Treaty of Paris — treaty signed in 1951 that established the European Coal and Steel Community
The Treaty of Paris created the European Coal and Steel Community, the first supranational European institution and a foundation for what became the European Union.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 18 April 1951
- Date in force
- 23 July 1952
- Treaty duration
- 50 years (expired 23 July 2002)
- Signatory nations
- Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, West Germany
- Institution established
- European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the devastation of the Second World War, western European nations sought diplomatic and economic stability. Coal and steel had been central to the war effort, and pooling these resources among former adversaries was seen as a means of reducing the risk of renewed conflict and fostering interdependence.
On 18 April 1951, six nations — Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany — signed the Treaty of Paris, formally establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. The treaty was signed by representatives including Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, and Carlo Sforza, and it came into force on 23 July 1952.
The ECSC became the first supranational European organisation, introducing the principle that member states could cede authority to a common institution. The Europe Declaration proclaimed that the treaty had given birth to Europe. The ECSC later became part of the European Union, making this treaty a foundational step in European integration.
Political Outcome
Establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, the first supranational European institution, pooling coal and steel production among six western European nations.
Individual nation-states independently controlled coal and steel production, fuelling rivalry and conflict.
A supranational community jointly managed coal and steel among six nations, establishing shared governance over key industrial resources.