It was only in 1951 that the European Union began to take shape through the Treaty of Paris and the European Steel and Coal Community.

CNN: Euro crisis opens old wounds for Greece, Germany

On that day in 1951, leaders of six European countries--Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany--signed the Treaty of Paris to create the European Coal and Steel Community, the forerunner of today's European Union.

FORBES: Magazine Article

It was the scene in February 1992 for the signing of the treaty which created the EU, increasing its powers from those of its predecessor, the European Community.

BBC: Is Brighton the next Maastricht?

As a mark of pride, every Italian government ritually reminds its partners abroad that Italy was a founding signatory of the treaty that ushered in what became the European Community, and Rome its birthplace.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne