European Coal and Steel Community1952–2002¹FlagFounding members of the ECSC: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West GermanyStatusInternational organizationCapitalNot applicable²Common languages11 (2002)³DanishDutchEnglishFinnishFrenchGermanGreekItalianPortugueseSpanishSwedishPresident of theHigh Authority (pre-Merger treaty)• 1952–1955 Jean Monnet• 1955–1958 René Mayer• 1958–1959 Paul Finet• 1959–1963 Piero Malvestiti• 1963–1967 Rinaldo Del BoInterim President of the High Authority (supervising the Merger)• 1967 Albert CoppéPresident of the European Commission (in its capacity as the High Authority post-Merger treaty)• 1967–1970 (first) Jean Rey• 1999–2002 (last) Romano ProdiHistorical eraCold War• Signing (Treaty of Paris) 18 April 1951• In force 23 July 1952• Merger1 July 1967• Treaty expired23 July 2002¹Today part ofEuropean UnionThe ECSC treaty expired in 2002, fifty years after it came into force, but its institutions were taken over in 1967 following the Merger Treaty.The political centres were Luxembourg and Strasbourg, later also Brussels.Initial founding languages, before the merger and subsequent enlargements, were Dutch, French, German and Italian.The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was a Europeanorganization created after World War II to integrate Europe's coal and steel industries into a single common market based on the principle of supranationalism which would be governed by the creation of a High Authority made up of appointed representatives from the member states who would not represent their national interest, but would take and make decisions in the general interests of the Community as a whole.
European CommissionExecutive branch of the European UnionOverviewEstablished16 January 1958; 68 years ago (1958-01-16)Country27 member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain SwedenPolityEuropean UnionLeaderPresident of the Commission (Ursula von der Leyen since 1 December 2019)Appointed byNominated by the European Council and elected by the European ParliamentMain organCollege of CommissionersMinistries33Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentBudgetClimate ActionCommunicationCommunications Networks, Content and TechnologyCompetitionEconomic and Financial AffairsEducation and CultureEmployment, Social Affairs and InclusionEnergyEnvironmentEuropean Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid OperationsEurostatFinancial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets UnionHealth and Food SafetyHuman Resources and SecurityInformaticsInternal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsInternational Cooperation and DevelopmentInterpretationJoint Research CentreJustice and ConsumersMaritime Affairs and FisheriesMigration and Home AffairsMobility and TransportNeighbourhood and Enlargement NegotiationsRegional and Urban PolicyResearch and InnovationTaxation and Customs UnionTradeTranslationResponsible toEuropean ParliamentHeadquartersBrussels, BelgiumLuxembourg City, LuxembourgWebsitecommission.europa.euThe Berlaymont building in Brussels, seat of the European CommissionThe European Commission (EC) is the executivecabinet of the European Union.
European Economic CommunityRegional organisation from 1958 to 1993 European Economic Community/European Community Danish:Europæiske Økonomiske FællesskabDutch:Europese Economische GemeenschapFrench:Communauté économique européenneGerman:Europäische WirtschaftsgemeinschaftGreek:Ευρωπαϊκή Οικονομική ΚοινότηταItalian:Comunità Economica EuropeaPortuguese:Comunidade Económica EuropeiaSpanish:Comunidad Económica Europea 1958–1993 Flag (1986)Anthem: "Ode to Joy" (orchestral) EEC in 1993StatusEconomic unionInstitutional seats Brussels Luxembourg Strasbourg² Largest cityLondonOfficial languages 9 (1993) Danish Dutch English French German Greek Italian Portuguese Spanish Commission President • 1958–1967 Walter Hallstein• 1967–1970 Jean Rey• 1970–1972 Franco Maria Malfatti• 1972–1973 Sicco Mansholt• 1973–1977 François-Xavier Ortoli• 1977–1981 Roy Jenkins• 1981–1985 Gaston Thorn• 1985–1993 Jacques Delors Legislature Council of Ministers European Parliament Historical eraCold War• Treaty signed 25 March 1957• Established 1 January 1958• European Communities 1 July 1967• Single market 1 January 1993• EEC becomes the European Community, one of the 3 European Communities constituting the I pillar of the EU 1 November 1993• Pillar abolished 1 December 2009 Currency 13 currencies EUA/ECU (accounting)Belgian francDanish kroneFrench francGerman markGreek drachmaIrish poundItalian liraLuxembourgish francDutch guilderPortuguese escudoSpanish pesetaPound sterling Succeeded by European Union Today part ofEuropean Union Greenland United Kingdom¹ The information in this infobox covers the EEC's time as an independent organisation.
