European Community

Communauté européenne
Comunidad Europea
Europäische Gemeinschaft
Comunidade Européia
Comunità Europea
Europese Gemeenschap
Europaeiske Faellesskab
Evropaiki Kinotita

Founded

1958-01-01 Brussels Belgium

History

1 Jan 1958, Brussels (Belgium), on coming into force of the Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (Treaty of Rome), signed 25 Mar 1957, following a conference in Jun 1955, Messina (Italy), of the then 6 member countries of H-XD0663 - European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) - Belgium, France, Germany FR, Italy, Luxembourg and Netherlands. The Rome Treaty was ratified by parliaments of member states between 5 Jul 1957 and 4 Dec 1957. The other Treaty of Rome, T-XT5766 - Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Treaty of Rome), setting up the H-XD0666 - European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), was signed, ratified and came into force at the same time. The European Community thus traces its origins to the T-XT5133 - Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris), signed 18 Apr 1951, creating the European Coal and Steel Community.

The original title was: European Economic Community (EEC) -- Communauté économique européenne (CEE) -- Comunidad Económica Europea (CEE) -- Europäische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (EWG) -- Comunidade Económica Europeia (CEE) -- Comunità Economica Europea (CEE) -- Europese Economische Gemeenschap (EEG) -- Europaeiske Økonomiske Faellesskab (EØF) -- Evropaiki Ikonomiki Kinotita (EOK). Following the 'Merger' Treaty of 8 Apr 1965, which came into force in Jul 1967, a single commission - the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) - superseded the High Authority of ECSC and the EEC and Euratom Commissions, and a single Council - the Council of the European Communities - came into being.

The T-XT8633 - Single European Act (SEA), signed Feb 1986, ratified by member parliaments by 31 Mar 1987 and came into force 1 Jul 1987, amended and complemented the Paris (France) and Rome Treaties. The T-XT9113 - Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty), signed 7 Feb 1992, covers the establishment of the F-XF2147 - European Union (EU), of which the H-XF0662 - European Communities (EC) comprised the first "pillar". Title II of the Maastricht Treaty reads: 'Provisions amending the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community with a view to establishing the European Community'. Provisions adopted in the Maastricht Treaty with reference to the treaties establishing the EEC replaced the term 'European Economic Community' by 'European Community' throughout. However, the acronym 'EC' refered officially only to the European Communities together.

When T-XT2073 - Treaty of Lisbon came into force, 1 Dec 2009, original treaty was amended to become T-XT5765 - Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the European Union replaced and succeeded the European Community.

Aims

The Maastricht Treaty replaces Article 2 of the Treaty of Rome by the following: the Community shall have as its task, by establishing a common market and an economic and monetary union to promote throughout the Community a harmonious and balanced development of economic activities, sustainable and non-inflationary growth respecting the environment, a high degree of convergence of economic performance, a high level of employment and social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life and economic and social cohesion and solidarity among member states. The Treaty extends the range of policy areas which may be handled by the European Community rather than by national governments by extending existing EC responsibilities - for example with environment policy - and by introducing new ones - for example in the areas of: education, vocational training and youth; culture; health; trans-European networks. Particular Articles refer to consumer protection and to industry.

Events

Activities

Structure

The consultative body for both the European Community and Euratom is E-XE0669 - European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), composed of representatives of different sectors of economic and social life, in particular representatives of producers, agriculturists, transport operators, workers, manufacturers, artisans, the liberal professions, and of the general interest.

Finance

Relations with Inter-Governmental Organizations

Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations

Members

Type I Classification

Type II Classification

Subjects ^*

UN Sustainable Development Goals ^**

UIA Org ID

XD0665

Last News

2008