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 &_160;Belgium
 &_160;Netherlands
 &_160;Luxembourg The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that includes three neighboring monarchies, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (België/Belgique/Belgien - Nederland - Lëtzebuerg/Luxembourg/Luxemburg), which lie in the north western European region between France and Germany. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name; it was possibly created for the Benelux Customs Union,[1] although according to The Economist it was coined somewhat earlier, in August 1946, by that newspaper's correspondent in Belgium.[2] However, it is now used in a more generic way. The Benelux region has a total population of about 27,562,217 and occupies an area of approximately 74,640 km² (28,819 sq mi). Thus, the Benelux has a population density of 369/km² (956/sq mi). The treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed on September 5, 1944, by the governments in exile of the three countries in London, and entered into force in 1948. It ceased to exist on November 1, 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union after a treaty signed in The Hague on February 3, 1958. It was preceded by the (still existent) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, established on July 25, 1921. Its founding contributed to the founding of the European Union (EU), though the immediate precursors to the EU were founded later (the ECSC in 1951 and the EEC in 1957)[3]. The three countries were also founding members of these organizations, together with West Germany, France, and Italy. Article 306 of the EC Treaty stipulates that The provisions of this Treaty shall not preclude the existence or completion of regional unions between Belgium and Luxembourg, or between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to the extent that the objectives of these regional unions are not attained by application of this Treaty.
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