H. Res. 230

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 13, 2007.

Whereas, after a half century marked by two world wars and 

at a time when Europe was divided and some nations 

were deprived of freedom, and as the continent faced the 

urgent need for economic and political recovery, major 

European statesmen such as Robert Schuman, Jean 

Monnet, Paul-Henri Spaak, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de 

Gasperi, Sir Winston Churchill, and others joined together to lay the foundations of an ever closer union 

among their peoples; 

Whereas on March 25, 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Rome to establish a customs union, to create a framework to promote the free 

movement of people, services, and capital among the 

member states, to support agricultural growth, and to 

create a common transport policy, which gave new impetus to the pledge of unity in the European Coal and Steel 

Agreement of 1951; 

Whereas to fulfill its purpose, the European Union has created a unique set of institutions: the directly-elected European Parliament, the Council consisting of representatives of the Member States, the Commission acting in the 
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general interest of the Community, and the Court of Justice to enforce the rule of law; 

Whereas on February 7, 1992, the leaders of the then 12 

members of the European Community signed the Treaty 

of Maastricht establishing a common European currency, 

the Euro, to be overseen by a common financial institution, the European Central Bank, for the purpose of a 

freer movement of capital and common European economic policies; 

Whereas the European Union was expanded with the addition 

of the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland in 1973, 

Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, a unified 

Germany in 1990, Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 

1995, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, 

Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia 

in 2004, and Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, making the 

European Union a body of 27 countries with a population 

of over 450 million people; 

Whereas the European Union has developed policies in the 

economic, security, diplomatic, and political areas: it has 

established a single market with broad common policies 

to organize that market and ensure prosperity and cohesion; it has built an economic and monetary union, including the Euro currency; and it has built an area of 

freedom, security, and justice, extending stability to its 

neighbors; 

Whereas following the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the European Union has 

played a critical role in the former Central European 

communist states in promoting free markets, democratic 

institutions and values, respect for human rights, and the 
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resolve to fight against tyranny and for common national 

security objectives; 

Whereas for the past 50 years the United States and the European Union have shared a unique partnership, mindful 

of their common heritage, shared values and mutual interests, have worked together to strengthen transatlantic 

security, to preserve and promote peace and freedom, to 

develop free and prosperous economies, and to advance 

human rights; and 

Whereas the United States has supported the European integration process and has consistently supported the objective of European unity and the enlargement of the European Union as desirable developments which promote 

prosperity, peace, and democracy, and which contribute 

to the strengthening of the vital relationship between the 

United States and the nations of Europe: Now, therefore, 

be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the historic significance of the Treaty 

of Rome on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its 

signing; 

(2) commends the European Union and the member 

nations of the European Union for the positive role 

which the institution has played in the growth, development, and prosperity of contemporary Europe; 

(3) recognizes the important role played by the European Union in fostering the independence, democracy, 

and economic development of the former Central Euro-
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pean communist states following the end of the Cold 

War; 

(4) acknowledges the vital role of the European 

Union in the development of the close and mutually beneficial relationship that exists between the United States 

and Europe; 

(5) affirms that in order to strengthen the transatlantic partnership there must be a renewed commitment to regular and intensive consultations between the 

United States and the European Union; and 

(6) joins with the European Parliament in agreeing 

to strengthen the transatlantic partnership by enhancing 

the dialogue and collaboration between the United States 

Congress and the European Parliament. 

Attest:

Clerk.