European Union timeline

NOA LASIERRA 3ºB

European Union timeline

1970-79

1990-99

2010-19

1945-59

A Europe without frontiers.

Peace in Europe and the beginnings of cooperation.

A growing Community.

A challenging decade.

1980-89

2000-09

2020-today

1960-69

A united E.U.

Further expansion.

The changing face of Europe.

A period of economic growth.

2020-today

31 January 2020 – United Kingdom leaves the E.U. The UK leaves the E.U. after 47 years of membership. April 2021 – Launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe The E.U. launches the year-long Conference on the Future of Europe in 2021. February 2022 – Russia invades Ukraine The E.U. and its international partners firmly condemn Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression, they adopt a series of hard-hitting sanctions against Russia and provide assistance to Ukraine.

1945-59

8 May 1945 – end of World War II in Europe 5 May 1949 – The Council of Europe is established 10 European countries create the Council of Europe to promote democracy and protect human rights and the rule of law. 18 April 1951 – European Coal and Steel Community Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (the six founding countries) sign a treaty to run their coal and steel industries under a common management. It comes into being in 1952. 25 March 1957 – Treaties of Rome The six founding countries sign two treaties, creating the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). They come into being on 1 January 1958. 19 March 1958 – Birth of the European Parliament Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community is replaced and its name is changed to the European Parliament.

2000-09

26 February 2001 – Treaty of Nice E.U. leaders sign the Treaty of Nice. It aims to reform the institutions so the E.U. can function efficiently even with a big number of member countries. 1 January 2002 – Euro notes and coins launch in 12 countries Euro notes and coins become the legal currency in 12 E.U. countries. Printing, minting and distributing them is a major logistical operation. 1 May 2004 – Cyprus, Malta, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia join the E.U. 1 January 2007 – Bulgaria and Romania join the E.U. 13 December 2007 – Lisbon Treaty The 27 E.U. countries sign the Treaty of Lisbon, which is designed to make the E.U. more democratic, efficient and transparent, and therefore able to tackle global challenges. September 2008 – Global economic crisis A major financial crisis hits the world economy and leads to closer economic cooperation between E.U. countries.

1990-99

7 February 1992 – Maastricht Treaty The Treaty on European Union sets clear rules for a single currency, for foreign and security policy and for a closer cooperation in justice and home affairs. The ‘European Union’ is officially created by the treaty. 1 January 1993 – Launch of the single market The single market and its 4 freedoms (free movement of people, goods, services and money) are established.

1 January 1995 – Austria, Finland and Sweden join the E.U. 26 March 1995 – Border-free travel begins in 7 countries The Schengen Agreement says that travellers from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain can move between these nations with no passport controls at the frontiers. 2 October 1997 – Treaty of Amsterdam The Treaty of Amsterdam is signed. It builds on the achievements of the Maastricht Treaty. 1 January 1999 – The Euro is born The euro is introduced in the E.U. countries (except forDenmark, Sweden and the U.K.) for commercial and financial transactions only.

1960-69

3 May 1960 – European Free Trade Association created The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is created to promote free trade and economic integration between certain countries not in the EEC. 20 July 1963 – The EEC signs its first big international agreement The countries of the EEC sign the Yaoundé Convention to promote cooperation and trade with 18 former colonies in Africa. Today the E.U. has this kind of relationship with 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions. 8 April 1965 – Signing of the ‘Merger Treaty’ The Treaty merges the executives of the 3 Communities (the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and Euratom). From now on, there will be a single administrative arm (the Commission) and a single executive (the Council). 1 July 1968 – beginning of the Customs Union The 6 member countries remove customs duties on goods imported from each other, which means free cross-border trade. They apply the same duties on their imports from outside countries.

2010-19

2010 – Europe tackles the financial crisis Following the economic crisis that began in 2008, several countries encounter problems with public finances. The 16 E.U. countries that use the euro back a plan to help them deal with their deficits. 1 July 2013 – Croatia joins the E.U. 23 June 2016 – United Kingdom votes to leave the E.U. In a referendum in June 2016, 52% of voters in the United Kingdom vote for the UK to leave the European Union. December 2019 – Towards a climate-neutral Europe A new Commission takes office with its sights firmly set on making Europe climate-neutral by 2050 through a new growth strategy, the European Green Deal.

1980-89

1 January 1981 – Greece joins the European Communities. 28 February 1984 – First European research programme The ‘Esprit’ programme launches in 1984, the first of many research and innovation programmes at European level. 1 January 1986 – Spain and Portugal join the European Communities February 1986 – Towards a single market Although customs duties disappeared in 1968, trade is not flowing freely across the borders between member countries. The Single European Act launches a 6-year programme to solve the problem and create a single market. 13 June 1987 – Launch of the Erasmus Programme The Erasmus programme is launched to finance university students wishing to study in another European country.

1970-79

1970s – Environmental protection on the agenda The European communities adopt laws to protect the environment. Many environmental NGOs are founded. 1 January 1973 – Denmark, Ireland and the U. K. join the European Communities. 10 December 1974 – Reducing disparities between the regions Leaders of the EEC agree to set up a major new fund (European Regional Development Fund) to transfer money from rich to poor regions, so the poor ones improve infrastructure, attract investment and create jobs. June 1979 – First direct elections to the European Parliament European citizens directly elect the members of the European Parliament for the first time.