(This page is under development)
| 19
Sept 1946 Churchill's Speech |
9 May 1950 The Schuman Plan |
18 April 1951 Treaty of Paris |
10
August 1952 High Authority Established |
May
1953 Treaty for a Europe Defense Community |
30
August 1954 France Rejects Treaty |
June
1955 Messina Conference |
25 March 1957 Treaty of Rome |
1
January 1958 Rome Treaties in effect |
July
1961 U.K. applies to enter |
1962 CAP is born |
January
1963 De Gaulle says, "non" |
20
July 1963 Yaoundé Convention |
8
April 1965 Merger Treaty signed |
1
July 1968 Customs Union completed |
1969 De Gaulle passes from the scene |
December
1969 European Summit in the Hague |
1970 EC gets its own budget |
1 January 1973 First Enlargement |
7-10 January 1979 First Elections to Parliament |
1 January 1981 Second Enlargement |
19
June 1985 European Council meets |
1 January 1986 Third Enlargement |
1 July 1987 Single European Act |
26-27
June 1989 European Council meets in Madrid |
2nd
half 1989 Communisum Crumbles in Eastern Euope |
3
October 1990 East Germany joins |
1 November 1993 Treaty on European Union |
1 January 1995 Fourth Enlargement |
17 June 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam concluded |
1
January 1999 Year of the Euro |
1
January 2002 Single Currency |
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| Call
for a "United States of Europe"
|
Historic
first step. French-German reconciliation. Jean Monnet proposes a European Community in Coal and Steel. |
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) founded. | ECSC
executive in place Jean Monnet 1st President (precursor of the European Commision) |
The
Six plan to join their armed forces. Work for a treaty on political union begins. |
National
Assembly refuses to ratify draft treaty. Public opinion not ready for military and political union. |
The
Six decide to set up a common market. A move to economic revival as a basis for further political unity. |
European
Economic Community (EEC) formed. "Common Market" is born. European Atomic Community (Euratom) formed by seperate Treaty. Rome Treaties and Paris treaty form the constitution. This makes significant transfers of national sovereignty to the European Community. |
Walter
Hallstein, 1st President of EEC Commission. Prosperity for the Six becomes a beacon for others. |
Ireland, Denmark and Norway follow. | Common Agricultural Policy | Vetoes
U.K. application, other three withdraw (three years later he again vetoes the U.K. entry). |
Signed in Cameroun with 18 former colonies of EEC states, provided for ... of their products to the ECC and for development aid. Later replaced by Yaoundé II and expanded by the four Lomé Conventions to the other developing countries of Africa, the Carribean and the Pacific (ACP states). | Institutions of the three communities (ECSC, ECC and Euratom) are merged - Single Council, Commission and Parliament. | Removes all duties between Member States, creates a common external tariff (18 months ahead of schedule). | Resigns as French President, dies a year later. | Leaders go far beyond a Customs Union, agree on a true Economic and Monetary Union (other important summits take place in Paris in 1972 and 1974, leading to formation of the European Council, a forum for leaders to meet). | Revenues from customs duties, agricultural levies and a % of Value Added Tax from Member States. | U.K., Ireland and Denmark join. | Direct elections to the European Parliament by Universal Sufferage. Members (MEPs) elected not by state of origin, but by party. | Greece joins (Greece and Turkey both applied back in 1959). | Endorsel plan to complete the Single Market by the end of 1992. | Spain and Portugal join (Greece uses its veteo as a lever to obtain more economic assistance). | Launches
"Europe 1992". Signed the year before, set 1 January 1993 as date for achieving a full single market. Also recognised need to assist certain struggling regions and to improve living conditions (the social dimension). Fundamental revisions to the Treaty of Rome to broaden majority voting and reduce the need for unanimity. |
Endorses
Delors plan for Economic and Monetary Union. Social Charter of Workers' Rights approved by 11 of 12 leaders (U.K. declines). |
Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania on road to democracy, look to EC assistance and security. | Enters as part of a newly united Germany, no lengthy negotiations. | Enters
into force after delays and ratification by Member States. "Common Market" becomes the "European Union". |
Austria, Finland and Sweden join. | Majority voting extended (treaty is a "catch all" of proposals with something for everyone). | Euro introduced for those 12 joining (U.K., Sweden and Denmark hold back). Notes and coins not yet issued. | Euro notes and coins issued, euro becomes a full reality. |