Définition
The treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was signed on 18 April 1951 in Paris: the 6 founding countries (France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy) agreed to foster exchanges of raw materials needed for the steel industry to accelerate the post-war economic dynamic. The goal was to equip Europe with an autonomous production capacity.
This treaty expired on 23 July 2002, having become obsolete after the merger of executive and legislative bodies within the European Community.