| EUROPEAN UNION |
| The European Union began with the establishment of the European Coal & Steel Community in 1951. The six founding members are France, German Federal Republic, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Treaties of Rome were signed March 25, 1957. This established the European Economic Community and the Euratom. These communities were merged into one institution called the Commission. The Commission ECSC European Coal & Steel Community EEC European Economic Community EURATOM European Atomic Energy Community The Euro The Euro is the single currency used by most of the European Union's member states. At present there are 15 Member States; 12 of which have accepted the Euro. The other 3 are currently using their own currency. All barriers of trade among them have been removed. The European Parliament building and the European Union Council of Ministers Office are both located in Brussels, Belgium. |
| E U R O P E A N U N I O N E U R O P E A N U N I O N |
| MEMBER STATES Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands, The Portugal Spain Sweden United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland |
| YEAR JOINED 1995 1957 (FM)* 1973 1995 1957 (FM)* 1957 (FM)* 1981 1973 1957 (FM)* 1957 (FM)* 1957 (FM)* 1986 1986 1995 1973 |
| # of Votes 4 5 3 3 10 10 5 3 10 2 5 5 8 4 10 |
| CURRENCY Euro Euro Danish Crown Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Euro Swedish Crown Pound Sterling |
| CAPITAL Vienna Brussels Copenhagen Helsinki Paris Berlin Athens Dublin Rome Luxembourg Amsterdam Lisbon Madrid Stockholm London |
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| *FM (Founding Member) |
| References The European Community, The Building of a Union by John Pinder- New Edition A History of Europe, by Norman Davies 1996 |
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