Strasbourg, a pivotal city located between France and Germany, was the obvious choice for the home of the Council of Europe (1949). When it came to deciding where the ECSC would have its seat, the task was a lot tougher, yet the treaty had been signed several months previously. The ministers met in July 1952. Paris, Strasbourg, The Hague, Saarbrücken and Turin were debated, one by one. A consensus arose in favour of Brussels, with the exception of the Belgian Foreign Minister, Paul Van...