Founding Members of the European Union

Founding Members of the European Union

The European Union began with six founding countries. These countries established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 and later signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC). Their cooperation eventually developed into the European Union (EU).

The six founding members are:

1. Belgium
2. France
3. Germany (West Germany at the time)
4. Italy
5. Luxembourg
6. Netherlands

European Union Key Facts