EU key dates
The idea of the European integration was introduced after World War II, when a number of European leaders sought ways to secure peace and stability on the continent.
Take a glimpse at the following key dates that point out the most salient moments of the EU's integration process.
- 2011 January Estonia adopts the euro
- 2009 December The Lisbon Treaty comes into force. Herman VAN ROMPUY takes office as President of the European Council and Catherine ASHTON as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
- 2009 June The seventh direct elections to the European Parliament.
- 2009 January Slovakia adopts the euro.
- 2008 December Switzerland joins the Schengen area.
- 2008 January Cyprus and Malta adopt the euro.
- 2007 January Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. Slovenia adopts the euro.
- 2005 October European Union accession negotiations open with Turkey and Croatia..
- 2005 May The people of France and of the Netherlands choose to say no to the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty.
- 2004 May The Accession Treaty enters into force and the European Union’s biggest enlargement ever in terms of scope and diversity becomes a reality with 10 new countries - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia - representing all together more than 100 million citizens, joining the European Union.
- 2003 April The Treaty of Accession between the EU and the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia is signed in Athens, Greece.
- 2003 February The Treaty of Nice enters into force.
- 2002 April The Treaty of Accession between the EU and the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia is signed in Athens, Greece.
- 2002 February First meeting of Convention, presided by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.
- 2001 December Laeken European Council adopts ‘Declaration’ opening debate on future of an enlarged Europe. Launch of Convention, to prepare for 2003 Intergovernmental Conference on future shape of Europe.
- 2000 December Signature of Treaty of Nice, fixing new basis for functioning of European institutions ahead of EU enlargement. Adoption of EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- 1999 September Commission of Romano Prodi is sworn in.
- 1999 June Fifth direct elections of European Parliament
- 1999 May European Council in Berlin designates Romano Prodi new President of Commission
- 1999 March Collective resignation of Jacques Santer’s European Commission
- 1999 January Official launch of euro for 11 Eurozone countries
- 1998 December Council adopts conversion rates between national currencies of the 11 Eurozone countries and the euro
- 1998 May European Council in Brussels indicates countries eligible to adopt the single currency (‘Maastricht criteria’). Greece stays out; UK and Denmark opt out. Sweden does not fulfil all the criteria.
- 1997 December In Luxembourg, European Council takes decisions needed to launch EU enlargement process
- 1997 October Treaty signed in Amsterdam which modified the Treaty of Maastricht, creating the European Community
- 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden join EU. There are now 15 member countries. European Council in Madrid selects 1 January 1999 as official start of third phase of Economic and Monetary Union. Future single currency named as “euro”.
- 1993 Ratification procedure of Treaty of Maastricht is completed
- 1992 Treaty creating European Union is signed in Maastricht. Establishes a community evolving towards economic and monetary union (UK and Denmark obtain dispensations) and towards various intergovernmental cooperation
- 1986 Spain and Portugal join European Community. Signing in Luxembourg and The Hague of Single European Act, creating a frontier-free market
- 1985 Five member states sign Schengen Agreement for abolition of Union’s internal borders. Only comes into effect in 1995
- 1981 Greece becomes EC’s tenth member
- 1979 First direct elections for European Parliament.
- 1973 Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom join European Economic Community (EEC)
- 1958 Treaties of Rome become law. Brussels is now home to EEC and Euratom communities. The three communities (ECSC, EEC and Euratom) share the Parliamentary Assembly and the Court of Justice. Creation of European Investment Bank and Economic and Social Committee
- 1957 Meeting in Rome, representatives of “the Six” sign treaties creating European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community)
- 1951 Six nations – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – sign Paris Treaty, creating European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
- 1950 Inspired by Jean Monnet, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposes that France and Germany, together with all interested countries in Europe, pool their coal and steel resources
