The lack of movement on the European integration level, coupled with Bruce's resignation and Monnet's announcement of resignation from the High Authority of the CSC, to devote himself entirely to building US of Europe, shows the gravity of the situation which Monnet felt the process was in and so with the help of the US, he decided to make a huge effort to get the process back on its feet. There had been attempts to revert to inter-governmental schemes in OEEC to more closely integrate Europe, as after the failure of EDC the mood in Europe was not favourable to supranationality. So Monnet in early 1955 secured the agreement of the Belgain statesman, Paul-Henri Spaak who worked on his Benelux colleagues to think of an alternative to these inter-governmental schemes. Spaak drafted a 4.page memorandum, called the Benelux Memorandum, as he collaborated with Joseph Bech and John Willem Beyen in formulating this document which he sent to the foreign ministers of the Six. In it he proposed a meeting to negotiate Treaties to expand the ECSC to include energy, transport and atomic fuel. This was followed up by a proposal by Beyen where he put forward the notion of a common market. The result of these initiatives was a meeting of the Foreign Ministers was convened in June 1955 in Messina with the dual purpose of choosing Monnet's successor to the High Authority presidency and to discuss the Benelux Memorandum. The Messina Communique laid an initial base for the European relance where it was agreed to carry out exploratory talks between the Governments on how to implement the Benelux Memorandum, thanks to Beyen, general integration in the form of a common market was included on the agenda.

The originals are held in various Archives in Europe and in the USA

NO PHOTOCOPYING