Table showing the three stages in the gradual establishment within the Six of a Customs Union concerning agricultural and industrial products between 1 January 1958 and 1 January 1970.
On 27 December 1958, the Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant comments on the beginning of the first stage of the Customs Union. Customs duties between the six Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) are reduced by 10 % while trade quotas are increased by 20 %.
On 1 January 1959, the Six move to the first stage of the Customs Union and determine a 10 % reduction in customs duties and a 20 % rise in trade quotas.
On 1 January 1959, the Six implement the first stage of the Customs Union. Customs duties between Member States are reduced by 10 % and trade quotas are increased by 20 %.
On 12 May 1960, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers and on the initiative of the Commission, the representatives of the Governments of the EEC Member States decide to work more quickly towards attaining the objectives laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
On 14 May 1960, the French Socialist daily newspaper Le Populaire comments on the decision taken by the representatives of the Six to speed up the implementation of the objectives of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
In October 1960, the monthly publication Communauté européenne reviews the application of the measures adopted on 12 May 1960 by the Council of Ministers with a view to accelerating the implementation of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
On 14 December 1960, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera outlines the efforts being made by the European Commission to draw up a plan for the progressive abolition of customs duties at Community level.
In July 1962, the European Commission publishes a Report on the execution of the Treaty in which it welcomes, in particular, the introduction of the first measures to abolish customs barriers in the industrial sector.
In this interview, Bino Olivi, former official in the Directorate-General for Competition Policy of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), refers to the reasons behind the acceleration in the establishment of a customs union and considers the scale of economic growth in Italy and in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
On 15 January 1962, the German Junior Minister, Karl Carstens, makes a statement in Bonn concerning the Brussels negotiations relating to the transition to the second stage of the Customs Union.
In February 1962, at the beginning of the second stage of the planned transitional period for the establishment of the Common Market, the French monthly publication Le Monde diplomatique considers the implications of the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) for the world economy.
On 15 June 1962, Antonio Segni, the Italian Foreign Minister, grants the Milanese daily newspaper Corriere della Sera an interview on the implications of the second stage of the European Customs Union.
On 30 June 1962, commenting on the latest reduction of intra-Community duties on industrial and agricultural products, Fernand Baudhuin, Professor of Economics at the University of Louvain, outlines how the combined effects of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the favourable economic conditions are promoting full employment and enhancing the prosperity of the Six.
On 4 July 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera emphasises the economic and political implications of the transition to the second stage of European Customs Union.
In October 1962, the European Commission publishes a memorandum on the Community’s action plan for the second stage of the Customs Union, relating, in particular, to the rules on competition, the common agricultural policy and social policy.
On 29 and 30 June 1968, in its comments on the completion of the tariff union among the Six, due to take place on 1 July 1968, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung paints a critical picture of the state of the European Economic Community (EEC).
On 1 July 1968, as the Common Customs Tariff comes into force and, a year and a half ahead of schedule, customs duties on industrial and some agricultural products are abolished, the European Commission publishes a statement in which it describes the implications of the Customs Union for the Six.
On 1 July 1968, in its comments on the completion of the tariff union through the abolition of the last remaining customs duties between the Six at the end of the transitional period, the French daily newspaper Le Monde describes the impact of the Customs Union on international and intra-Community trade.
On 1 July 1968, the Customs Union of the Six is completed. Raymond Barre, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for economic and financial affairs, comments on the event in the editorial of the monthly publication Communauté européenne.
On 1 July 1968, Jean Rey, President of the European Commission, announces the completion, following the transitional period, of the Customs Union among the six Member States of the European Communities.
As shown in this animated film of the time, the final intra-Community customs duties on industrial and some agricultural products were abolished on 1 July 1968, at the end of the transitional period.
Almost a year after the completion of the Customs Union, Jean Lecerf harshly criticises the weaknesses and the inconsistencies of the system in the monthly publication Communauté européenne.