ABSTRACT
On 9 May 1950 Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister 1948-52, made his surprise announcement proposing the pooling of coal and steel production. Following protracted negotiations, the Treaty of Paris was signed by ‘the Six’ on 19 March 1951, which established the supranational ECSC. This created a common market for coal, steel, coke, iron ore and scrap between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy. Britain declined to participate in the talks from the outset.
