National Content: Italy
Tomorrow the treaties for the EEC and the Euratom will be signed
| Source | Newspaper “Il Messaggero” March 24th, 1957 |
| Event referred to | March 25th 1957:Birth of the EEC |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: Text Extension of the file: .pdf Dimension: 644kb Accessibility proposal: Downloadable |
| Description of the source | Type of the source: Newspaper article Origin of the source: “Augusta” town library, Perugia (Italy) Language: Italian Copyright issues: Full availability |
| Contextualisation of the source | Issue of the day prior to the signing of the treaties for the EEC and the Euratom. The Messaggero politically favours the centre-left and expresses great expectation for the event. |
| Interpretation of the source | The article stresses the great general expectation for the next day event. It points out how the EEC will gradually open up to all sectors. Italy’s proposal (accepted by all other countries) for an assembly of the EEC which will then have the duty to develop projects for the formation of a future Parliament elected with a universal and direct suffrage is mentioned. Italy had only recently conquered its democracy through the referendum of 1946 and the Constitution of 1948 and was still working through the trauma of the Fascist dictatorship and the war where it had been dragged. Italy therefore looked at the birth of a democratic Europe and unity as a guarantee of its own ambitions of development and peace. |
| Original Contents | L’articolo, datato 24 marzo 1957, descrive nei dettagli l’agenda per la cerimonia del giorno successivo: la firma dei trattati CEE ed Euratom si sarebbe tenuta nella Sala degli Orazi e Curiazi, trasmessa in eurovisione. L’articolo dà grande enfasi alle prospettive future e all’allargamento della Comunità europea, ricordando come sia previsto, a cadenza quadriennale, un progressivo allargamento dei settori produttivi da inserire nel sistema comunitario. Il gruppo dirigente della Democrazia Cristiana, partito di governo, espresse soddisfazione per un tale evento, che sarà in grado di aiutare anche quelle aree meno sviluppate dell’Europa e che garantirà e benessere a tutta la sua popolazione. Lo stesso partito auspica inoltre una rapida ratifica e applicazione dei trattati da parte dei diversi Parlamenti e sottolinea l’importanza di una clausola proposta dall’Italia, quella secondo la quale l’assemblea della CEE avrà il dovere di sviluppare progetti per una sua trasformazione in vero e proprio Parlamento, eletto mediante suffragio universale e diretto. Il trattato è poi visto come qualcosa che porterà pace, benesse4re e progresso all’Europa e come un primo passo per una più ampia unificazione, sia commerciale che politica. |
| Original Contents (English Translation) | The article, issued on March 24th, 1957, describes in details the agenda for the next day ceremony: the signing of the EEC and Euratom treaties will take place in the Orazi and Curiazi room, in Eurovision; the countries that will sign will be Belgium, Germany, France, Italy. Luxembourg and Holland. The article gives great emphasis to the future prospects and the widening of the EEC: «the structure of the EEC – which gradually every four years will extend to all production sectors the positive experiences of the coal and steel community and will determine the free circulation of goods, capitals, services and manpower – is destined to grow beyond the economic space of this little Europe». The management of the Christian Democracy, the ruling party, expressed satisfaction for such an event which will be able to help out even those parts of Europe that are less developed, and which will guarantee peace and wealth to all its people. The same party also hopes a quick approval and a greater spreading of the treaties by the several Parliaments and stresses the importance of the clause proposed by Italy: «Italy asked and obtained that there were a clause thanks to which the EEC assembly will have the duty to develop projects for its own transformation into a Parliament, elected through a universal and direct suffrage». The treaty is then seen as something that will bring peace, wealth and progress to Europe and as a first step for a greater union, commercial as well as political. |