On 9 May 1950, the declaration made in the Salon de l’Horloge at the French Foreign Ministry by the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, marks the decisive starting point for European integration.

On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, proposes to the Federal Republic of Germany and to other European countries that their coal and steel resources be pooled in a common European organisation.

On 23 May 1950, the Groupement des industries sidérurgiques luxembourgeoises (GISL), an employers’ organisation involving the three Luxembourg iron and steel companies, namely ARBED, the S.A. des Hauts-Fourneaux et Aciéries de Differdange-St.Ingbert-Rumelange and Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange, speculates on the conditions in which the French ideas should be implemented.

On 10 May 1950, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort considers the factors motivating Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, who published his plan for a European coal and steel pool the previous day.

On 2 June 1950, with an eye to future negotiations on the Schuman Plan in Paris, the Luxembourg iron mine managers address a letter to Pierre Dupong, Head of the Luxembourg government, in order that experts from the mining sector should become an intrinsic part of the national delegation.

On 18 April 1951, in Paris, Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, signs the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Group photograph taken at the signing of the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. From left to right: Paul van Zeeland (B), Joseph Bech (L), Joseph Meurice (B), Carlo Sforza (I), Robert Schuman (F), Konrad Adenauer (BRD), Dirk Stikker (NL) and Johannes van den Brink (NL).

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.

On 8 May 1952, Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, gives an address to the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on the political and economic implications of the Schuman Plan.

On 14 May 1952, ratification of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is obtained by a significant majority in the final vote in the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies.

On 15 May 1952, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort reports on the implications of the ratification, the previous day, of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) by the National Chamber of Deputies.

In the 1950s, the steel industry is the most important economic activity in Luxembourg.

On 30 October 1950, Albert Wehrer, Luxembourg diplomatic representative in Bonn, sends a report to Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, in which he outlines the procedure that should be followed so that Luxembourg will be in a favourable position regarding the question of the seat of the institutions of the Coal and Steel Community.

Dans ses Mémoires, Jean Monnet retrace la manière dont la ville de Luxembourg fut choisie pour accueillir les institutions de la CECA.

‘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 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.

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 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 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.

Former home of the ECSC Consultative Committee, Luxembourg.

On 1 April 1993, at the Cercle municipal in Luxembourg, the ECSC Consultative Committee commemorates the 40th anniversary of its first session, held on 26 January 1953 at Luxembourg town hall. Jacques Santer, Luxembourg Prime Minister from 1984 to 1995, delivers a speech during the ceremony.

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.

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 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.

The ‘Villa Vauban’ in Luxembourg, seat of the Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community from 1952 to 1959.

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.

Until October 1954, the sittings of the Court of Justice are held in the office of the Court's President, Massimo Pilotti, in the Villa Vauban, Luxembourg.

Diagram showing the operation and organisation of the institutions of the European Economic Community (EEC), as established by the Treaty signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Diagram showing the operation and organisation of the institutions of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), as established by the Treaty signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome.

On 25 March 1957, in Rome, Joseph Bech (left), Luxembourg Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Ambassador Lambert Schaus (right), Head of the Luxembourg Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, sign the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 25 March 1957, during the ceremony held in Rome to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, delivers an address in which he acknowledges the historic importance of the new Treaties for the process of European integration.

On 26 March 1957, the day after the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) in Rome, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort publishes the address delivered by the Luxembourg diplomat, Lambert Schaus.

On 26 November 1957, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopts the draft law authorising Grand Duchess Charlotte to ratify the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome by the representatives of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).