On 5 June 1947, US Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposes economic and financial aid to all European countries. Sixteen will accept the European Recovery Program (ERP) or Marshall plan.

On 16 April 1948, in Paris, the representatives of the 16 European States that have accepted aid under the Marshall plan sign the Convention establishing the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), which is to enter into force on 1 July 1948. Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, initials the Convention on behalf of France.

Map showing the European countries which, under the Marshall plan, are offered US material aid for reconstruction, those which accept the aid and those which reject it, and those which, on 16 April 1948, in Paris, decide to establish the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).