Euratom Treaty

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community

On 25 March 1957 in Rome, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister and Chair of the Intergovernmental Conference for the Common Market and Euratom (left), and Baron Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers (right), Secretary-General of the Belgian Economic Affairs Ministry, sign the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). Among the Belgian delegation can be seen (left to right) Roger de Staercke, Albert Hupperts, Robert Rotschild, Joseph Van Der Meulen and Pierre Staner.

Two treaties were signed on 25 March 1957 - the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). Among the main aims of the Euratom Treaty are:

• promoting research and disseminating technical information
• setting uniform safety standards to protect the public and industry workers
• to facilitate research
• to ensure civil nuclear materials are not diverted to other uses, particularly military

The value of Euratom can be seen clearly in the context of enlargement. Nuclear power is an important energy source for many Eastern European countries, but safety standards in their nuclear power plants and the level of protection of the public and workers are not always sufficient. Euratom has provided the context for EU support.

• Signed in: Rome (Italy) 25 March 1957
• Entry into force: 1st January 1958
• Main information page
• Official text

Consolidated Versions of this Treaty

• As modified by Maastricht Treaty: Version 1992