Spain · 50 years of the Treaties of Rome

The designation “Treaties of Rome (Römische Verträge)” encompasses two separate agreements: the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (Vertrag zur Gründung der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (EWG)) and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Vertrag zur Gründung der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (Euratom)). The contracting parties were Belgien, die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Luxemburg and die Niederlande. Both treaties entered into force at the beginning of 1958.

The European Economic Community was intended to deepen the economic integration of the member states. Provisions included a common market, the gradual elimination of customs duties within the Community and a common external tariff. These were accompanied by the free movement of workers and the free movement of goods, services and capital. Common political responsibilities were established in areas including agriculture and trade. The European Economic Community later developed into the European Community (Europäische Gemeinschaft); its structures and body of law were ultimately incorporated into the European Union (Europäische Union).

Euratom was tasked with organizing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This included research, common safety standards, the supply of nuclear materials and monitoring to ensure that these materials were not used for unauthorized purposes. Euratom legally continues to exist alongside the European Union.

The treaties built on the European Coal and Steel Community (Europäische Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl), founded in 1951. Through it, the same six states had initially placed key areas of heavy industry under a common framework. After more extensive plans for a European Defence Community failed, integration shifted more strongly towards economic and technically defined tasks.

The place of signing, the Capitoline Hill (Kapitolshügel), was also the seat of the Roman city administration. The ceremony took place in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, part of the Capitoline complex. The pattern of the square depicted on the coin therefore establishes a direct reference to the place of signing.

For the anniversary, the euro area countries opted for the first time for a common commemorative 2-euro issue with a uniform basic design. This recognized not only a national event, but also a treaty framework on which the institutional development of the European Communities and, consequently, the later monetary union was based.