Formation of EU

End of world War II

1945

Japan, having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, formally surrenders and World War II ends.

The six founding countries

1951

Schuman’s vision starts to take shape when six countries — Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — sign a treaty to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. With these countries deciding together what to do with Europe’s coal and steel, no single nation can build weapons without the other nations knowing about it.

Treaty of Rome

1957

Signed on March 25, 1957, they are two of the treaties that gave rise to the European Union: the first established the European Economic Community and the second established the European Atomic Energy Community.

Adhesiones

1973