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The Treaty of Paris on 18 April 1951 between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which subsequently became part of the European Union. The treaty came into force on 23 July 1952 and expired on 23 July 2002, exactly fifty years after it came into effect.

The treaty was seen as producing diplomatic and economic stability in western Europe after the Second World War. Some of the main enemies during the war were now sharing production of coal and steel, the key-resources which previously had been central to the war effort.

The Europe Declaration was signed by all the leaders present. It declared that the Treaty had given birth to Europe. It emphasised that the supranational principle was the foundation of the new democratic organisation of Europe. The supranational concept was opposed by Charles de Gaulle.

Signed In force Treaty

1948 1948 Brussels

1951 1952 Paris

1954 1955 Paris Agr.

1957 1958 Rome

1965 1967 Merger

1986 1987 Single Act

1992 1993 Maastricht

1997 1999 Amsterdam

2001 2003 Nice

2007 2009 Lisbon

European Communities

Three pillars of the European Union

European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)

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European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

Treaty expired in 2002

European Union (EU)

European Economic Community (EEC)

European Community (EC)

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Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)

Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PJCC)

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European Political Cooperation (EPC)

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Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

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Unconsolidated bodies

Western European Union (WEU)

External links

• Treaty constituting the European Coal and Steel Community
• The history of the European Union 1945-1957

Treaties and declarations on European integration Legal basis Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (1957) · Treaty on European Union (1992) Main treaties Paris (1951) · Rome (1957) · Merger (1965) · Single European Act (1986) · Maastricht (1992) · Amsterdam (1997) · Nice (2001) · Lisbon (2007) Minor treaties First Budgetary Treaty (1970) · Second Budgetary Treaty (1975) · 2004 Accession (2003) · 2007 Accession (2005) Abandoned treaties Defence Community (1952) · Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (2004) Declarations Schuman Declaration (1950) · Solemn Declaration (1983) · Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) · Berlin Declaration (2007) Other documents Schengen Agreement (1985) European Union Portal