ROME, Italy (Xinhua) — European Union (EU) leaders gathered in the Italian capital yesterday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome that launched the European integration process.

The summit is meant to celebrate the major achievements reached by European countries since they embarked on the journey of integration.

Besides that, there are challenges for the EU to address. Its leaders are expected to sign a Declaration of Rome to outline Europe’s future goals and perspectives, especially after Britain’s forthcoming exit from the bloc.

The declaration will be signed at the ancient Hall of the Horatii and Curiatii, exactly where the Treaty of Rome was signed.

On March 25, 1957, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg signed the treaty to create the European Economic Community (EEC).

They committed to implementing a progressive economic integration, including a single market for goods, people, services, labour and capital, and a custom union. On the same day in Rome, the Euratom treaty on establishing the European Atomic Energy Community was also signed. Both treaties entered into force on January 1, 1958.

In 1951, the same six founding member states launched the European Coal and Steel Community, putting their respective productions under a common authority.

Such entities, and the EEC especially, paved the way for the European Union, as it is known today.

Yesterday, heads of state or government from 27 EU members and top officials of EU institutions attended the major ceremony in the Palace of the Conservators in the Capitoline Hill of Rome.

The EU special summit took place amid tight security measures, and some 5,000 police have been deployed across the city.

Although a security plan for the summit had long been prepared, concerns increased after the terror attack in London on March 22.