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Key dates in the history of European integration |
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The Hague Congress: more than a thousand delegates from some 20 European countries discuss new forms of cooperation in Europe. They come out in favour of setting up a "European assembly".
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As a result of the Hague Congress, the Council of Europe is set up. It is to be based in Strasbourg.
That same year it begins drawing up the European Convention on Human Rights, which is signed in Rome in 1950 and comes into force in September 1953.
In the course of time, nearly all European countries become members of the Council of Europe.
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In Paris, six countries - Belgium, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - sign the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
It comes into force on 23 July 1952, for a period of 50 years.
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Meeting in Messina, the Foreign Affairs ministers of the six countries decide to extend European integration to the economy as a whole.
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In Rome, the six countries sign the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). They come into force on 1 January 1958.
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A common agricultural policy (CAP) is introduced.
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In Yaoundé, an association agreement is signed between the EEC and 18 African countries.
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A treaty is signed merging the executive bodies of the three Communities and creating a single Council and Commission. It comes into force on l July 1967.
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The "Luxembourg compromise". Following a political crisis, France agrees to take part in Council meetings once again, in return for an agreement that the unanimity rule be maintained when "vital national interests" are at stake.
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At the Hague Summit, the EEC's political leaders decide to move further ahead with European integration.
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In Luxembourg, a treaty is signed allowing the European Communities to be increasingly financed from "own resources" and giving greater powers to the European Parliament.
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In Brussels, accession treaties to the European Communities are signed with Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
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Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, makes an important speech putting forward proposals based on the ideas of Jean Monnet. He proposes that France and the Federal Republic of Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organisation that other European countries can join.
Since this date can be regarded as the birthday of the European Union, 9 May is now celebrated annually as "Europe Day".
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At the instigation of the United Kingdom, the Stockholm Convention sets up the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising a number of European countries that are not part of the EEC.
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At a press conference, General de Gaulle announces that France will veto the United Kingdom joining the European Communities.
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Customs duties on industrial goods are completely abolished, 18 months ahead of schedule, and a Common External Tariff is introduced.
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The six EEC member states decide that the exchange rates between their currencies must not be allowed to fluctuate by more than 2.25%. This system is known as the "snake".
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Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Communities, bringing their membership to nine. Norway stays out, following a referendum in which most people voted against membership.
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At the Paris Summit, the political leaders of the nine member states decide to meet three times a year as the European Council.
They also give the go-ahead for direct elections to the European Parliament, and agree to set up the European Regional Development Fund.
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In Lomé, a convention (Lomé I) is signed between the EEC and 46 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
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A treaty is signed giving the European Parliament greater power over the budget and setting up the European Court of Auditors. It comes into force on 1 June 1977.
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At the Bremen Summit, France and Germany (Federal Republic) propose relaunching monetary cooperation by setting up a European Monetary System (EMS) to take the place of the "snake".
The EMS comes into operation on 13 March 1979.
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The European Communities sign a treaty of accession with Greece.
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The first direct elections to the 410-seat European Parliament.
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Greece joins the European Communities, bringing the number of member states to 10.
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The "Esprit" Programme is adopted - aimed at boosting research and development in the field of information technology.
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The second direct elections to the European Parliament.
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7 January
Jacques Delors becomes President of the Commission (1985-1995).
12 June
The European Communities sign accession treaties with Spain and Portugal.
2-4 December
At the Luxembourg European Council, leaders of the 10 member states agree to revise the Treaty of Rome and to re-launch European integration via a "Single European Act". This paves the way for creating the single market by 1993.
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Spain and Portugal join the European Communities, bringing their membership to 12.
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The Single European Act is signed in Luxembourg and The Hague. It comes into force on 1 July 1987.
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Start of the "Erasmus" programme, set up to help young Europeans study abroad, in other European countries.
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15 and 18 June
The third direct elections to the European Parliament.
9 November
The Berlin wall is opened.
