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 20 June 1950, in the Salon de l’Horloge at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, Robert Schuman (standing, centre), French Foreign Minister, opens the intergovernmental negotiations for the implementation of the Schuman Plan. This photo is generally used to illustrate the press conference of 9 May 1950, at which no photographs were taken.

In an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on the 25th anniversary of the Declaration made on 9 May 1950, Pierre Uri, former colleague of Jean Monnet, recalls the preparations for the Schuman Plan.

A colleague of Jean Monnet and a firsthand witness of Robert Schuman’s Declaration in the Salon de l’Horloge of the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, François Fontaine describes the events that took place.

On 17 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the first draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 17 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the second draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

In late April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the third draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 26 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the fourth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 27 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the fifth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.