On 11 September 1952, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the ECSC, opens the inaugural session of the Common Assembly with an address in which he sets out the role of the first Community institutions and emphasises the importance of establishing a single market in Europe.

Paul Finet, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Communitye from 13 January 1958 to 14 September 1959, delivers a speech at the solemn hearing of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 7 October 1958, the date on which the single Court of Justice takes office.

Note from the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, dated 24 November 1958, on establishing relations between the organisation and the two new European communities (EEC and EAEC). The note reviews the contacts made with the institutions of the European communities since the conclusion of the 1953 ‘gentlemen's agreement’ between Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority, and Lord Layton, first vice-President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

In its Resolution No 31 of 23 June 1953, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe declares its satisfaction with regard to steps to bring about a close working relationship between the High Authority and the Common Assembly of the ECSC, on the one hand, and the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, on the other.

As the future President of the ECSC High Authority, Jean Monnet is responsible for convening the first session of the Common Assembly. In a letter to Jacques Camille Paris, dated 1 August 1952, he expresses an interest in the facilities which the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe is willing to offer him, for the holding of the first session on the premises of the Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg. At the same time, he indicates his desire to maintain in full the independence and the inherent character of the new institution.

With a view to enabling the ECSC Common Assembly to begin its work independently, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority, informs Jacques Camille Paris, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, on 15 August 1952, of his decision to set up a temporary Preparatory Committee, consisting of officials from the national parliaments of the six Member States of the Community, to be responsible for organising the first session of the Assembly in Strasbourg.

The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) takes the chair at the first meeting of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) held on 8, 9 and 10 September 1952. In this letter, dated 27 August, Walter Hallstein, State Secretary at the Foreign Office, informs Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the ECSC, that the invitations have been sent to the Ministers for Foreign and Economic Affairs of the Member States. He includes the proposals regarding the subjects to be considered during this meeting in an annex to his letter.

During discussions on the subject of the High Authority seat, one of the alternatives was the town of Saarbrücken. On 25 June 1952, the daily newspaper Saarbrücker Zeitung lists the features of the town.

Chronological list of the Presidents of the European Commission (the ECSC High Authority, the EEC Commission, the EAEC Commission, and the Commission of the European Communities).

René Mayer, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community from 3 June 1955 to 13 January 1958.