In 1957 the Treaty of Rome was signed establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) between six countries: Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The EEC was setup to integrate further the economies of the European Coal and Steel Community members beyond simply coal and steel. It was very ambitious plan which looked to create a common market in which there would be free movement of capital, goods, people and services.
In 1973, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark joined the EEC.
In 1992, the 12 foreign affairs ministers signed the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union (EU), including the four areas of labor, capital, goods and services which came into force in November 1993.
Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU in 1995.
European Union
