The European Parliament is marking 70 years of democracy in action - from its first assembly in 1952 to being stronger than ever during challenging times today.

70th Anniversary of the European Parliament: 70 years of European democracy

For our modern world, steel is an essential material. At the same time, the steel industry is responsible for a great deal of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Steel production is one of the pillars of European industry but also one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. In order to reach the goals of the European Green Deal, the EU needs to reduce its ecological footprint, and the European steel industry has to play its part in that. But is it even possible to produce green steel?

[EN] Paving the way to green steel

Diplomatic relations between the EU and the U.S. date back to 1953. Many important questions between EU and the U.S. are being discussed at the moment, such as withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the need to strenghten EU's strategic autonomy and defence capabilities or economic cooperation.

In a resolution on future EU-US relations adopted in the plenary in October, MEPs advocate the EU’s strategic autonomy and call for better EU-US coordination on China to avoid tensions. MEPs welcome the US’s support for rules-based multilateralism, as this provides an important opportunity to re-engage, as an equal partner.

The report stresses that, in deepening transatlantic cooperation, the EU should strive to lead alongside the US, while fostering its strategic autonomy in defence and economic relations as a means to pursue its own legitimate diplomatic, security and economic interests. MEPs also called for reflection on the lessons learnt from the situation in Afghanistan.

A new EU-US agenda for global change adopted by the Commission in December 2020 identified scope for cooperation on the pandemic,the climate, trade,security and democracy.

But progress in some areas has been slow: a US travel ban on foreign visitors was lifted only on 20 September 2021, months after the EU eased restrictions on US travellers; tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on EU steel and aluminium exports on national security grounds remain in place; and talks on a new cross-border data agreement have not yet concluded. Moreover, the US has appeared not to consult the EU on major foreign policy decisions: such as support for a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The exodus of NATO forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 also drew criticism from some European US allies.

EU - USA

On 10 September 1952, Paul-Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in Strasbourg. It was the starting point of today’s European Parliament.

In 70 years, the Assembly has grown in strength. Born as a consultative body with limited powers, it has become a true institution embracing European democracy and the expression of European public opinion. It changed name and became the European Parliament in 1962, a further step towards becoming the only directly elected, multilingual, multi-party transnational parliament in the world.

EP President Roberta Metsola opened&nbsp;the ceremony of the 70 year of the EP, that took place in Strasbourg, followed by speeches by the Prime Ministers of Parliament’s three host countries - French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Alexander de Croo of Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

70th anniversary of the European Parliament

The Schuman Declaration was presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950.

It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and steel production.
The ECSC (founding members: France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of a series of supranational European institutions that would ultimately become today's "European Union".
On 9 May 1950, the Salon de l’Horloge in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on Quai d’Orsay in Paris was transformed into a press room and Robert Schuman gave his speech. Since 1985, Europe Day has been celebrated on 9 May every year.

Schuman Declaration - 9 May 1950

A founding father of the European Union, Jean Monnet (1888-1979) dedicated his life to bringing Europeans together and establishing unity and peace in Europe and across the world. His vision for a united Europe, a vision that would change this continent for ever, was created here in his unassuming home on the outskirts of Paris. Over the years, dignitaries and leaders from across the world met with Monnet at Houjarray to discuss the future of Europe. After witnessing the horrors of the Second World War, it is here that Monnet worked to bring European countries together and create a strong, unified Europe. This led to France and Germany combining their steel and coal production under a common authority, ensuring war could never again break out between the two countries and paving the way for the European Union we recognise today. And it all began here - at Houjarray, the home for Europe

Exhibition on Jean Monnet House: creating a home for Europe

2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. On this occasion, the Archives unit, the directorate for the Library and Knowledge services and the Strasbourg liaison office jointly organise an exhibition to celebrate this significant event in the history of European integration.

On 9 May 1950, against the backdrop of the Cold War, Robert Schuman, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, issued a declaration which marked the beginning of the process of building the European Community. The aim was to establish a new supranational organisation with a view to creating a common coal and steel market between France and Germany which was also open to other European countries. It would be the European Coal and Steel Community, or ECSC. Robert Schuman was elected the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly (EPA) on 19 March 1958; he held that post until March 1960.

Exhibition for the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration

Trade relations between the EU and US have been rocky since Donald Trump was elected on a platform of protectionism and nationalism. Negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) were stopped until further notice at the end of 2016.

When Trump imposed additional import duties on steel and aluminum imports, MEPs called the move unacceptable and incompatible with WTO rules. Tensions escalated last year when Trump threatened to slap additional tariffs on European cars in the name of national security. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, met Trump to discuss the threat and the two agreed to relaunch trade talks with a limited scope. The EU Council of Ministers adopted draft negotiating mandates in April 2019. Any deal resulting from these talks has to be approved by the European Parliament before it can enter into force.

