 Nonetheless, despite the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (now the European Community (the "EC")) having been signed on 25 March 1957, it was not until the 1970s, that there was any serious attempt to develop European laws relating to shipping.During the 1970s, a number of attempts were made to develop laws in particular areas such as liner conferences, the environment and pilotage.It was not however until the 1980s, particularly 1986, that a serious body of EC shipping law evolved.