the kingdom of the netherlands is a founding member state of the european union. although originally both suriname and the netherlands antilles were explicitly excluded from association with the european economic community by means of a special protocol attached to the treaty of rome, the status of suriname as an overseas country (oct) of the community was established by a supplementary act completing the instrument of ratification of the kingdom of the netherlands on 1 september 1962. the convention on the association of the netherlands antilles with the european economic community entered into force on 1 october 1964, signalling the attainment of oct status by the netherlands antilles. suriname is now an independent republic and a sovereign country, outside the eu. the antilles have been dissolved.