The European Economic Community, the Associates and “Associables”: Historical Background and Developments

Abstract

In May, 1956, Foreign Ministers of Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands met in Venice to examine a report submitted to them by Mr. Spaak, the then Foreign Minister of Belgium. The Belgian statesman was Chairman of a Committee which had been appointed by the Six Foreign Ministers at an earlier meeting held by them in Messina, Sicily, on 1 June, 1955. Arising out of the Venice meeting, the decision was taken to establish the European Economic Community and a European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). In June, 1956, that is to say, a month after the Venice Conference, the Foreign Ministers met in Brussels to begin negotiations leading to the signing of the two Treaties. The European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community became legal entities when the two Treaties came into force on 1 January, 1958.