ABSTRACT
The bible of the European Union, which provides the ultimate authority for the greater part of its decisions and responsibilities, is the Treaty of Rome, which created the European Economic Community (EEC). Signed on March 25th 1957 by representatives of Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, it was one of two treaties signed in Rome that day by the same countries. The other established Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community. Six years earlier on April 18th 1951 the six countries had signed the Treaty of Paris, setting up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
