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Schuman Declaration
Presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and steel production. In pooling economic resources, war between European states will become impossible.
The ECSC (founding members: France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of a series of supranational European institutions that would ultimately become today's "European Union". -
Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community
to create interdependence in coal and steel so that one country could no longer mobilise its armed forces without others knowing. This eased distrust and tensions after WWII. The ECSC treaty expired in 2002. -
Hungarian Revolution
In Hungary, people rise against the Soviet-backed regime. In November, Soviet tanks appear on the streets of Budapest to quash the protests. -
Treaty of Rome
Established the European Economic Community (creation of the Common Market) and the European Atomic Energy Community -
Berlin Wall
Construction of the wall begins -
Common Agricultural Policy
Gives the countries joint control over food production. Farmers are paid the same price for their produce. The EU grows enough food for its needs and farmers earn well. The unwanted side-effect is overproduction with mountains of surplus produce. Since the 1990s, priorities have been to cut surpluses and raise food quality. -
Paris Student Riots
Reflected frustration at remote and unresponsive governments as well as protests again the Vietnam War and the nuclear arms race. -
Removal of Customs Duties
The six remove customs duties on goods imported from each other, allowing free cross-border trade for the first time. They also apply the same duties on their imports from outside countries. The world’s biggest trading group is born. Trade among the six and between the EU and the rest of the world grows rapidly. -
Prague Spring
Soviet tanks thunder into Prague in August 1968 to crush the short-lived Prague spring of fledgling democracy in Czechoslovakia. With over 600 000 troops occupying the country, the Czechs and Slovaks are powerless. One student, Jan Palach, burns himself to death in protest. -
Exchange Rate Mechanism and Environmental Regulations
To maintain monetary stability, EU members decide to allow their currencies to fluctuate against each other only within narrow limits. This exchange rate mechanism is a first step towards the introduction of the euro, 30 years later.
The fight against pollution intensifies in the 1970s. The EU adopts laws to protect the environment, introducing the notion of ‘the polluter pays ’ for the first time. Pressure groups such as Greenpeace are founded. -
6-9
The six become nine when Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom formally enter the EU. -
End of Arab-Israeli War
Middle East oil-producing nations impose big price increases and restrict sales to certain European countries. This creates economic problems throughout the EU. -
European Regional Development Fund
Its purpose is to transfer money from rich to poor regions to improve roads and communications, attract investment and create jobs. This type of activity later comes to account for one third of all EU spending. -
Death of General Franco
The last right-wing dictatorships in Europe come to an end with the overthrow of the Salazar regime in Portugal in 1974 and the death of General Franco of Spain in 1975. -
Voting Reform
EU citizens directly elect the members of the European Parliament for the first time. Previously they were delegated by national parliaments. Members sit in pan-European political groups (Socialist, Conservative, Liberal, Greens, etc.) and not in national delegations. The influence of the Parliament is constantly increasing. -
9-10
Greece gets in on this bitch - it was eligible since 1974 when its military government was overthrown and democracy was restored -
10-12
Spain and Portugal joins -
Single European Act
Reformed the institutions in preparation for Portugal and Spain's membership and speed up decision-making in preparation for the single market. Main changes: extension of qualified majority voting in the Council (majority vote = 55% of member states representing 65% of the EU population), creation of the cooperation and assent procedures, giving Parliament more influence. Four freedoms: movement of goods, people, services, and money -
ERASMUS Program
Funded university students wishing to study for up to a year in another European country. More than 2 million young people have benefited from this and similar EU schemes. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
The collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, which began in Poland and Hungary, is symbolised by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Faced by a mass exodus of its citizens to West, the East German government throws open the gates. Germany is united after more than 40 years, and its eastern part joins the EU (October 1990). -
Balkans Drama (all of 1991)
Yugoslavia begins to break apart. Fighting erupts first in Croatia, then in Bosnia and Herzegovina where Serbs, Croats and Muslims fight in a bloody civil war. -
Treaty on European Union - Maastricht Treaty
Under the treaty, the name ‘European Union’ officially replaces ‘European Community’. Purpose: to prepare for European Monetary Union and introduce elements of a political union (citizenship, common foreign and internal affairs policy).
Main changes: establishment of the European Union and introduction of the co-decision procedure, giving Parliament more say in decision-making. New forms of cooperation between EU governments – for example on defense and justice and home affairs. -
12-15
Austria, Finland, and Sweden joins -
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement takes effect in seven countries — Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Travellers of any nationality can travel between all these countries with no passport control at the frontiers. Other countries have since joined the passport-free Schengen area. -
Treaty of Amsterdam
Purpose: To reform the EU institutions in preparation for the arrival of future member countries.
Main changes: amendment, renumbering and consolidation of EU and EEC treaties. More transparent decision-making (expanded the ordinary legislative procedure).
The ordinary legislative procedure gives the same weight to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on a wide range of areas (economic governance, immigration, energy, transport, the environment and consumer protection). -
Introduction of the Euro
The euro is introduced in 11 countries (joined by Greece in 2001) for commercial and financial transactions only. Notes and coins will come later. The euro countries are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom decide to stay out for the time being. -
Expansion of Euro
Euro notes and coins become the legal currency in 12 EU countries. Printing, minting and distributing them is a major logistical operation. More than 80 billion coins are involved. Notes are the same for all countries. Coins have one common face, giving the value, while the other carries a national emblem. All circulate freely -
More Balkans drama
As part of its foreign and security policy, the EU takes on peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, firstly in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and then in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In both cases, EU-led forces replace NATO units. Internally, the EU agrees to create an area of freedom, security and justice for all citizens by 2010. -
15-25
Eight countries of central and eastern Europe — the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia— join the EU, finally ending the division of Europe decided by the 'Great Powers' 60 years earlier at the Yalta Conference in the Crimea. Cyprus and Malta also become members. -
25-27
Bulgaria and Romania hop on board -
Treaty of Lisbon
Purpose: to make the EU more democratic, more efficient and better able to address global problems, such as climate change, with one voice. Main changes: more power for the European Parliament, change of voting procedures in the Council, citizens' initiative, a permanent president of the European Council, a new High Representative for Foreign Affairs, a new EU diplomatic service. The Lisbon treaty clarifies which powers:
- belong to the EU
- belong to EU member countries
- are shared. -
Financial Crisis
A major financial crisis hits the world economy. The problems start with mortgage loans in the United States. Several European banks also experience difficulties. The crisis leads to closer economic cooperation between EU countries. -
27-28
Croatia joins -
Brexit
28-27