Here you will have access to and find information on collections concerning the functioning of the General Secretariat of the Council within the framework of the successive legal bases of:
the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), as defined by the Treaty of Paris (1952), and its development from inception to expiry (CM1);
the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC), as defined by the Treaties of Rome (1957), and their development until the entry into force of the Treaty of Maastricht (CM2);
the European Union from the Treaty of Maastricht to the Treaty of Lisbon (CM4);
the European Union as defined by the Treaty of Lisbon (CM8).
You will also find information on intergovernmental negotiations such as:
the negotiation of agreements, mainly the Treaties of Rome and the Convention (CM3);
the successive enlargements (accession of third countries) (CM5);
the Yaoundé Convention, the Lomé Convention and the Cotonou Agreement, containing documents on the Associated African States and Madagascar (AASM) and the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific States) (CM6);
the EEA (European Economic Area) and Association Councils between the European Union and third countries (CM7).
The principle of free access and the exceptions thereto are regulated by two separate Regulations, depending on the dates on which the documents were created:
files are open to the public after a period of 30 years, in application of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the EEC / EAEC
documents under 30 years old are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents.
• Further information on Transparency
Access to documents is the general principle, but there are certain exceptions to ensure the protection of:
the public interest, as regards public security, defence and military matters, international relations or the financial, monetary or economic policy of the Community or a Member State;
privacy and the integrity of an individual, in particular in accordance with Community legislation regarding the protection of personal data;
commercial interests of a natural or legal person, including intellectual property.