Jean Monnet (left), Robert Schuman (middle) and Jacques de Bourbon-Busset (right), Deputy Head of Robert Schuman’s Private Office, at the opening session of the intergovernmental negotiations for the implementation of the Schuman Plan, held on 20 June 1950 in Paris.

On 18 April 1951, in Paris, Konrad Adenauer (Federal Republic of Germany), Paul Van Zeeland and Joseph Meurice (Belgium), Robert Schuman (France), Carlo Sforza (Italy), Joseph Bech (Luxembourg) and Dirk Stikker and Johannes van den Brink (Netherlands) sign the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 18 April 1951, in Paris, the Foreign Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy and the Netherlands sign the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). From left to right: Paul van Zeeland (B), Joseph Bech (L), Joseph Meurice (B), Count Carlo Sforza (I), Robert Schuman (F), Konrad Adenauer (FRG), Dirk Stikker (NL) and Johannes van den Brink (NL).

On 18 April 1951, at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris, six European countries sign the treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), marking the first concrete step towards post-war European integration. France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands committed themselves to unprecedented cooperation, following on from Robert Schuman's declaration in May 1950. In the foreground, Robert Schuman signs on behalf of France.

The Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is signed on 18 April 1951 in Paris and enters into force on 23 July 1952. This Treaty is concluded for a period of 50 years from the date of its entry into force.