After the end of the Second World War, Europe looks for ways to prevent another outbreak of conflict.
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UK sign the Brussels Treaty agreeing on military assistance, economic, social and cultural cooperation. .
A year later the same countries set up the Council of Europe - a forum for all European countries to discuss informal co-operation.
1951: THE FÃ"RST STEP: SCHUMAN'S VÃ"SÃ"ON.
The "Six" - France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community which comes into force in 1954. .
The treaty is based on French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman's 1950 declaration that coal and steel resources should be pooled to avoid European countries waging war on one another. .
The key European institutions also emerge at this time. The High Authority - which will later become the European Commission - is set up with Jean Monnet, the inspiration for the Schuman declaration, as its president. The treaty also establishes the Common Assembly - later the European Parliament - as well as the Council of Ministers and the Court of Justice. .
A year later the Six also sign the European Defence Community (EDC) treaty in Paris. But after only two years the EDC collapses causing Jean Monnet to resign from the High Authority. .
1957: THE EUROPEAN COMMUNÃ"TY Ã"S BORN.
The "Six" - France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries - sign the Treaty of Rome - the foundation of the European Community. .
It sets up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) which work alongside the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) founded in 1951. .
The EEC establishes a nine-member commission based in Brussels and all three communities share a Parliamentary Assembly headed by Robert Schuman and a Court of Justice. .
The following year, preparations for a Common Agricultural Policy - which will eventually be launched in 1962 - begin at a summit in Stresa in Italy.
