European Coal and Steel Community

The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) held the first part of its fifth ordinary session in Strasbourg, May 14–17, 1957, under the chairmanship of Dr. Hans Furler (Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Democrat). At the opening meeting Dr. Furler commented on the signature of the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (common market) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and their consequences for the Assembly. Stating his opinion that plans for a broad association between all European institutions could not be established until later, he cited the efficient collaboration between ECSC and the Council of Europe and advocated the study of a plan for coordinating European parliamentary activities by creating a standing committee of the three bureaux with the possible addition of representatives from other institutions. Dr. Furler felt, however, that identity of membership in the assemblies should be limited to a third and at the most half of the representatives. Mr. Mayer, President of the High Authority, reviewed the work of ECSC between 1953 and 1956, during which time, he said, productivity per man had increased by 9.5 percent in the coal mines, giving a total increase of production of about 30 percent, while in the steel industry manpower had increased by 10 percent and production by 43 percent giving a rise of 29 percent in productivity per man. Turning to problems facing ECSC, Mr. Mayer called attention to the decreasing investment in the mines and insufficiency of manpower, and to the limitation of the development of the steel industry by problems of supplying raw materials. In the general discussion members commented on the price of coal and steel, falling trade within ECSC, and the High Authority's decision to lower the levy rate from 0.45 to 0.35 percent. Mr. Mayer replied that prices had risen to a smaller extent within ECSC than in other countries, that diminishing trade was a consequence of the priority given to the supplying of domestic consumers within each country, and that the fall in the levy rate did not reflect pressure from producers. The Assembly heard a statement on cooperation between the High Authority and governments, discussed reports on industrial concentrations and on the coordination of European transport, and adopted a resolution approving the establishment of a permanent body responsible for taking measures to ensure security and rescue in the mines.