This video clip shows a number of eminent figures sharing their recollections of the ceremony, held on 25 March 1957 in Rome, to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). Speaking, in order of appearance, are: Albert Breuer, former official at the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), in particular responsible for the practical organisation of the signing ceremony, Pierre Pescatore, former member of the Drafting Group at the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, as well as Hubert Ehring and André Dubois, both former members of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference.

In this interview, Max Kohnstamm, Secretary of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1952 to 1956, outlines how Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority, reacted to the refusal of the French Parliament, on 31 August 1954, to ratify the European Defence Community (EDC) Treaty.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the intergovernmental negotiations on the European Defence Community (EDC), the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom, recalls the work of Johan Willem Beyen, Netherlands Foreign Minister between 1952 and 1956, with particular regard to the revival of European integration, after the failure of EDC, with the establishment of a comprehensive common market.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegations to the negotiations on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the implications and the results of the Messina Conference (held from 1 to 3 June 1955) attended by the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) with a view to discussing terms for a revival of the process of European integration.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Committee established by the Messina Conference, outlines the procedures adopted by the Spaak Committee with a view to the drawing up of a report on the establishment of a European Common Market.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former member of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the implications and the course of the meeting held on 29 and 30 May 1956 between the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In this interview, Hans-August Lücker, former adviser to Walter Hallstein, Junior Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and rapporteur on the Treaties of Rome for the Bundestag in 1957, recalls the attitude of the participants in the Intergovernmental Conference negotiations on the Common Market and Euratom who, in Val Duchesse, drew up the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, describes the international context to the negotiations held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, between 1956 and 1957 which resulted in the adoption of the Rome Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, describes the influence of the international context on the Val Duchesse negotiations that paved the way for the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, describes the working atmosphere that prevailed in the ‘Drafting Committee' responsible for laying down the general provisions and determining the legal form of the Rome Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the atmosphere and attitude of the members of the various national delegations during the Val Duchesse negotiations.

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the working atmosphere during the Val Duchesse negotiations on the revival of European integration.

In this interview, André Dubois, former member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, describes the prevailing atmosphere between the various national delegations during the negotiations at the Château de Val Duchesse.

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the organisation of these negotiations held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, with a view to the drafting of the Rome Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, describes the composition of part of the Luxembourg diplomatic delegation.

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the leading figures who participated in the negotiations held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, on the Rome Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, André Dubois, former member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, emphasises the role played by Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the Conference, during the negotiations at the Château de Val Duchesse.

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Special Council of Ministers of the Secretariat of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, describes the role played by Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, during the Val Duchesse negotiations.

In this interview, Hans-August Lücker, former adviser to Walter Hallstein and rapporteur on the Rome Treaties for the Bundestag in 1957, recalls the personality and working methods of Walter Hallstein, Junior Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and those of Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the Intergovernmental Conference, held in Val Duchesse, on the Common Market and Euratom.

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, discusses the Secretariat’s role and working methods during the Val Duchesse negotiations.

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Legal Committee at the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, describes the composition and working methods of the Legal Group, also known as the ‘Drafting Committee’, responsible for laying down the general provisions and determining the legal form of the Rome Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Luxembourg Delegation to the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, recalls the nature of the relationship that developed during the negotiations between the members of the Common Market Committee, the Euratom Committee and the Drafting Committee.

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, discusses the role of the Legal Group during the Val Duchesse negotiations.

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Legal Committee at the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, describes the allocation of tasks within this committee, also known as the ‘Drafting Committee’, responsible for laying down the general provisions and determining the legal form of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Legal Committee at the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom held at the Château de Val Duchesse, Brussels, recalls the nature of the relationship that developed during the negotiations between the members of the Legal Group, also known as the Drafting Committee, and the Committee of Heads of Delegation.

In this interview, André Dubois, former member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the nature of the work carried out in Val Duchesse with regard to the establishment of a common customs tariff for the six Member States of the future European Economic Community (EEC).

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, emphasises the positions of the Six in Val Duchesse on the possible association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) with the future European Economic Community (EEC).

In this interview, André Dubois, former member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the positions of the Six in Val Duchesse with regard to the possible association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) with the future European Economic Community (EEC).

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, outlines the way in which the Netherlands defined its position in relation to the challenges posed by European integration, recalling, in particular, the nature of the relationship between the Prime Minister, Willem Drees, and his Foreign Ministers, Johan Willem Beyen and Joseph Luns.

In this interview, Pierre Pescatore, former legal adviser to the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry and member of the Drafting Committee at the 1956–57 Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the final legal and formal preparations for the ceremony to mark the signing by the Six, on 25 March 1957, in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Hubert Ehring, former Director of the Legal Service of the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, discusses the formal signing by the Six, on 25 March 1957 in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Charles Rutten, former Secretary of the Netherlands Delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the ceremony held to mark the signing, on 25 March 1957 in Rome, of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Albert Breuer, former official in the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), responsible, in particular, for the practical arrangements for the ceremony to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), describes the eventful journey of the train transporting the equipment required for the signing of the Treaties on 25 March 1957 in Rome.

In this interview, Albert Breuer, former official at the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), responsible, in particular, for the practical arrangements for the ceremony to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), recalls the difficulties encountered in installing the necessary equipment and the problems arising from protocol priorities during the preparations for the ceremony, held on 25 March 1957 in Rome, to mark the signing of the Treaties.

In this interview, Albert Breuer, former official in the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), responsible, in particular, for the practical arrangements for the ceremony to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), recalls the difficulties inherent in the finalisation of the Treaties before their ceremonial signing, held on 25 March 1957 in Rome.

In this interview, Albert Breuer, former official in the Secretariat of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), responsible, in particular, for the practical arrangements for the ceremony, held on 25 March 1957, in Rome, to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), recalls what he remembers of the event.

In this interview, André Dubois, former member of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom, recalls the ceremony, held on 25 March 1957 in Rome, to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

In this interview, Pasquale Antonio Baldocci, former diplomat in the Treaties Department of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, refers to the ceremony held to mark the signing of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) on 25 March 1957 in Rome.