#EUelections2019 - TTIP

Arrival and offloading of imported steel in Europe - Port of Gent ( Belgium ) - Arcelor Mittal

EP Plenary session - US tariffs in the steel and aluminium sector and the EU's response

EP Plenary session - US tariffs in the steel and aluminium sector and the EU's response - Commission statement

Plenary session - US decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium - Opening statement by Commission

Inauguration of a bust depicting the first President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community Paul-Henri SPAAK in November 1985.

DODDS, Anneliese (S&D, GB); GRIFFIN, Theresa (S&D, GB); DANCE, Seb (S&D, GB); VAUGHAN, Derek (S&D, GB); MOODY, Clare (S&D, GB); WARD, Julie (S&D, GB)

UK S&D Committee Meeting - European Steel Workers

Cancellor and Foreign Minister of the West German Republic Dr Konrad ADENAUER (right) talks with Hermann PUENDER, of West Germany, one of the five vice-presidents of the European Coal And Steel Community assembly.

Egon KLEPSCH, Jacques DELORS, Simone VEIL, Pierre PFLIMLIN, Lord PLUMB

40th anniversary of the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) - Formal sitting

Martin SCHULZ EP President meets with CEOs of the European Steel Industry

CASTER: Conference and Association of Steel Territories

Martin SCHULZ - EP President, Frank SCHULZ

Martin SCHULZ - EP President  meets with Frank SCHULZ - CEO Arcelor Mittal Germany

Bust of the first President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community Paul-Henri SPAAK in November 1985.

Steel Industry at Sotralentz in Drulingen

Demonstration by Arcelor Mittal steel workers

Paul Henri SPAAK, President of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) from 1952 to 1954 and President of the Intergovernmental Committee which laid the foundations for the future European  Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

Former steelworks plant Klöckner & Co. in Duisburg, Germany

Demonstration to save the European steel sector.

Cockerill Sambre Steel Production Industry Plant

Resumption of the sitting

Opening of the sitting

30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes

Request for waiver of immunity: see Minutes

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71): see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Council's first reading (Rule 72): see Minutes

Corrigenda (Rule 241): see Minutes

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business

Children rights in occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (debate)

EU steel sector: how to protect European workers and industries? (debate)

Turkish drilling activities in EU waters in the Eastern Mediterranean (debate)

Situation in Bolivia (debate)

Situation in Chile (debate)

International day to end impunity for crimes against journalists (debate)

Resurgence of Ebola in East Africa (debate)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting

Plenary

US tariffs in the steel and aluminium sector and the EU's response (debate)

US decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium (debate)

Developing a sustainable European industry of base metals - Anti-dumping measures and their effect on the EU steel industry (debate)

Steel sector in the EU: protecting workers and industries (debate)

EU steel industry (debate)

Europe's economic situation has been hit by the energy crisis resulting from Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Member States are coping with the new situation by promoting trade through the single market that exists within their territory. Boosting digitalisation brings many benefits to society as well. The EU wants to strengthen its digital sovereignty and set standards, rather than follow standards set by others, to make Europe fit for the digital age. This infoclip shows factories, industries and shops, workers in their trades and citizens using electronic devices.

Infoclip: Economy, energy and digital

The Environment Committee adopted its position in June on revising the EU’s ecodesign framework for sustainable products. MEPs request several changes to the Commission proposal, including a specific ban on destroying unsold textiles and electrical and electronic equipment. They also want the Commission to prioritise setting minimum sustainability requirements for a number of product groups in upcoming ecodesign measures, such as steel, aluminum, textiles, furniture, tires and chemicals. Extracts from the debate (11/07); extracts from the vote; and statement by Alessandra MORETTI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur.

Ecodesign Regulation Law: extracts from the debate (11/07); extracts from the vote and statement by Alessandra MORETTI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur

The new Ecodesign Directive for Sustainable Products (ESPR) will replace the current Ecodesign Directive, introducing more Ecodesign criteria for a broader range of products. The revised legislation would apply to almost all products on the internal market (except food, feed, medicinal products and living organisms). MEPs request several changes to the Commission proposal, including a ban on destroying unsold textiles and electrical and electronic equipment. They also want the Commission to prioritise setting minimum sustainability requirements for a number of product groups in upcoming ecodesign measures, such as steel, aluminium, textiles, furniture, tyres and chemicals. This infoclip shows steel production, textiles such as clothes and footwear, tyres, paint and detergents.

