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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. -
Building on the success of the coal and steel treaty, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands expand cooperation to other economic sectors. They sign the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the European Economic Community or ‘common market’, allowing people, goods and services to move freely across borders. -
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Communities, marking the first enlargement. Together with Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, they bring the membership to nine. Following a referendum, Norway decides not to join. -
Greece becomes the 10th country to join the European Communities, now known as the European Union. -
Spain and Portugal join the European Communities, bringing the total number of members to twelve. -
The Treaty on European Union was signed in Maastricht in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, Egon Klepsch. -
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU, increasing its membership to 15. -
