| − | The '''European Economic Community''', or simply European Community, was formed in 1957 to promote trade among countries of Western Europe. It became the [[European Union]] in 1992. | + | The '''European Economic Community''', or simply European Community, was formed in 1957 to promote trade among countries of Western Europe. It became the [[European Union]] in 1993., after the Maastricht treaty in 1992. |