coming years.
Victor Bodson, ‘Luxembourg and the peaceful use of nuclear energy’ from Tageblatt (20 April 1956)
TextFrom 17 to 20 April 1956, the Luxembourg socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt publishes a series of articles written by the Luxembourg Minister for Transport and Electricity and Head of the National Nuclear Energy Council, Victor Bodson. In this final article, the minister explains the implications that cooperation in the nuclear field would have for Luxembourg and its industry.
Statement by the Soviet Government (Moscow, 12 July 1956)
TextOn 12 July 1956, on the margins of the negotiations conducted by the Six on Euratom, the Soviet Government calls for an international conference to be convened in order to establish pan-European cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
'Atomic Energy and the Future of Europe', from Foreign Affairs (July 1956)
TextIn July 1956, in an article published in the American journal Foreign Affairs, Louis Armand, President of the Board of Directors of the French State Railways (SNCF), outlines the importance of a European nuclear energy organisation, particularly in its relations with the United States.
The establishment of the Customs Union
Motion for a resolution recommending the removal of trade barriers between the member States (8 August 1950)
TextOn 8 August 1950, the Labour delegate, Ronald Mackay, submits to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe a motion for a resolution recommending the elimination of all trade barriers between Member States.
Report on the removal of customs barriers in Europe (Strasbourg, 26 November 1951)
TextOn 26 November 1951, the Liberal Belgian Delegate, Roger Motz, President of the Belgian Committee at the European League for Economic Cooperation (ELEC), submits a report to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on the establishment of a customs union between all the Member States of the Council and the setting up of a ‘Low-Tariff Club'.
Debate on the removal of customs barriers and trade restrictions in Europe (Strasbourg, December 1951)
TextOn 6 December 1951, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe analyses the report submitted on 26 November 1951 by the Liberal Belgian Delegate, Roger Motz, President of the Belgian Committee at the European League for Economic Cooperation (ELEC), on the establishment of a European Customs Union and the setting up of a ‘Low-Tariff Club'.
Demonstration in favour of the Customs Union (Liège, May 1953)
ImageIn May 1953, young members of the Belgian Branch of the European Movement demonstrate on the streets of Liège in favour of the abolition of frontiers and customs controls in Europe.
Memorandum from the French delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee (Brussels, 14 October 1955)
TextOn 14 October 1955, the French delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee set up with a view to relaunching European integration sends the Committee a memorandum in which it sets out the arrangements to be made for the establishment of a single Common Market.
Initial note for the Heads of Delegation with regard to the Common Market (24 October 1955)
TextOn 24 October 1955, the Expert Group forwards to the Spaak Committee’s Heads of Delegation an initial working memorandum concerning the conditions for the establishment of the Common Market.
Statement by Pierre Uri delivered to the Spaak Committee (5 November 1955)
TextOn 5 November 1955, Pierre Uri, Director of the General Economy Division of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), of which he is the representative on the Steering Committee of the Spaak Committee, outlines the benefits of a common energy policy to the delegates of the Six and determines the conditions to be met in order to enable the general Common Market in Europe to encourage free competition and increase productivity.
Summary record by the Council of Ministers on the work of the Spaak Committee (7 November 1955)
TextOn 7 November 1955, the Netherlands Council of Ministers examines the work being carried out in Brussels by the Spaak Committee and is divided on the subject of a note by the French delegation dated 14 October 1955.
Address given by Paul-Henri Spaak (Brussels, 15 December 1955)
TextOn 15 December 1955, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, delivers an address to the Belgian Senate in which he comments on the outcome of the Paris Agreements restoring the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and supports the establishment of a free trade area in Europe.
Working document on customs duties in relation to third countries (Brussels, 26 January 1956)
TextOn 26 January 1956, the customs experts in the Spaak Committee examine the issues surrounding the elimination of customs duties in the Common Market and the arrangements for the establishment of a single tariff in relations with third countries.
Memorandum on the mandate of the group of customs experts (Brussels, 9 March 1956)
TextOn 9 March 1956, at the request of the Heads of Delegation of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a group of customs experts is set up within the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference in order to consider the establishment of a common tariff for trade with third countries.
Address given by Paul-Henri Spaak to the ECSC Common Assembly (Strasbourg, 13 March 1956)
TextOn 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.
Resolution 46 of the ECSC Common Assembly (Strasbourg, 16 March 1956)
TextOn 16 March 1956, the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) adopts a resolution urging the six Member States of the ECSC to draft and to adopt a Treaty establishing a general Common Market in the form of a customs union.
‘A European customs union?’ from Le Monde (18 March 1956)
TextOn 18 March 1956, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the work carried out by the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference on the proposal for a European customs union and its implications for France.
Report by the Customs Expert Group (Brussels, 19 and 20 March 1956)
TextOn 19 and 20 March 1956, the customs experts serving on the Spaak Committee draw up an initial report on the establishment of a common external tariff and on the classification of the various products.
