A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was established in 1952, having been provided for by the Treaty of Paris of 1951. Six states signed up as founding members to establish a free-trade area and a common market in the areas of coal, iron ore, steel and scrap. It was the first step in the process of European integration. The impetus for the development of an ECSC came from Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, and was formulated in the Schuman Plan of 1950.
The ECSC was considered to be the most effective means of rebuilding the European industrial economy, particularly in the Ruhr area, whilst at the same time preventing another war on the continent.
The ECSC was governed by four new institutions. These were: the High Authority, the Council of Ministers; the Common Assembly, and the European Court of Justice. The ECSC itself later developed into the European Economic Community with the Treaty of Rome, and was referred to as the European Community from 1967. The ECSC was a 50-year arrangement which expired in July 2002. By that time it had developed into the European Union through the Treaty on European Union.
Founder Members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
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