Messina Conference

Messina Conference. The Messina Conference was a pivotal diplomatic meeting held in June 1955 that revitalized the process of European integration following the failure of the European Defence Community. Convened by the Inner Six nations, the conference established a committee of experts, chaired by Paul-Henri Spaak, which produced a landmark report. This work directly led to the negotiations creating the European Economic Community and Euratom under the Treaties of Rome in 1957, marking a decisive step toward the modern European Union.

Background and context

The conference was convened in the wake of the French National Assembly's 1954 rejection of the European Defence Community treaty, which caused a profound crisis in European integration efforts. This setback prompted leaders to refocus on economic cooperation, building upon the existing success of the European Coal and Steel Community established by the Treaty of Paris (1951). The political impetus came from the Benelux countries, particularly Belgium and the Netherlands, which sought to advance integration beyond the ECSC. The chosen venue, Messina, a city in Sicily, symbolized a fresh start, aiming to move past the stalemate centered in Paris and Bonn.

Participants and key figures

The conference gathered the Foreign ministers of the six ECSC member states: Antonio Segni of Italy, Johannes Josephus van der Ven of the Netherlands, Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium, Joseph Bech of Luxembourg, Walter Hallstein representing Konrad Adenauer's West Germany, and Antoine Pinay of France. Key architects behind the scenes included Jean Monnet, the influential founder of the ECSC, and Sicco Mansholt, a Dutch statesman who would later shape the Common Agricultural Policy. The Spaak Committee, formed at the conference, was crucial, bringing together experts like Pierre Uri and Hans von der Groeben to draft the technical blueprint for further integration.

Agenda and discussions

The primary agenda, outlined in the opening speech by Antonio Segni, focused on extending European integration into the realms of general economic policy, atomic energy, and transport infrastructure. Central discussions revolved around creating a common market to eliminate tariffs and quotas, inspired by the Benelux Economic Union. Debates occurred between those favoring a sectoral approach, like a European Atomic Energy Community, and advocates for broad economic integration. The French delegation, initially cautious, was persuaded to support deeper economic union, while all parties acknowledged the need to address issues like social policy and development of overseas territories associated with member states.

Outcomes and resolutions

The principal outcome was the Messina Resolution, a final communiqué that committed the six states to pursue the establishment of a European common market. The resolution mandated the creation of an intergovernmental committee, chaired by Paul-Henri Spaak, which became known as the Spaak Committee. This group was tasked with studying the creation of a customs union and a joint organization for nuclear energy. Their work culminated in the Spaak Report, presented at the Venice Conference (1956), which served as the direct negotiating basis for the Treaties of Rome signed in 1957.

Significance and legacy

The conference is widely regarded as the foundational moment for the European Economic Community, the direct predecessor of the modern European Union. It successfully transitioned European integration from a sector-specific model to a comprehensive economic and political project. The establishment of Euratom alongside the EEC showcased a dual-track approach to integration. The conference's model of expert-led preparatory committees, like the Spaak Committee, became a template for future EU treaty negotiations. Its decisions ultimately led to the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty, shaping the continent's postwar political geography and economic destiny.

Category:1955 in Europe Category:European Union history Category:20th-century diplomatic conferences