Signing of the EVG Treaty

On 27 May 1952 in Paris, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the Benelux nations sign the treaty founding a „European Defence Community“ (EVG). On the previous day in Bonn they already signed the „Germany Treaty“ abolishing the Statute of Occupation and granting the Federal Republic complete national sovereignty. Both treaties have to be ratified by the individual parliaments of the signatory states and can only take effect together.

Source: bundesrat.de The Secretaries of Foreign Affairs of the Western Allies (Anthony Eden, Great Britain; Robert Schuman, France; Dean Acheson, USA) and Chancellor Adenauer signing the „Germany Treaty“ in the hall of the Bundesrat (Upper house of the federal parliament) in Bonn

However, the French National Assembly – prompting considerable dismay in the federal government of Konrad Adenauer (CDU– will refuse to ratify the EVG Treaty in August of 1954. A political solution will finally be reached when London suggests that the Federal Republic join both NATO and the West European Union (WEU): the Federal Republic becomes sovereign when the „Treaties of Paris“ will take effect on 5 May 1955.