Treaties of the European UnionThe Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union (EU) member states which sets out the EU's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures and objectives. The EU can only act within the competences granted to it through these treaties and amendment to the treaties requires the agreement and ratification (according to their national procedures) of every single signatory.Institutions of the European UnionDecision-making bodies of the European UnionAlternative chart of the political system.
European CommunitiesThe European Communities (EC) were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions. These were the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), and the European Economic Community (EEC), the last of which was renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993 by the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union.
Council of the European UnionThe Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and less formally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU) as listed in the Treaty on European Union. It is one of two legislative bodies and together with the European Parliament serves to amend and approve, or veto, the proposals of the European Commission, which holds the right of initiative.
European ParliamentDirectly elected legislature of the European Union10th European ParliamentTypeTypeDe facto lower houseof bicameral legislatureTerm limitsNoneHistoryFounded10 September 1952; 74 years ago (1952-09-10)Preceded byCommon Assembly of the European Coal and Steel CommunityLeadershipPresidentRoberta Metsola, EPPsince 18 January 2022 First Vice-PresidentSabine Verheyen, EPPsince 16 July 2024 Secretary-General Alessandro Chiocchetti, Independentsince 1 January 2023 StructureSeats720Political groups EPP (185) S&D (138) PfE (85) ECR (84) Renew (78) Greens/EFA (49) The Left (44) ESN (27) NI (27) Vacant (1)Committees22BudgetsBudgetary ControlEconomic & Monetary AffairsEmployment & Social AffairsEnvironment, Public Health & Food SafetyIndustry, Research & EnergyInternal Market & Consumer ProtectionTransport & TourismRegional DevelopmentAgriculture & Rural DevelopmentFisheriesCulture & EducationLegal AffairsCivil Liberties, Justice & Home AffairsConstitutional AffairsWomen's Rights & Gender EqualityPetitionsForeign AffairsHuman RightsSecurity & DefenceDevelopmentInternational TradeLength of term5 yearsSalary€8,932.86 monthlyElectionsVoting systemChosen by member state.Systems include: Party list PRSTV in Ireland and Maltade factoFPTP/SMP(only in the German-speakingelectoral college in Belgium)First election7–10 June 1979Last election6–9 June 2024Next election2029MottoIn varietate concordia(United in diversity)Meeting placeLouise Weiss BuildingStrasbourg, FranceEspace LéopoldBrussels, BelgiumWebsiteeuroparl.europa.euConstitutionTreaties of the European UnionThe European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union (EU) and one of its seven institutions.
European Court of JusticeThe European Court of Justice (ECJ), officially the Court of Justice (French: Cour de Justice), is the supreme court of the European Union (EU) in matters of European Union law. As a part of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application across all EU member states under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
BrusselsBrussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country.Executive (government)The executive is the part of the government that executes or enforces the law and policy of a government. It is typically organized as a branch of government, though in other systems of government like absolute monarchies the executive serves as the organ of a unified state apparatus centered on a singular constitutional authority (ie, the monarch).
EuratomThe European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or EURATOM) is an international organization established by the Euratom Treaty of 1957 with the original purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe, by developing nuclear energy and distributing it to its member states while selling the surplus to non-member states.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.