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| | Background Note: European Community (EC) |
 | | As three distinct European communities: On April 18, 1951, (effective July 23, 1952), when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty was signed in Paris, and on March 25, 1957, (effective January 1, 1958), when the treaties for the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the European Economic Community (EEC) were signed in Rome. |
 | | The Single European Act underlined the commitment of Community members to achieving "European Union." At a landmark summit held in Maastricht, Netherlands, in December 1991, the Heads of State and Government agreed to further amendments in the EC treaties to move the Community toward greater political union, including more unified foreign and defense policies. |
 | | In January 1992, the Community announced its plan to negotiate partnership and cooperation agreements with the states of the former Soviet Union to replace the trade and cooperation agreement signed by the EC and the Soviet Union in 1989. |
| dosfan.lib.uic.edu /ERC/bgnotes/igos/ec9301.html (6060 words) |
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