On 3 June 1950, in a joint press release, the French, German, Belgian, Italian, Luxembourg and Netherlands Governments declare their intention to open negotiations for the pooling of coal and steel production and the establishment of a High Authority.

On 14 May 1957, René Mayer, President of the ECSC High Authority, presents the Annual Report of the European Coal and Steel Community to the Common Assembly.

This film, produced by the Information Service of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), looks at the process by which the ECSC was created and describes the organisation’s objectives, mode of operation and activities.

Speech by Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority from 1952 to 1955, delivered at the first meeting of the ECSC Consultative Committee, held on 26 January 1953 in the Hôtel de Ville, Luxembourg. In the weeks preceding the establishment of the common market in coal and steel, Jean Monnet asks, on behalf of the High Authority, for the opinion of the Consultative Committee regarding the new price systems to be introduced in the Community. The High Authority would then take decisions with a view to abolishing discrimination and protection arrangements in the six founding countries, which constitute a barrier to the movement of products.

On 4 May 1959, speaking in a personal capacity in a bid to overcome the differences existing between the Six, Jean-Marcel Jeanneney, President-in-Office of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), puts forward various suggestions on ways to approximate the different points of view regarding the solution to the European coal crisis.

Following Jean Monnet’s proposal to several political and trade union leaders to set up a committee in support of European federal integration, the Action Committee for a United States of Europe is founded on 12 October 1955 in Paris. Although the proposal is particularly aimed at individuals, it also encourages the political and trade union organisations to which they belonge to join the Action Committee.

On 18 January 1956, Jean Monnet opens the first meeting of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe (ACUSE) with a review of the ongoing negotiations within the Spaak Committee. He outlines the proposals by ACUSE concerning European cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy and raises the question of relations with the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).

Dans cette déclaration du 8 septembre 1952, Jacques Camille Paris, Secrétaire général du Conseil de l’Europe, fait le compte-rendu de ses entretiens avec Jean Monnet, président de la Haute Autorité de la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier (CECA), au sujet des liens organiques à établir entre les deux organisations.

On 9 May 1950, staff of Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet put the finishing touches to the explanatory notes for the press on the Schuman Declaration, particularly regarding the anti-cartel aspect of the future coal and steel pool.

On 31 May 1950, the Netherlands Embassy in Paris sends a note to the French Foreign Ministry accepting the invitation to take part in the forthcoming negotiations on the Schuman Plan.