In March 1954, Paolo Emilio Taviani, Italian Defence Minister, summarises the first five years of operation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and emphasises its economic and social benefits for Italy.

On 13 January 1958, Frenchman René Mayer hands over power to Belgian Paul Finet as President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. From right to left: Albert Coppé, René Mayer and Paul Finet.

On 13 May 1958, in Strasbourg, Paul Finet, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), gives the European Parliamentary Assembly (EPA) an overview of the measures taken by the High Authority to deal with the economic difficulties affecting the European coal and steel industries.

On 15 and 16 November 1958, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reviews the measures planned by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to help the country’s steel and coal industries find a way out of the crisis which is affecting the whole of Europe.

Map showing, for 1960, the location of the major coal and steel basins and oil and natural gas fields in the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the United Kingdom.

On 9 May 1970, while reporting on the 20th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the French daily newspaper Le Monde outlines the successes and failures of the activities of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Working meeting of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) on 4 February 1957. The discussions covered the situation of the coal market, supply problems and the question of cartels.

In August 1958, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung considers the energy policy of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and illustrates the impact of foreign coal and oil imports on the national market.

On 13 September 1958, in Essen, Franz Blücher, German Minister for Economic Cooperation, opens an exhibition on the German coal-mining industry. During the inauguration ceremony, he gives an address concerning the problems experienced by the coal-mining industry in Europe.

On 29 September 1958, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung focuses on the crisis affecting the collieries in the Ruhr basin and reviews the emergency measures planned by the country’s political authorities.

On 30 May 1959, the Italian Communist daily newspaper L’Unità criticises the closure of many coal mines in Belgium, and the subsequent redundancies, before calling for a reorganisation of the coal sector by means of a policy of nationalisation.

On 14 March 1960, workers from the Belgian industrial basins take to the streets in protest at the closure of the collieries and the threat of unemployment.

On 9 May 1960, as part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, Albert Wehrer, Luxembourg Member of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), gives an address in which he focuses in particular on the coal crisis affecting Europe.

The Luxembourg diplomat Albert Wehrer, member of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1952 to 1967.

On 30 November 1960, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Economic Affairs publishes a report on the situation of the world and European oil markets and on the increase in the supply of oil-based products.

On 19 January 1966, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort analyses the reasons for and the implications of the closure of many European collieries.

On 14 March 1996, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera looks into the effects of the crisis affecting the coalfields of the Ruhr and the implications of redeveloping the German coal mines.

On 23 June 1966, the French weekly publication Usine nouvelle analyses the poor financial results and the drop in output in the coal sector in the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 10 October 1966, the French weekly magazine L’Express analyses the causes and the consequences of the crisis affecting the European coal market.

On 3 June 1967, the Milan daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reviews the crisis in the European coal-mining industry and is pessimistic about a revival in the coal industry.

On 23 October 1958, Paul Finet, President of the ECSC High Authority, gives an address to the European Parliamentary Assembly in which he attempts to define the seriousness of the coal crisis affecting Belgium and Germany in particular and details the measures taken by the High Authority to stabilise the coal market.

On 16 December 1958, in response to the statement made by the President of the ECSC High Authority, Paul Finet, on 23 October 1958, the European Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution which calls on the High Authority and the Council of Ministers to streamline and coordinate more effectively import and export policies for European coal products.

On 11 April 1959, Jean Monnet, President of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, writes a letter to Cornelius Wilhelmus van Wingerden, Chairman of the Dutch Trade Union Federation, in which he informs him of his concerns regarding the consequences of the coal crisis.

On 18 April 1959, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) forwards to the Council of Ministers details of its action plan to confront the coal crisis affecting the Six.

In 1959, Nieuw Europa, the periodical of the Dutch European Movement, leads with the effects of the coal crisis in Belgium and refers to the High Authority’s action plan for the industry.

On 2 May 1959, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) explains how it plans to implement its programme to alleviate the European coal crisis.

In 1959, the ECSC Special Council of Ministers debates how to resolve the coal crisis in Europe.

On 4 May 1959, at a meeting of the Special Council of Ministers of the Six and the Vice-Presidents of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) submits to his colleagues a Community plan to resolve the coal crisis and advocates the adoption of special measures to support the Belgian coal industry.

On 4 May 1959, speaking in a personal capacity in a bid to overcome the differences existing between the Six, Jean-Marcel Jeanneney, President-in-Office of the Special Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), puts forward various suggestions on ways to approximate the different points of view regarding the solution to the European coal crisis.

On 11 May 1959, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) forwards to the Council of Ministers a plan of action linked to the measures proposed by the Six to combat the European coal crisis.

On 14 May 1959, following the refusal of the Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to endorse the action plan put forward by the High Authority, the German representative to the Council sets out various proposals to support the Belgian coal industry.

On 16 May 1959, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the decision taken by the Council of Ministers of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to refuse the High Authority the right to declare a ‘manifest crisis’ in the European coal sector.

Aerial view of the ARBED steelworks in Schifflange, Luxembourg, in 1957.

On 6 May 1958, the Dutch daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant expresses the concern of leaders in the Dutch metalurgical industry in the light of the economic constraints imposed by the Treaty of Rome.

On 16 January 1964, during a press conference, Dino Del Bo, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), sets out the aims of the two recommendations adopted by the High Authority to protect the Community iron and steel market.

In February 1964, Dino del Bo, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1963 to 1967, clarifies the objectives of the two recommendations adopted by the High Authority on 16 January 1964 in order to protect the Community iron and steel market.

In November 1966, the monthly publication Communauté européenne focuses on the causes of the European steel crisis and on the measures implemented by the ECSC High Authority to alleviate it.