The formation of the Benelux Economic Union

这三个国家(比利时、荷兰和卢森堡)的政府流亡伦敦，并于1943年10月签署了双边货币协定，并于1944年9月5日签署了关税同盟条约。关税同盟于1948年1月正式生效。比荷卢是欧洲经济一体化历史上第一次成功的尝试。50年代，比利时和荷兰的内部贸易增加，资本自由流动议定书和工人自由流动协议达成。1958年，比荷卢经济联盟条约签署，该条约于1960年11月1日生效。该条约包含一些例外条款，例如统一消费税和取消对比荷卢内部农产品贸易的控制。无论如何，它被允许将比荷卢视为欧洲经济共同体(EEC)的前身。

The governments of the three countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) were in-exile-in London, and signed a bilateral monetary agreement in October 1943 and a treaty of customs union in September 5th, 1944. The customs union was applied in January 1948. Benelux is the first successful attempt in the history of the European Economic Integration.In the fifties, Belgian-Dutch intra-trade increased and the protocol on the free movement of capital and the agreement of the free movement of workers were concluded.In 1958, Treaty of Benelux Economic Union was signed and this treaty came into force on 1 November 1960. The Treaty contained some escape clauses, for example, the unification of excise duties and the removal of controls over intra-Benelux trade in agricultural products.Anyway, it is permitted to consider Benelux as a forerunner for the European Economic Community(EEC).