Transport policy
Note from the French Delegation on transport (Brussels, 18 July 1955)
TextOn 18 July 1955, the French Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference clarifies the objectives of the Transport Committee set up within the Spaak Committee.
Directive from the Steering Committee to the Transport Committee on air transport (Brussels, 20 July 1955)
TextOn 20 July 1955, the Steering Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference specifies the issues to be considered by the Subcommittee on Air Transport in order to improve the coordination of air transport in Europe.
Transport policy
Memorandum from the French Delegation on the establishment of a European aircraft construction company (Brussels, 3 October 1955)
TextOn 3 October 1955, the French Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference forwards a memorandum to the Transport and Public Works Committee in which it proposes the establishment of a European aircraft construction consortium which would involve, in particular, industrial and financial cooperation in the field of aviation between the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Note from the French Delegation on European cooperation in the field of aircraft construction (Brussels, 11 October 1955)
TextOn 11 October 1955, the French Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference calls on its partners to develop European cooperation in the field of aircraft construction in order to promote a European industry which is capable of meeting the needs of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Report by the Transport and Public Works Committee: conclusions of the Subcommittee on Air Transport (Brussels, 21 October 1955)
TextOn 21 October 1955, the Subcommittee on Air Transport of the Transport and Public Works Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference outlines, in its report, the measures required to enable tangible results to be achieved in the field of aircraft construction in Europe.
‘European transport policy’ from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (29 February 1956)
TextOn 29 February 1956, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the implications of and difficulties involved in a European transport policy.
Note to Heads of Delegation on air transport (Brussels, 5 March 1956)
TextOn 5 March 1956, the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference forwards a note to the Heads of Delegation of the Six in which it summarises the work and the conclusions of the Subcommittee on Air Transport.
Social policy
Proposal for a directive from the Steering Committee to the Common Market, Investment and Social Affairs Committee (Brussels, 20 July 1955)
TextOn 20 July 1955, the Steering Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference forwards a proposal for a directive to the Common Market, Investment and Social Affairs Committee which sets out the points to be considered in a detailed study carried out by the Committee, the Subcommittee on Investment and the Subcommittee on Social Affairs.
Note from the Belgian Government on the ratification of international labour agreements (Brussels, 28 July 1955)
TextOn 28 July 1955, in a note forwarded to the Subcommittee on Social Affairs of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, the Belgian Government reviews the ratification of international labour agreements in Europe and outlines the essential agreements which still need to be ratified by the Six and the United Kingdom.
Note from the Netherlands Delegation on social issues (Brussels, 2 August 1955)
TextOn 2 August 1955, the Netherlands Delegation sets out its position on social policy issues, with particular regard to the establishment of a common labour market in the countries of Western Europe.
Note from the Italian Delegation on social issues (Brussels, 2 August 1955)
TextOn 2 August 1955, the Italian Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference puts forward several proposals in the social field, with particular regard to extending the free movement of persons and to the gradual harmonisation of the rules in force in the Member States.
Memorandum from the French Delegation on the movement of labour in a wider common market (Brussels, 2 August 1955)
TextOn 2 August 1955, the French Delegation forwards a memorandum to the Common Market, Investment and Social Affairs Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference on the gradual extension of the free movement of labour in a wider common market.
Note from the International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (14 September 1955)
TextOn 14 September 1955, the International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ICCTU) presents its analysis of the decisions adopted in Messina by the Foreign Ministers of the Six with a view to reviving the process of European integration.
European manifesto of the International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (14 September 1955)
TextOn 14 September 1955, on the margins of the meeting of the Spaak Committee, the International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ICCTU) publishes a manifesto on economic and social integration in Europe.
Report by the Subcommittee on Social Affairs (Brussels, 23 September 1955)
TextOn 23 September 1955, the Subcommittee on Social Affairs, set up within the Common Market, Investment and Social Affairs Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, submits its report in which it sets out the findings of its study, with particular regard to the gradual extension of the free movement of persons and to the gradual harmonisation of the social rules and regulations in force in the Member States.
Letter from Jacques Doublet to Paul-Henri Spaak (Brussels, 3 October 1955)
TextOn 3 October 1955, Jacques Doublet, Director-General of Social Security in France and Chairman of the Subcommittee for Social Issues in the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, forwards to Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the Committee, a letter in which he gives an account of his meeting in Brussels with the representatives of the International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ICCTU) and emphasises their concerns regarding economic and social integration in Europe.
Agricultural policy
Report on the establishment of a common agricultural market (25 January 1956)
TextOn 25 January 1956, the Intergovernmental Committee of Heads of Delegation, known as the Spaak Committee, publishes its initial views on the establishment of a common agricultural market in Europe.
Note from the German Delegation on agricultural integration in Europe (Brussels, 2 March 1956)
TextOn 2 March 1956, at a meeting of the agricultural experts attending the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, the German delegate outlines the general principles of agricultural integration in Europe.
Working document on agriculture and the Common Market (7 March 1956)
TextOn 7 March 1956, the group of agricultural experts attending the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference draws up a working document in which it outlines the situation of agriculture in the future Common Market.