Budgetary aspects of expiry

It has already been decided that ECSC Treaty will expire as scheduled (on 23 July 2002) and that the coal and steel industries will be placed under the ordinary regime set up by the Treaty establishing the European Community.

As regards the destination of ECSC assets and their management, the Member States have agreed that, when the Treaty expires, ownership of assets and liabilities will revert to the Communities remaining, represented by the Commission, and that ECSC property will be designated as the assets of the "ECSC in liquidation".

The Member States have also stipulated that any changes to the purpose for which the assets were provided must be subject to a unanimous decision on their part. Regarding the organisation and financing of research activities, guidelines have been adopted by the Member States.

For further information:

• Expenditure, revenue and the expiry of the ECSC Treaty
• Decision of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the research fund for coal and steel [118KB]
• Official documents on the ECSC budget
• Investment in the Community coal and steel industries [454KB]