European Union,1995. Mosaic of satellite images from Landsat 5 and Landsat 7,showing the European Union (EU) in 1995. North is at top. The six founding countries ('The Inner Six') are Italy,France,Belgium,the Netherlands,Luxembourg and West Germany. In 1967 these countries formed the European Communities (EC). The EC then enlarged to include Denmark,Ireland and the UK in 1973,then Greece in 1981,then Spain and Portugal in 1986. The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992,establishing the EU,and in 1995 Austria,Finland and Sweden joined as members,bringing the total to 15 countries |