On 3 May 1945, the United States and the United Kingdom inform the Governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the Soviet Union, Turkey and Yugoslavia of their wish to see a European Coal Organisation established that will enable coal-exporting and coal-importing countries to meet and plan their supplies.

On 14 June 1945, the London Coal Committee submits to the European Coal Organisation (ECO) the findings of the Potter/Hyndley fact-finding mission in Western Europe concerning the situation of coalfields in West Germany and in the liberated European countries.

On 4 January 1946, in London, representatives from Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States sign an agreement on the establishment of the European Coal Organisation for an initial one-year period.

On 12 December 1946, in London, representatives from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Protocol for the prolongation of the European Coal Organisation by one year.

On 10 June 1947, the European Coal Organisation publishes a report on the situation of the coalfields in Europe and proposes measures to alleviate manpower shortages and to improve the outdated methods of coal production and distribution.

On 5 July 1947, the European Coal Organisation draws up an estimate of the financial investment requested to revive Western Europe’s coal sector.

Table summarising the contributions and expenditure of the European Coal Organisation in 1946 and 1947.