European University Institute Library

Haute Autorité CECA, Service Juridique, [Fonds], 1947-1978

fre

Haute Autorité CECA, Service Juridique

851517370

[Fonds]

The fonds covers, among others, the following subjects: application, interpretation, and revision of the Treaty of Paris' provisions, legal personality/ aspects of institutions and Staff regulations, relations with the Court of Justice and other institutions of the Community, legal issues related to the operation of the common market for coal and steel, agreements, social policy and restructuring of the industrial system. The need for expert legal advice became apparent when the High Authority was given the tasks entrusted by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. From 1952 to 1958, Robert Krawielicki and Michel Gaudet jointly led the service. Members of the High Authority and the various divisions asked legal advice on diverse matters. Such a heavy workload resulted in a steady increase in the number of lawyers in the Service, from 6 in July 1953 to 11 at the end of 1957. Following the creation of the European Economic Community and Euratom, the three communities had three common services, including the legal service. The creation of a common legal service responded to the requirement of comparing the legal issues raised by the application of the three treaties in order to ensure consistent interpretation. The absence of a single location for the three Communities and their services challenged the effectiveness "of a service dealing with issues for which an appeal may be addressed every day". It was then decided to establish a common legal service with branches attached to each of the three executives for work that required the proximity of the responsible authority. In reality the three branches operated more or less independently of each other although they collaborated at administrative level. The branch of the ECSC' Common Legal Service remained in Luxembourg under the direction of R. Krawielicki, which served until his death in February 1966. His succession was assured by Walter Much, who was his collaborator