Chronology of the building of Europe
1950
9 May
In a speech inspired by Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposes that France, the Federal Republic of Germany and any other European country wishing to join them should pool their coal and steel resources.
1951
18 April
The Six sign the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Paris.
1952
27 May
The Treaty establishing the European Defence Community (EDC) is signed in Paris.
1954
30 August
The French Parliament rejects the EDC Treaty.
20-23 October
Following the London Conference, agreements on a modified Brussels Treaty are signed in Paris and the Western European Union (WEU) comes into being.
1955
1 and 2 June
The foreign ministers of the Six, meeting in Messina, decide to extend European integration to all branches of the economy.
1957
25 March
The Treaties establishing the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community are signed in Rome.1958
1 January
The Treaties of Rome enter into force and the EEC and Euratom Commissions are set up in Brussels.
1960
4 January
The Stockholm Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is signed on the initiative of the United Kingdom.
1962
30 July
A common agricultural policy is introduced.
1963
14 January
General de Gaulle announces at a press conference that France will veto the United Kingdom's accession to the Community.
20 July
An association agreement is signed between the Community and 18 African countries in Yaoundé.
1965
8 April
A treaty merging the executives of the three Communities is signed in Brussels. It enters into force on 1 July 1967.
1966
29 January
The 'Luxembourg Compromise' is agreed, France resuming its seat in the Council in return for retention of the unanimity requirement where very important interests are at stake.1968
1 July
Remaining customs duties in intra-Community trade in manufactured goods are abolished 18 months ahead of schedule and the Common Customs Tariff is introduced.
1969
1 and 2 December
At the Hague Summit, the Community's Heads of State or Government decide to bring the transitional period to an end by adopting definitive arrangements for the common agricultural policy and agreeing in principle to give the Community its own resources.
1970
22 April
A treaty providing for the gradual introduction of an own resources system is signed in Luxembourg. It also extends the budgetary powers of the European Parliament.
30 June
Negotiations with four prospective Member States (Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom) open in Luxembourg.
1972
22 January
The Treaty on the Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom is signed in Brussels.
24 April
The currency 'snake' is set up, the Six agreeing to limit the margin of fluctuation between their currencies to 2.25 %.
1973
1 January
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the Community (Norway withdrew following a referendum).1974
9 and 10 December
At the Paris Summit, the Community's Heads of State or Government decide to meet three times a year as the European Council, give the go-ahead for direct elections to the European Parliament by universal suffrage and agree to set up the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
1975
28 February
A first convention between the Community and 46 States in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) is signed in Lomé.
22 July
A treaty giving the European Parliament wider budgetary powers and establishing a Court of Auditors is signed. It enters into force on 1 June 1977.
1978
6 and 7 July
At the Bremen European Council, France and Germany present a scheme for closer monetary cooperation, the European Monetary System (EMS), to replace the currency 'snake'.
1979
13 March
The EMS starts to operate.
28 May
The Treaty on the Accession of Greece is signed.
7 and 10 June
The first direct elections to the 410-seat European Parliament are held.
31 October
A second convention between the Community and 58 States in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific is signed in Lomé.1981
1 January
Greece joins the Community.
1984
28 February
'Esprit', the European strategic programme for research and development in information technologies, is adopted.
14 and 17 June
Direct elections to the European Parliament are held for the second time.
8 December
The third Lomé Convention between the Ten and the ACP States, now numbering 66, is signed in Togo.
1985
January
Jacques Delors is appointed President of the Commission.
2-4 December
At the Luxembourg European Council the Ten agree to amend the Treaty of Rome and to revitalise the process of European integration by drawing up a 'Single European Act'.
1986
1 January
Spain and Portugal join the Community.
17 and 28 February
The Single European Act is signed in Luxembourg and The Hague.
1987
14 April
Turkey applies to join the Community.
1 July
The Single Act enters into force.27 October
The WEU adopts a joint security policy platform in The Hague.
1988
February
Financing of EEC policies reformed. Multiannual programme of expenditure for 1988-92. Reform of the Structural Funds.
1989
January
Jacques Delors is reappointed President of the Commission for a further four years.
15 and 18 June
Direct elections to the European Parliament are held for the third time.
17 July
Austria applies to join the Community.
9 November
The Berlin Wall is breached.
9 December
The Strasbourg European Council decides to convene an intergovernmental conference.
15 December
The fourth Lomé Convention with the ACP States is signed.
