ECSC views on the future of the ECSC Treaty
The ECSC Consultative Committee, at its 287th session, was called upon to put forward its views on the future of the ECSC Treaty, and requested that the essential elements of the Treaty be maintained (adopted with 49 votes for, 1 against and 11 abstentions). The Committee is of the opinion that the Treaty should remain in force until 2002 as an autonomous legal instrument. However, the adaptation of ECSC provisions to the current legal and economic background could be considered in the context of the procedure set out in Article 95 of the Treaty. It is important to maintain in their current form those provisions which have proved their usefulness to the coal and steel industries and their workforce. Loans for investments should continue to be granted, in particular in the area of environment protection, technological research, energy programmes, steel promotion and the securing of the supply of raw materials.