Infoclip: Ecodesign regulation

This tutorial video (in French) explains how to use the EP Archives Unit Parliamentary Questions Dashboard. This Dashboard makes over 25,000 parliamentary questions from the Archives of the European Parliament accessible to you. These questions have been asked by Members of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community and MEPs to other European institutions. The Dashboard lets you search these questions, and analyse the topics that have affected Members over twenty years of parliamentary activity from 1952 to 1980.

FR Version- Parliamentary Questions Dashboard - Tutorial

This tutorial video (in German) explains how to use the EP Archives Unit Parliamentary Questions Dashboard. This Dashboard makes over 25,000 parliamentary questions from the Archives of the European Parliament accessible to you. These questions have been asked by Members of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community and MEPs to other European institutions. The Dashboard lets you search these questions, and analyse the topics that have affected Members over twenty years of parliamentary activity from 1952 to 1980.

DE Version - Parliamentary Questions Dashboard - Tutorial

This tutorial video explains how to use the EP Archives Unit Parliamentary Questions Dashboard. This Dashboard makes over 25,000 parliamentary questions from the Archives of the European Parliament accessible to you. These questions have been asked by Members of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community and MEPs to other European institutions. The Dashboard lets you search these questions, and analyse the topics that have affected Members over twenty years of parliamentary activity from 1952 to 1980.

Parliamentary Questions Dashboard - Tutorial

Today, a wide range of key technologies across all industries, from chips to batteries, medical imaging to tanks, rely on the unique physical properties of some specific critical raw materials (CRMs). Demand for CRMs is projected to skyrocket in the coming years. The EU's ambition to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, and its ability to sustain the green and digital transitions and achieve strategic autonomy, all rely heavily on reliable, secure and resilient access to CRMs. CRM supply chains are global, complex, and fragile, which makes them vulnerable to a wide range of risks, including those linked to geopolitical tensions. The supply of CRMs is often more concentrated than that of fossil fuels. Furthermore, the EU's reliance on imports of CRMs is extremely high, sometimes reaching 100 % (e.g. for rare earth elements – REEs). Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Critical raw materials

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg.

Solemn ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: one round Political group leaders

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Statement by Élisabeth BORNE, French Prime Minister. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Élisabeth BORNE, French Prime Minister

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Statement by Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourgish Prime Minister. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourgish Prime Minister

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Statement by Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle. Elisabeth BORNE, Prime Minister of the French republic, Alexander DE CROO, Prime Minister of Belgium and Xavier BETTEL, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, are invited to participate and give speeches. Extracts from the ceremony.

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: extracts from the ceremony

MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

To Commemorate the European Parliament's 70 years since its first meeting, the city of Strasbourg decided to decorate a tram. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the inauguration. 70 years ago, on the 10th September 1952, in Strasbourg, Paul-Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community.

Inauguration of a tram for the 70 years of the European Parliament in the presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

This infoclip aims to illustrate the steel industry. The EU is the second largest producer of steel in the world after China. Its output is over 177 million tonnes of steel a year, accounting for 11% of global output. The footage shows imported iron ore transformed into steel in Gent, Belgium.

Infoclip: Steel industry

This infoclip aims to illustrate the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the proposal intends to ensure that the EU's climate objectives are not undermined by the relocation of carbon-intensive production outside the EU.The EU now seeks to phase out free allocations, and a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) would be introduced, requiring importers to purchase certificates equivalent to the weekly EU carbon price. The CBAM would initially apply to imports in five emissions-intensive sectors: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity. The EP rapporteur Mohammed CHAHIM (S&D, NL) would like to extend the mechanism to cover organic chemicals, hydrogen and polymers. The footage shows cement, iron and steel, fertilizers, electricity, organic chemicals, hydrogen, polymers and the European Energy Exchange in Germany.

Infoclip: Fit for 55 – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Europe Day is celebrated on or around 9 May every year to commemorate a speech by French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, on 9 May 1950 which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community the following year and became the forerunner of the European Union of today. In the context of Europe Day on May 9, the EU institutions are hosting a wide range of online and on-site activities at their locations. The European Parliament participates, with his buildings in Strasbourg welcoming citizens.

Europe Day: open doors at the European Parliament in Strasbourg - Atmosphere of the activities

Announcement of the results of the second voting session (18/05) on Challenges of sports events organisers in the digital environment - Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR,BG); Research Fund for Coal and Steel - Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP,RO), The impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries - Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ (S&D,ES); Draft amending budget No 2/2021; financing the COVID-19 response and including refinements and updates related to the final adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework - Pierre LARROUTUROU (S&D,FR). Votes on amendments: 2019-2020 Reports on Turkey - Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D,ES); Human rights protection and the EU external migration policy - Tineke STRIK (Greens/EFA,NL); 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro - Tonino PICULA (S&D,HR); The effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental defenders on this matter - María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS (Renew,ES)

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