24 - History Flashcards
1946
Winston Churchill called for a “kind of United States of Europe” in a speech he gave at the University of Zurich
The European Federalists Union is founded in Paris
1947
The Treaty of Dunkirk was signed on the 4th March
The Treat of Dunkirk came into force on the 8th September
Fostered by Winston Churchill, the United Europe Movement is created
René Courtin creates the French Council for a United Europe that will later be absorbed by the European Movement in 1953
Fostered by Christian Democrats, the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales, which later known as the European Union of Christian Democrats in 1965, is created.
The Socialist United States of Europe Movement is created.
The Marshall Plan, set up for the economic revival of Europe is announced
The European Union Federalists Congress is held in Montreux, Switzerland
Federalist and Unionist organisations meet within the International Coordination of Movements for the Unification of Europe Committee
1948
The Custom Convention between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands came into force
The Treaty of Brussels replaced the Treaty of Dunkirk and was signed by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom on the 17th March
The Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) is created to coordinate the Marshall Plan
Fostered by the International Coordination of Movements for the Unification of Europe Committee, the Europe Congress meets in The Hague, The Netherlands. It is chaired by Winston Churchill and is attended by 800 delegates. Participants recommend that a European deliberative assembly and a European special council be created to take charge of preparing political and economic integration of European countries. They also recommend the adoption of a human rights charter and the creation of a Court of Justice to ensure the respect of such a charter.
1949
France, Great Britain and the Benelux countries decide to set up a Council of Europe and ask Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Switzerland to help them prepare the statute of such Council.
The North Atlantic Treaty was signed on 4th April
The North Atlantic Treaty came into force on the 24th August
The Statue of the Council of Europe was signed on the 5th May and came into force later that year
The first session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is held in Strasbourg, France. Federalist members request the creation of a European political authority.
1950
A speech inspired by Jean Monnet, the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed integrating the coal and steel industries of Western Europe.
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany subscribe to the Schuman declaration.
The Council of Europe Assembly approves the Schuman plan.
The European Union of payments is created.
Signature of the Human Rights and Fundamental Rights Conventions in Rome, Italy.
1951
The Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris) was signed on the 18th April
A meeting in view of the creation of the European Community of Defence is held in Paris, France. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Germany attend the meeting alongside six observer countries (USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands).
Paul-Henri Spaak steps down from the Presidency of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in protest to the lukewarm attitude of the United Kingdom towards Europe.
1952
The Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris) came into force on the 23rd July
The European Defense Community Treaty was signed on the 27th May by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands but was never put into effect
Ad hoc assembly created on September 10th
Jean Monnet is appointed president of the High Authority and Paul-Henri Spaak is president of the Common Assembly.
Luxembourg is chosen as the temporary headquarters for the European Coal and Steel Community.
The European Coal and Steel Community High Authority takes office.
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) decides to grant Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands a derogation from the most-favoured-nation treatment, to allow them to fulfil their European Coal and Steel Community obligations.
1953
The European Coal and Steel Community levy, the first European tax, comes into force.
The common market for coal, iron ore and scrap iron is put into place. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands remove custom duties and quantitative restrictions on these raw materials.
The procedural regulation of the European Court of Justice is published in the Official Journal of the ECSC. As of today appeals foreseen by the Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community can be placed to the Court.
The French Council for a United Europe that was created by Renè Courtin is absorbed by the European Movement
Paul-Henri Spaak, president of the ad hoc assembly created in 1992, hands a draft treaty instituting a political European community to G. Bidault, president of the ECSC Council. Such a community would aim at safeguarding human rights and fundamental rights, guaranteeing the security of Member States against aggression, ensuring the co-ordination of Member countries’ external policy and at progressively establishing a common market. Five institutions are foreseen in the draft Treaty: a European Executive Council, a two-chamber Parliament, a Council of National Ministers, a Court of Justice and an Economic and Social Committee.
The European Coal and Steel Community and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) sign a cooperation agreement.
1954
Alcide de Gasperi is elected president of the European Parliamentary Assembly.
The French National Assembly rejects the European Defence Community Treaty.
Following the London Conference, agreements on a modified Brussels Treaty are signed in Paris, and the Western European Union (WEU) is created.
Jean Monnet, president of the ECSC High Authority, resigns after the European Defence Community failure.
The European Court of Justice renders its first ruling.
1955
René Mayer is elected president of the European Coal and Steel Community High Authority.
Meeting in Messina (Italy), the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands agree upon economic integration.
The Council of Europe adopts the blue flag with 12 gold stars as its emblem.
1956
The European Coal and Steel Community High Authority confirms the principle of free circulation of steel products imported from third countries within the Community.
Paul-Henri Spaak, the Belgian minister for foreign affairs, presents a report to his European Coal and Steel Community colleagues on the draft Community Treaties foreseeing the creation of the European Economic and European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC/Euratom). The Spaak report is approved. Meeting in Venice, the foreign ministers decide to open intergovernmental negotiations on the conclusion of two Treaties setting up a European Economic Community and an Atomic Energy Community.
Negotiations for the drafting of the instituting texts for the European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC/Euratom) open in Brussels.
1957
The Treaty of Rome was signed on the 25th March
The Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC/Euratom) are signed by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in Rome. And are now referred to as the “Treaties of Rome”.
The protocols on the privileges and immunities granted to the European Communities and on the statute of the European Court of Justice are signed in Brussels, Belgium.
The European Coal and Steel Community High Authority is requested by its Council to prepare a general policy on energy.
Hans Furler is elected President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community
Building on the success of the Coal and Steel Treaty, the six countries expand cooperation to other economic sectors.
1958
• The Treaty of Rome came into force on the 1st January
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Netherlands joined
Walter Hallstein is elected president of the European Economic Community Commission.
Louis Armand is elected president of the European Atomic Energy Community Commission.
Paul Finet is elected president of the European Coal and Steel Community High Authority.
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands decide to create the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) to prepare the work of the Councils.
The session setting up the European Parliamentary Assembly is held in Strasbourg, France.
Mr. Robert Schuman is elected president of the Assembly. This assembly is to substitute the European Coal and Steel Community one.
The first Council regulation sets up German, French, Italian and Dutch as the official languages of the Communities.
The first Official Journal of the European Communities is published. It replaces the Official Journal of the European Coal and Steel Community.
The European Court of Justice that replaces the European Coal and Steel Community Court of Justice, is set up in Luxembourg.
The governors of the EIB Council adopt the first directives regarding the credit policy of the Bank.
The European Monetary Agreement enters into force.
1959
The first steps are taken in the progressive abolition of custom duties and quotas within the European Economic Community.
Robert Schuman is re-elected president of the Parliamentary Assembly
Etienne Hirsch is elected president of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC/Euratom) Commission.
The European Court of Justice adopts its procedural regulations.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) grants its first loans.
The European Council accepts the USA’s “Dillon proposal” on multilateral trade negotiations (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade framework). The Commission, assisted by a special Committee appointed by the Council, will lead these negotiations.
The European Economic Community national fiscal administrations set up three working groups to review the feasibility of harmonising indirect levy legislation.
Seven countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), namely Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, decide to establish a European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Piero Malvestiti is elected president of the European Coal and Steel Community High Authority.
Pierre Wigny, the Belgian minister for foreign affairs, floats the idea of uniting the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community and the two Commissions (European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community) established by the Rome Treaty in a single institution.
1961
The Socialist United States of Europe Movement is renamed the European Left