On 24 December 1949, in the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Anthony Eden, former British Foreign Secretary, sets out the position that the United Kingdom intends to take within a united Europe, given the importance of the Commonwealth to the British people.

On 19 March 1952, the United Kingdom submits to the Council of Europe an aide-mémoire which proposes that political authority over the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Defence Community (EDC) be given to the Council of Europe.

On 19 March 1952, Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, submits to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe a plan which provides for the Council of Europe to be given political authority over the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Defence Community (EDC).

On 21 March 1952, the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe welcomes the United Kingdom’s proposal that the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the future European Defence Community (EDC) and any other specialised European institutions which might be established should operate under the aegis of the Council of Europe.

On 17 April 1952, the British Government submits to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe a memorandum on the means whereby the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the future European Defence Community (EDC) and any other specialised European institutions which might be established might operate under the aegis of the Council of Europe.

On 16 and 17 May 1952, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe debates British proposals whereby the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the future European Defence Community (EDC) and any other specialised European institutions which might be established would operate under the aegis of the Council of Europe (Eden Plan).

On 30 May 1952, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe adopts a resolution on the British proposals for the establishment of an organic link between the Council of Europe and the Communities of the Six.

In 1952, Julian Amery, a Conservative MP and British delegate to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, summarises the origins and objectives of the Eden Plan designed to confer on the Council of Europe political authority over the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and over the European Defence Community (EDC).

In 1952, Guy Mollet, Chairman of the Socialist Intergroup in the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, welcomes the proposals set out in the Eden Plan, since he regards them as a positive development in the United Kingdom’s attitude to European affairs.

In 1952, Patrick Gordon-Walker, a Labour MP and British delegate to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, sets out in the French magazine Notre Europe the Labour Party’s position on European issues.

On 15 September 1952, addressing the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, outlines his plan for the Council of Europe to be given political authority to monitor the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Defence Community (EDC).

On 17 September 1952, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the proposals put forward by Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, to associate the Six with the other member States of the Council of Europe.

In September 1952, the British cartoonist, David Low, takes an ironic look at the joint efforts of Paul-Henri Spaak (left), Belgian Foreign Minister, and Robert Schuman (right), French Foreign Minister, to persuade their British counterpart, Anthony Eden (centre), to take part in the first steps of the Council of Europe, despite his fears and hesitations.

On 30 September 1952, in his closing address to the fourth session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Frenchman, François de Menthon, President of the Assembly, summarises the work undertaken by the European Members.