The Treaty of Rome, the start of European Unification, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Today, the heads of state and heads of government of the countries that wish to relaunch the EU are meeting in the Italian capital, exactly 60 years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome. Because of the impending Brexit, the British Prime Minister Theresa May will be absent from the celebrations. The other 27 leaders will adopt a declaration about the direction that the EU must take.
The anniversaries of the Maastricht Treaty (25 years) and the Treaty of Rome are causes for celebration. These are also perfect occasions to critically assess Europe’s current position and to look ahead and to change and improve Europe where appropriate and possible.
This is what is being done in the Limburg capital Maastricht and in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion by means of the ‘Europe Calling! Maastricht Treaty 25th Anniversary’ programme. A series of conferences, festivals and meetings is being organised to reflect on the Europe of today and to think about the Europe of tomorrow. In this way, Maastricht is again becoming a real workshop for Europe that can be used by everyone – young or old, for or against.
Treaty of Rome
Signed: 25 March 1957
Location: Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy
Effective: 1 January 1958
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, is an international agreement that led to the creation of the European Economic Community. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany and came into force on 1 January 1958. It remains one of the two most important treaties in the modern-day European Union.