From the Six to the Nine

• Signing of the Treaties of Rome
• Creation of the European Social Fund
• De Gaulle on Europe
• Launch of the CAP
• Signing of the Elysée Treaty
• Signing of the treaty merging the Community executives
• Beginning of the 'empty chair crisis'
• De Gaulle calls for realism in European matters
• The United Kingdom seeks to join the European Communities
• Entry into force of the Customs Union
• Georges Pompidou speaks of a supranational Europe
• Entry into force of the European 'currency snake'
• First enlargement of the Communities

• Home
• The origins of the European idea
• The European idea at the beginning of the 20th century
• The beginnings of European integration
• Overcoming the crises
• The relaunch of the European idea
• The birth of 'political union'

The year 1957 saw the advent of a pivotal project in the history of European integration: the creation by the Six of a European Economic Community, which would soon cover the main sectors of economic life. But the ultimate goal of this undertaking was much larger, aiming as it did to 'lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe', as stated in the preamble to the EEC Treaty. Despite the institutional crisis of 1965 – which helped to water down the supranational character of the EEC – the establishment of the common market went ahead without any upsets and immediately produced remarkable levels of economic performance. These early years also saw the birth of common policies in the areas of agriculture, transport, foreign trade and regional cohesion. The success of this integration persuaded some countries that had previously kept their distance to join the European Communities. On 1 January 1973, these Communities gained three new members: the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark.

1957