It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany and came into force on 1 January 1958.

Following the 2005 referendums, which saw the failed attempt at launching a European Constitution, on 13 December 2007 the Lisbon Treaty was signed.

[2] In March 2011, the European Council adopted a decision to amend the Treaty by adding a new paragraph to Article 136.

[3]The consolidated TFEU consists of seven parts: In principles, article 1 establishes the basis of the treaty and its legal value.

Article 19 states the council with the consent of the European Parliament "may take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation".

Articles 20 to 24 establishes EU citizenship and accords rights to it; to free movement, consular protection from other states, vote and stand in local and European elections, right to petition Parliament and the European Ombudsman and to contact and receive a reply from EU institutions in their own language.

Chapter 1: Economic policy - Article 122 deals with unforeseen problems in the supply chain and "severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control"[9][10] Chapter 1: Economic policy – Article 126 deals with how excessive member state debt is handled.

[11] Chapter 2: Monetary policy – Article 127 outlines that the European System of Central Banks should maintain price stability and work with the principles of an open markets and free competition.

Thereby are states obliged (except UK and Denmark) to introduce the euro if the council finds they fulfil the criteria.

Title XII, articles 165 and 166 concern education, vocational training, youth and sport policies.

Title XVIII, articles 174 to 178 concern economic, social and territorial cohesion (reducing disparities in development).

Article 205 states that external actions must be in accordance with the principles laid out in Chapter 1 Title 5 of the Treaty on European Union.