Brussels, Treaty of

Pact of an economic, political, cultural, and military alliance established in 17 March 1948, for 50 years, by the UK, France, and the Benelux countries, joined by West Germany and Italy in 1955. It was the forerunner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Community (now the European Union).

The defence aspects of the treaty were in many respects superseded by the North Atlantic Treaty 1949, but the Brussels Treaty was one of a number of important steps leading toward greater European cooperation and the creation of the European Economic Community.