1990
29 May
The agreement establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is signed in Paris.
19 June
The Schengen Agreement on the elimination of border checks is signed.4 July
Cyprus applies to join the Community.
16 July
Malta applies to join the Community.
3 October
Germany is united once more.
14 December
Two intergovernmental conferences, one on economic and monetary union, the other on political union, open in Rome.
1991
1 July
Sweden applies to join the Community.
21 October
Agreement is reached on setting up a European Economic Area (EEA) linking the Community with its western European neighbours.
9 and 10 December
The European Council meets in Maastricht.
1992
7 February
The Treaty on European Union is signed in Maastricht.
18 March
Finland applies to join the Community.
25 March
Norway applies to join the Community.
2 May
Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) is signed in Porto.
2 June
Denmark rejects the Maastricht Treaty by referendum.20 June
A referendum in Ireland approves the Maastricht Treaty.
20 September
A referendum in France approves the Maastricht Treaty.
11 and 12 December
The European Council meets in Edinburgh.
1993
1 January
Introduction of the single market.
18 May
The Maastricht Treaty is approved in a second referendum in Denmark.
1 November
The Maastricht Treaty enters into force.
1994
1 April
Hungary applies to join the European Union.
8 April
Poland applies to join the European Union.
15 April
The Final Act of the GATT Uruguay Round negotiations is signed in Marrakesh.
9 and 12 June
Direct elections to the European Parliament are held for the fourth time.
A referendum in Austria approves the Treaty of Accession.
24 and 25 June
The European Council meets in Corfu.
Treaties of Accession to the European Union are signed by Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden.16 October
A referendum in Finland approves the Treaty of Accession.
13 November
A referendum in Sweden approves the Treaty of Accession.
27 and 28 November
A referendum in Norway rejects the Treaty of Accession.
9 December
The European Council meets in Essen.
1995
1 January
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the Union.
23 January
A new Commission starts work with Jacques Santer as President (1995-2000).
26 March
The Schengen Agreement comes into force.
2 June
The reflection group on a new intergovernmental conference responsible for revising the treaties holds its first meeting.
12 June
Europe agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
22 June
Romania applies to join the Community.
26 and 27 June
The European Council meets in Cannes. Reflection group instructed to prepare for the intergovernmental conference.
27 June
Slovakia applies to join the Community.27 October
Latvia applies to join the Community.
24 November
Estonia applies to join the Community.
27 and 28 November
Euro-Mediterranean conference in Barcelona.
8 December
Lithuania applies to join the Community.
14 December
Bulgaria applies to join the Community.
15 and 16 December
Madrid European Council.
1996
16 January
Slovenia applies to join the Community.
17 January
The Czech Republic applies to join the Community.
29 March
The intergovernmental conference opens at the Turin European Council.
21 and 22 June
Florence European Council.
13 and 14 December
Dublin European Council.
1997
17 February
Jacques Santer intervenes on bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) at the European Parliament.
16 and 17 June
Amsterdam European Council.16 July
Agenda 2000 presented to the European Parliament.
2 October
'Consolidated' Treaty signed in Amsterdam
20 and 21 November
Summit on jobs in Luxembourg.
12 and 13 December
Luxembourg European Council.
1998
1 January
Britain's Presidency of the Community starts.
30 March
Membership process of the 10 prospective Member States of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus starts, followed by bilateral intergovernmental conferences, initially with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
31 March
Schengen: abolition of immigration control at Italy's land borders.
1-3 May
European Council of finance ministers and European Council. Decision on Member States ready to enter the third stage of the EMU.
15 and 16 June
Cardiff European Council.
1 July
Austria's Presidency of the Community starts.
1999
1 January
Eleven countries of the European Union enter the third phase of EMU and adopt the euro. Start of the German Presidency.25 March
Berlin European Council - global agreement on Agenda 2000 and renewal of the financial perspective.
1 May
Entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty.
3 and 4 June
Cologne European Council.
8-13 June
Fifth direct elections to the European Parliament
1 July
Finland's Presidency of the Community starts.
15 September
Investiture by the European Parliament of the European Commission under the Presidency of Romano Prodi.
10 and 11 December
Helsinki European Council.
2000
1 January
Portugal's Presidency of the Community starts.
1 July
France's Presidency of the Community starts.
2002
1 January
Euro coins and notes come into circulation.
1 July
Coins and notes in national currency withdrawn.
