The Benelux Union (Dutch:Benelux Unie; French:Union Benelux) is a politico-economic union of three neighbouring states in central-western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name—Benelux—is formed from joining the first two or three letters of each country's name—Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg—and was first used to name the customs agreement that initiated the union (signed in 1944). It is now used more generally to refer to the geographic, economic and cultural grouping of the three countries.