1979 and 1984
The besieged citadel of European democracy and the Spinelli project
Pier Virgilio Dastoli
President of the European Movement - Italy
The European Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC ) distinguished itself from other international organisations with a regional dimension ( including the Consultative Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ) in many ways . Firstly , the ECSC ’ s sectoral competences had a supranational dimension ; secondly , it gave a pre-eminent role to what was called the High Authority ; and , thirdly , it created a parliamentary institution , namely the Assembly . The Assembly consisted of ‘ delegates whom the Parliaments are called upon to appoint from among themselves once a year or elected by universal and direct suffrage in accordance with the procedure laid down by each High Contracting Party ’ ( Article 21 , Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community ).
Three characteristics of this Assembly defined its supranational dimension :
73