Reappearing: The Coal and Steel Story
- October 31st, 2006
- Posted by 7thmin
As the EU gears up to celebrate the anniversary of its founding charter, the 1957 Treaty of Rome, a book on its earlier incarnation, a 2004 study of the European Coal and Steel Community, is being distributed.
The study, rich in dependable figures and analysis of policy making, was commanded by the European Parliament and headed by Professor Philippe Mioche from the University of Provence.
It finds serious flaws in the long-standing attempt to reform and consolidate the basic industries.
It says the scheme was “visionary” and turned out a “success that exceeded all expectations”, bringing benefits to business, coal and steel workers, and to Europe; but it did not meet all its targets: “the cartels survived for a long time and European coal declined”.
Formation of the European Coal and Steel Community was negotiated among France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries, as the 1952 Treaty of Paris; it is seen as the founding institution which led to formation of the European Union.
(This report is archived as EUAustralia, Features – Documents)
Reference:
Mioche P (2004), Fifty Years of European Coal and Steel; European Communities, Luxembourg, ISBN 92-894-8258-3