May 2017

Did you Know?

This year, 2017, the European Union celebrates 60 years of the Rome Treaties, which centres on a reunited continent of peace, values of solidarity, democracy and the rule of law.

EDC News: EU is 60 - 60 years of peace

"Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures; it is our gift to each other". Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor & peace prize laureate 1986

Europe has not always been this peaceful. After the atrocities of the Second World War, i.e. inhuman crimes and the devastation to the economy, six countries (Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) came together with the goal of initiating peace between themselves. This lead to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) treaty, signed in 1951, whereby solutions were developed to build the foundations of a sustainable economy. This treaty paved the way for the idea of a united states of Europe. Hence, on March 27 1957, in Rome, two treaties were signed:

• European Economic Community (EEC) treaty – it focus was to lay the foundations for uniting the people of Europe and specifically to progress towards political integration. This treaty was also known as the Common Market as it prohibited monopolies, established common transport policies and granted commercial privileges.

• European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) treaty – establishes the peaceful and secure use and distribution of nuclear energy.

These are known as the Treaty of Rome. The treaty have been amended over time to address the changing needs of the European countries and its citizens and is now known as Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

As a result of furthering European integration, in 1993, the EEC was renamed, under the Maastricht treaty, as the European Union (EU). The creation of the EU has changed the course of history as it has created a Union that promotes peaceful cooperation, respect of human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality and solidarity among European nations and its people. Despite its recent setbacks, for the past 60 years the union has guaranteed its citizens 'freedom' and 'peace' and aims to continue.

"Europe is our freedom, Europe is our future and that is what we should hand on to our children; a future of prosperity, of peace and of freedom." Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament.

For more information:

• The European Story - 60 years of shared progress - European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC)

• European Union – 60 years of the Rome Treaties

• European Parliament News – The EU turns 60: anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

• Council of the European Union – 60th Anniversary of the Rome Statute; they tell you the EU is useless

• EU Law and Publications – A Europe of rights; history of the EU charter

• EU Law and Publications – Towards a single parliament

• EU Law and Publications – The Single European Act

• EUR- LEX – Founding treaties

• EDC UNic – Development of the EU

• European Parliament Youtube video - Treaty of Rome: 60 year anniversary

• #EU60