17 March 1948 Brussels Treaty (UK, France, Benelux Mutual Defense Agreement); Es- Tablishes Western European Union 9 May 1950 Fr

Home , Benelux, February 1958, Merger Treaty, Messina Conference, Treaty of Brussels, Western European Union

17 March 1948 Brussels Treaty (UK, France, Benelux mutual defense agreement); establishes Western European Union 9 May 1950 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposes West European common market in coal and steel. 18 April 1951 Paris Treaty establishes European Coal and Steel Community, eﬀective for 50 years from 25 Jul 1952 (France, West Germany, Italy, Benelux)

7 May 1952 European Defense Community treaty signed in Paris. 10 September 1952 Luxembourg Resolution: Foreign Ministers of the Six ask members of the ECSC Common Assembly to draw up a draft European Political Community Treaty by 10 March 1953. 10 March 1953 Draft EPC Treaty adopted by ad hoc Assembly in Strasbourg. 19 March 1953 Bundestag ratiﬁes EDC Treaty. 30 August 1954 French Assembly rejects EDC Treaty.

Treaties

1-3 June 1955 Messina conference of foreign ministers; Messina resolution establishes Intergovernmental Committee under direction of Paul-Henri Spaak to prepare framework for broader economic integration. 3 February 1956 Benelux Treaty of Economic Union signed, the Hague (Note: the date 3 February 1958 is widely cited, but the Benelux web site indicates 3 February 1956; http://www.benelux.be/fr/bnl/bnl_frame.htm) 25 March 1957 Treaties of Rome (EEC, Euratom) signed; EC6, same membership as ECSC 20 November 1959 European Free Trade Association Treaty signed in Stockholm, with eﬀect from 1 January 1960 (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, UK)

1 8 April 1965 Treaty of Brussels,(theMerger Treaty) merges European Commu- nities, with eﬀect from 1 July 1967; Committee of Permanent Represen- tatives.

17 & 28 February, 1986 Single European Act adopted, at Luxembourg summit, with effect from 1 July 1987: promote internal market, basis for European Political Cooperation 7 February 1992 Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) signed, with effect from 2 November 1993. first pillar: EU citizenship, Economic and Monetary Union; European Central Bank; Cohesion Fund & promotion of convergence; institutional reform. second pillar: Common Foreign and Security Policy; enhanced role of the Western European Union third pillar: Police and Judicial Cooperation: European Police Office (Europol)

2 October 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam signed, with effect (upon ratification) end of May, 1999. commitment to freedom, security and justice reaffirm Maastricht Treaty provision for Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to complete institutional reform before further explansion.

26 February 2001 Treaty of Nice one Commissioner per member state up to 27, unspeciﬁed rotation scheme thereafter modest expansion of application of qualiﬁed majority voting

29 October 2004 Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe signed.