On 12 January 1966, Henri Étienne, Head of Division of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), hands to Karl-Heinz Narjes, Head of Cabinet to the President of the Commission Walter Hallstein, a summary note from Jean Maurin, Member of the Executive Secretariat of the Commission, which recalls the details of the development of the political position of Belgium and that of the Belgian Foreign Minister, Paul-Henri Spaak, since the beginning of the empty chair crisis on 30 June 1965.

‘Commentary on the situation. In the European forge.’ In March 1950, the front page of the Saar-based satirical journal Der Tintenfisch features a cartoon by German cartoonist Stig (Roland Stigulinszky) illustrating how the Saar is maintaining its European credentials under the benevolent gaze of the neighbouring countries. From left to right: former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President of the Italian Council of Ministers Alcide De Gasperi, former Belgian Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and Johannes Hoffmann, Minister-President of the Saar. In the background, Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (on the right) and General de Gaulle (on the left) observe the scene.

‘On the Schuman Plan. Right! — Now that we’ve got the right starting handle in the right place, it would be strange if neither of us managed to get this car going again!’ In May 1950, German cartoonist Roland Stigulinszky illustrates the efforts made by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to restart the engine of European integration, with the encouragements of the crowd. Sat in the car with a European flag, we see the main European leaders and politicians, including General de Gaulle, Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, Belgian Paul-Henri Spaak and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Joseph Bech.

On 13 March 1948, in Luxembourg, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, delivers an address during which he describes cooperation between European States as the best means of countering the Soviet threat.

On 12 July 1947, the Conference on European Economic Cooperation began in Paris. It brought together all those countries accepting the reconstruction aid proposed to Europe by the US Secretary of State, George Marshall.

On 29 December 1952, 300 students, inspired by the initial success of the Schuman Plan, demonstrate in Menton, on the French-Italian border, in favour of European integration.

On 26 March 1957, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir describes the proceedings at and the atmosphere of the ceremony, held in Rome the day before, to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), and emphasises, in particular, the tribute paid to the Belgian Foreign Minister, Paul-Henri Spaak.

In 1956, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, delivers a lecture to the members of the Royal Belgian Union in Luxembourg, during which he discusses, at length, the economic and political situation in Europe and the arguments in favour of a revival of European integration.