9 December
In Strasbourg, the European Council decides to convene an inter-governmental conference on moving ahead with economic and monetary union (EMU) and political union.
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The Schengen Agreement is signed, aimed at abolishing checks at the borders between member states of the European Communities.
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The Maastricht European Council adopts a Treaty on European Union. It lays the basis for a common foreign and security policy, closer cooperation on justice and home affairs and the creation of an economic and monetary union, including a single currency.
The inter-governmental cooperation in these fields added to the existing Community system creates the European Union (EU).
The EEC is renamed the "European Community" (EC).
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The Treaty on European Union is signed at Maastricht.
It enters into force on 1 November 1993.
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The Single Market is created.
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The fourth direct elections to the European Parliament.
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At the Corfu European Council, the EU signs accession treaties with Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
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1 January
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU, bringing its membership to 15. Norway stays out, following a referendum in which most people voted against membership.
23 January
A new European Commission takes office (1995-1999), with Jacques Santer as its President.
27-28 November
The Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona launches a partnership between the EU and the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
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The Amsterdam European Council agrees a treaty giving the European Union new powers and responsibilities.
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The Amsterdam Treaty is signed. It comes into force on 1 May 1999.
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30 March
The accession process begins for the new candidate countries. Cyprus, Malta and 10 countries of central and eastern Europe will be involved in this process.
3 May
The Brussels European Council decides that 11 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) meet the requirements for adopting the single currency on 1 January 1999.
Greece will join later.
31 December
Fixed and irrevocable exchange rates are set between the currencies that are to be replaced by the euro.
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1 January
Start of the third stage of EMU: the currencies of 11 EU countries are replaced by the €uro.
The single currency is launched on the money markets. From this point onwards, the European Central Bank (ECB) has responsibility for the EU's monetary policy, which is defined and implemented in euro.
24-25 March
The Berlin European Council agrees the outline for the EU's budget 2000-2006 within the "Agenda 2000" framework.
3-4 June
The Cologne European Council decides to ask a Convention to draw up a European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The members of the Convention are representatives of the EU's heads of state or government and of the European Commission President.
Javier Solana is appointed as High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
8 and 13 June
The fifth direct elections to the European Parliament.
15 September
A new European Commission takes office (1999-2004), with Romano Prodi as its President.
15-16 October
The Tampere European Council decides to make the EU an area of freedom, security and justice.
10-11 December
The Helsinki European Council, chiefly devoted to enlargement of the EU, officially recognises Turkey as a candidate for EU membership, and decides to push ahead with negotiations with the other 12 candidate countries.
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The Lisbon European Council draws up a strategy for boosting employment in the EU, modernising the economy and strengthening social cohesion in a knowledge-based Europe.
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In Nice, the European Council reaches agreement on the text of a new Treaty changing the EU's decision-making system so that the Union will be ready for enlargement. The presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission solemnly proclaim the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
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The Treaty of Nice is signed. It comes into force on 1 February 2003.
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The Laeken European Council adopts a declaration on the future of the Union. This opens the way for the forthcoming major reform of the EU and for setting up a Convention to prepare a European Constitution.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is appointed Chairman of the Convention.
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1 January
People in the €uro area countries begin using euro notes and coins.
31 May
All 15 EU member states simultaneously ratify the Kyoto Protocol - the world-wide agreement to reduce air pollution.
21-22 June
The Seville European Council reaches agreement on an EU asylum and immigration policy.
13 December
The Copenhagen European Council agrees that 10 of the candidate countries (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) can join the EU on 1 May 2004. Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join in 2007.
It is decided that talks with Turkey can begin if, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, the European Council in December 2004 decides that Turkey meets all the "Copenhagen criteria".
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16 April
In Athens, the EU signs accession treaties with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
10 July
The Convention on the Future of Europe completes its work on the draft European Constitution.
4 October
Start of the inter-governmental conference that will draw up a new treaty embodying the European Constitution.
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1 May
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia join the European Union.
10 and 13 June
The sixth direct elections to the European Parliament.
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