The European Coal and Steel Community has been called "a new structure in the marches between internal and international law. " 1 To describe this new type of structure the term "supraยญ national" has found increasing usage. Supranational organs have been defined as standing "midway between 'international' and federal organs. " International organizations - such as the United Nations or the Council of Europe - are based on the "sovereign equality" of their members and non-intervention in domestic affairs; they are really at the intergovernmental level. Supraยญ national organs transcend international organizations in both these respects without, however, constituting a federal state. They are based "not on a mere restriction, but on a transfer of [national] sovereignty, but a transfer of sovereignty in a particuยญ lar area only. " 2 This pilot experiment in supranational organization is of twofold importance. In the first place, although operating on a regional level only, it could teach valuable lessons concerning future attempts at world organization through the "functional approach. " In Prof. Mitrany's words, national divisions must be overlaid "with a spreading web of international activities and agencies, in which and through which the interests and life of all the nations would be gradually integrated. " 3 The Coal and Steel Community could be an excellent testing ground for the developยญ ment of an international community, growing from the satisยญ faction of common needs which people of different nations share
CONTENT
I. Ratification -- A. The Reception of the Schuman Plan in the Countries of the Community and England -- B. The Ratification Debates -- II. Legal Structure -- A. Independence of CSC Organs Versus Member States -- B. Powers Granted CSC Organs to Interfere in The Affairs of Member States -- III. Operations 1952โ1954 -- A. Cartels -- B. Investments -- C. National Planks -- D. Institutional Developments -- IV. Conclusions -- A. The Nature of Supranational Organization -- B. Prospects for the CSC -- Selected Bibliography
