AP Historical Hard Drive 2006

BELGIUM SIGNS SCHUMAN PLAN: Belgian foreign minister Paul van Zeeland signs the Schuman merger plan in the French Foreign Ministry. Foreign Ministers of the six partcipating nations signed the famous Schuman Plan treaty in Paris, France, April 18, 1951. Marking a gigantic step forward in Western Europe's cooperation effort towards economic and defence solidaridty, the treaty pools the coal and steel production of France, Western Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy for the next 50 years. A high Authority Board of nine representatives will administer the coal and steel market. Almost as significant as the signing of the treaty is the resolution issued by representatives calling for a political