Lesson 2

Activity 3
Handout 2.2

KEY EVENTS IN EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

1949 European Union comes into being with the Treaty of
NATO Treaty signed. European Union (Maastrict Treaty).

1952 1995
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) established. Austria, Finland, and Sweden join the European Union.

1954 Schengen Agreement on the elimination of border checks

Western European Union comes into being. comes into force.

1955 1997
Warsaw Pact signed. Treaty of Amsterdam signed.

1958 1998
European Economic Community (EEC) and European The membership process begins for the 10 Central and
Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) established Eastern European applicant countries and Cyprus.
under Treaty of Rome.
European Central Bank inaugurated in Frankfurt, Germany.
1960
Stockholm Convention establishing European Free Trade 1999
Association (EFTA) signed. European Monetary Union (EMU) and euro launched in 11
EU countries. The UK, Denmark, and Sweden do not join.
1962
Common Agricultural Policy introduced. 2001
Greece becomes the 12th EU country to join EMU.
1967
ECSC, EEC, and EURATOM merge to form the European Treaty of Nice signed.
Community (EC).
2002
1968 The euro becomes legal tender and permanently replaces
Customs Union completed 18 months early. national currencies in EMU countries.

1973 2003
Denmark, Ireland, and United Kingdom join the European Treaty of Nice enters into force.
Community.
2004
1979 Ten new countries, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia,
European Monetary System (EMS) becomes operative. Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and
Slovenia, become members of the European Union. These
1981 ten new members comprise the biggest EU enlargement
Greece joins the EC. ever in terms of scope and diversity.

1986 EU heads of state and government sign the new European

Spain and Portugal join the EC. constitution, which expands the EU’s powers and is
designed to make the Union more efficient and more
1987 democratic.
Single European Act enters into force.
2005
1990 Voters in France and the Netherlands reject plans to ratify
Germany reunited. the EU constitution, which has to be ratified by all 25
members.
1991
European Community and European Free Trade European Union accession negotiations open with Turkey
Association (EFTA) agree to form European Economic and Croatia.
Area (EEA).
2006
1993 Bulgaria and Romania become new members of the EU.
European single market achieved on schedule.
Slovenia adopts the euro as its currency.

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