In this note dated 15 October 1957, the Action Committee for a United States of Europe emphasises the need for all the Community institutions to be accommodated in a single location so as to guarantee that they can operate smoothly.

On 21 November 1957, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit comments on the discussions under way on the appointment of the German members of the future Commissions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and of Euratom.

On 25 November 1957, the Action Committee for a United States of Europe adopts a resolution in which it calls for a single seat for the institutions of the European Communities, all of which should be located in a ‘European District’.

On 24 December 1957, referring to the ongoing negotiations on the future seat of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the French cartoonist Lap illustrates his idea for a European capital.

The day after the entry into force, on 1 January 1958, of the Treaties of Rome, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort describes the battle under way regarding the location of the future seats of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and of Euratom.

On 6 January 1958, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung compares the advantages and disadvantages of Strasbourg, Brussels and Paris as the possible seat of the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 7 January 1958, the Foreign Ministers of the Six, meeting in Paris, appoint the main people responsible for running the Community institutions.

On 10 January 1958, Jean Monnet, President of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, sends a letter to Cornelius Wilhelmus van Wingerden, leader of the Netherlands Trade Union Federation, in which he comments on the nomination of the main figures responsible for leading the Community institutions and the choice of seat.

‘What’s up now?’ On 18 January 1958, the German cartoonist, Kolb, uses the ancient myth of ‘The Rape of Europa’ to cast an ironic look at the difficulties for the Six in choosing the future seat of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

‘So no one knows which way we have to go?’ In February 1964, cartoonist Hans Geisen alludes to the myth of the abduction of Europa in his ironic portrayal of the difficulties experienced by the Europe of the Six in reaching agreement on the permanent choice of seat for the European institutions.

At their meeting of 8 April 1965, the representatives of governments of the Six decided provisionally to locate the institutions and other bodies of the European Communities in Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg.

Le 28 octobre 1957, le Conseil communal de Bruxelles se prononce en faveur de la candidature de la ville de Bruxelles comme siège des nouvelles institutions européennes.

On 9 November 1957, Lucien Cooremans, Mayor of the City of Brussels, writes a letter to Baron Snoy et d’Oppuers, President of the Interim Committee for the Common Market and Euratom, in which he argues the case for making Brussels the headquarters of the Community institutions.

The seat of the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) in the right wing of the Palais des Congrès in Brussels.

Charlemagne building in Brussels. Seat of the Council of the European Communities from 1971 to 1995.

View of the building in Brussels to be used to host additional part-sessions of the European Parliament.

On 27 November 1957, the Luxembourg socialist daily newspaper Tageblatt reviews the debates over the seat of the European institutions and emphasises the many advantages offered by Luxembourg City as opposed to Strasbourg or Brussels.

On 14 December 1957, L’Écho de l’Industrie, the official publication of the Federation of Luxembourg Industrialists (Fedil), speculates on the question of the seat of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom, drawing attention to the advantages offered by the City of Luxembourg.

On 27 November 1957, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort publishes an article by Nicolas Margue, a former minister and Luxembourg representative in the Strasbourg assemblies, reflecting on the designation of the future headquarters of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom.

The Jean Monnet Building in Kirchberg, Luxembourg, houses some of the European Commission’s departments.

The ‘Palais’ of the Court of Justice, completed in 1972, was the first European institution building to be built on the Kirchberg plateau in Luxembourg.

On 7 March 1958, the Luxembourg City Council unanimously adopts a resolution on Luxembourg’s application to become the official seat of the European institutions.

Document submitted by Luxembourg City Council to the European Committee of Experts on Urban Planning, on the occasion of their visit to Luxembourg on 19 and 20 March 1958.

On 25 July 1957, Charles-Émile Altorffer, Mayor of Strasbourg, writes to Léon Marchal, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, to argue the case for Strasbourg’s being selected as the seat of the European institutions established by the Six under the Rome Treaties.

Le 19 octobre 1957, dans le cadre de la question du siège des nouvelles institutions européennes, les élus de la ville de Strasbourg adoptent une résolution qui proclame la vocation européenne de Strasbourg.

The seat of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg where, until 2000, the European Parliament held its ordinary sessions.

View of the Debating Chamber of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.