Introduction
History
Signing of the Treaties of Rome on 25 Mars 1957. (European Commission)
The idea of European integration was introduced after World War II when a number of European leaders sought ways to secure peace and stability in the continent. The leading personality behind the principle of European integration was the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman. Schuman presented his proposal on 9 May 1950 and, today that date, now known as Europe Day, is observed throughout the European Union.
Officially, the European Union was founded in 1951 with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The Community had six founding members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.
The next significant step was the signing of the Treaties of Rome in March 1957. The Treaties established the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the European Economic Community (EEC). With the European Economic Community, the Member States set about forming a common market and enabling the gradual development of a customs union. The institutions of the Community were established at the same time.
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the European Communities in 1973. Greece, Portugal and Spain became members between 1981 and 1986.
Austria, Finland and Sweden acceded to the European Union in 1995. The Union’s biggest ever enlargement took place in 2004 when ten new Member States joined. The ten were Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Bulgaria and Romania are scheduled to become members on 1 January 2007. The eventual decision concerning the accession date will be made on the basis of the Commission monitoring reports to be submitted in the early autumn. Membership negotiations with Croatia and Turkey were initiated in October 2005 and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was given candidate status in December 2005.
Treaties
The functioning of the European Union is based on the principle of the rule of law and on the Treaties agreed upon by the Member States.
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Member States of the European Union adopted the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on 18 June 2004 and it was signed on 29 October 2004. However, as with all treaties, ratification by all Member States was needed for the new Treaty to enter into force. In 2005, after the referendum results in France and the Netherlands rejecting the Constitutional Treaty, the European Council decided in June to introduce a twelve-month reflection period with regard to the Treaty and return to the matter during the first half of 2006.
Europa: A Constitution for Europe
Treaty of Nice
The Treaty of Nice was signed on 26 February 2001 and it entered into force two years later on 1 February 2003. With the adoption of the Treaty of Nice, the Union was able to implement institutional reforms that were necessary for the Union to function after its enlargement into a community of 25 Member States.
Treaty of Amsterdam
On 2 October 1997 the Foreign Ministers of the EU signed the Treaty of Amsterdam, which entered into force on 1 May 1999. In many ways, the Treaty of Amsterdam paved the way for the Treaty of Nice. The aim was to reform the Union’s structures and operational ability in a manner that would provide better means for enlargement after the dismantling of political borders between Eastern and Western Europe.
Treaty of Maastricht
The Treaty on European Union, the Treaty of Maastricht, was signed on 7 February 1992. It entered into force on 1 November 1993. The Treaty changed the name of the European Economic Community (EEC) to the European Community (EC). The Maastricht Treaty also introduced new forms of cooperation, for example in the fields of defence, and justice and home affairs.
Europa: Treaty on European Union
The Single European Act (SEA)
The Single European Act (SEA) was signed in Luxembourg and in The Hague. It entered into force on 1 July 1987. The SEA introduced changes necessary for the creation of the internal market.
Europa: The Single European Act
Merger Treaty
The Merger Treaty was signed on 8 April 1965 and entered into force on 1 July 1967. The Treaty established a single Council and a single Commission for the then three separate European Communities.
Europa: Merger Treaty (not available in English)
The Treaties of Rome
The Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) was signed on 25 March 1957 in Rome. It entered into force on 1 January 1958. The Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) was signed on the same occasion. Hence the name "Rome Treaties".
Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC Treaty)
The Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC Treaty) was signed on 18 April 1951 in Paris. It entered into force on 23 July 1952 and expired on 23 July 2002.
Europa: Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community
