Timeline of the EU By meralij Jan 1, 1946 Welfare state in Great Britain Jan 1, 1947 Truman Doctrine Jan 1, 1947 Marshall Plan Jan 1, 1949 Formation of NATO Jan 1, 1951 Formation of European Coal and Steel Community Jan 1, 1955 West Germany joins NATO Jan 1, 1957 Formation of European Economic Community Jan 1, 1973 European Economic Community expands Great Britian, Ireland and Denmark joined Jan 1, 1981 Greece joins EC Jan 1, 1986 Spain and Portugal join EC Dec 1, 1989 Collapse of Communist gov in Czechoslovakia Dec 1, 1989 Collapse of East German gov Oct 3, 1990 Reunification of Germany Dec 1, 1991 Dissolution of Soviet Union Jan 1, 1992 Conservative victory in Great Britain Jan 1, 1993 Conservative victory in France Jan 1, 1994 Creation of European Union