Spaak Report

TheSpaak ReportorBrussels Report on the General Common Marketis the report drafted by theSpaak Committeein 1956. The Intergovernmental Committee, headed byPaul-Henri Spaak,presented its definitive report on 21 April 1956 to the six governments of the member states of theEuropean Coal and Steel Community.

The report formed the cornerstone of theIntergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and EuratomatVal Duchessein 1956 and led to the signing, on 25 March 1957, of theTreaties of Romeestablishing aEuropean Economic Communityand theEuropean Atomic Energy Community.

Summary

The Spaak Report concluded that a sector-by-sector integration of the European economies would be difficult. Instead, ahorizontal integrationof the economy, by the gradual elimination oftrade barriers,seemed to be the way to continue. The goal was to be achieved by creating acustoms union.

On the integration of theenergysectors, there was a different stance fornuclear energyand forhydrocarbonenergy sources(oil,coal). The integration of the European nuclear energy sector was desirable because of the costs involved, which surpassed the financial capacity of individual states. The integration of the development of nuclear energy at asupranationallevel meant more efficient cost sharing for the development of nuclear energy. The integration of hydrocarbon energy sources at a supranational level was less feasible, as these energy sources were managed mainly bymultinational companies.The integration ofelectricityandfuel gasseemed irrelevant, as they were distributed solely at a national level.

See also

• Messina Conference
• Noordwijk Conference
• Ohlin Report
• Venice Conference

Sources

• Spaak Report(English summary)
• Spaak Report(French)
• Treaties of Rome, preparation
• Interview with Jean François Poncet: the importance of the Spaak Report in the Val Duchesse negotiations(Paris, 16 March 2007)