ACP–EU development cooperation and which reflects the comparative interests of individual Member States. Beginning in 1957 (Rome Treaty) a group of 6 nations in Western Europe, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, created the European Economic Community (EEC). These member states were gradually joined by others through various waves of enlargement and became the European Union. Similarly to European expansion, at the time of the Treaty of Rome, there were a limited number of nations involved. Beginning with 18 countries and territories that had special relations with the member states, the so-called Associated States gained membership, eventually establishing the group known
Convention on the association of the Netherlands Antilles with the European Economic Community September, 19 October, and 22 October, respectively. An Intergovernmental Conference was convened on 13 November, which signed the Convention. The actual Convention consists of four articles, the first of which establishes that the Netherlands Antilles shall be added to the (now ). Article 2 adds another protocol to the EEC Treaty, named . Article 3 concerns the ratification and article 4 the authentic versions of the text. The treaty entered into force on 1 October 1964, the first day of the month following the date of deposit of the last instrument of ratification by a signatory state, in this case