It was created over time through a number of successful binding treaties to provide efficient policy-making in the areas of common interest, in which member states were willing to renounce their sovereignty. EU's semi-centennial history began when the six countries signed the Treaty on the European Coal and Steel Community . Later, in 1957 the Treaty of Rome was signed, which enabled a free flow of goods and investment between Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The European Community (in broad terms) established under this Treaty, created a particularly advantageous climate for economic prosperity of the parties to the Treaty. Soon other European nations joined the European Community to benefit from its provisions. In 1991 to further integration, the leaders of the 12 European Community nations--Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Luxembourg signed the Maastricht Treaty on European Union, which laid down the path for the formation of the Economic and Monetary Union. This Treaty also foresaw the Common Foreign and Security Policy and a Justice and Home Affairs policy, which were managed at intergovernmental level. .
Growing from 6 member states the EU underwent four waves of accession, integrated the majority of Western European countries, and is preparing for further expansion in the East. Today, the EU, comprised of 15 member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, embraces over 370 million Europeans. The new paradigm that was shaped with the creation of the EU continues to evolve. In 1995 the provisions for the "Preparation of the Associated Countries of Central and Eastern Europe for Integration into the Internal Market of the Union- were laid down in a separate document.