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Article: European Union celebrates 50th birthday: which way is it facing?(European Political Issues)
- Article from:
- European Retail Digest
- Article date:
- March 22, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Oxford Institute of Retail Management. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Party in Berlin
The Treaty of Rome, which set up the European Economic Area, was signed on 25th March 1957 (though it came into effect on 1st January 1958). This founding event was celebrated at a party in Berlin on the 50th anniversary date. Party hostess was Angela Merkel, in her role as current holder of the EU's revolving presidency.
During those fifty years, the EEC has evolved into the European Union and has gone through a series of expansions. Each of these has in turn redirected the focus of policy in geopolitical terms.
Valley of the Rhine
Five of the six founder members who signed in Rome were focused on the valley of the ...