A Short History of the European Union

1) Who first proposed the idea of the EU?

19 SEPTEMBER 1946: Winston Churchill calls for a United States of Europe (Zürich).

2) How many Member States are there now?

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

3) What was the first concrete action for postwar economic recovery?

5 JUNE 1947:The Marshall Plan for the economic revival of a Europe devastated by war is announced.

4) Precursor Events:

16 APRIL 1948: The Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) is created to coordinate the Marshall Plan.

4 APRIL 1949: Signature in Washington of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

5 MAY 1949: Birth of the Council of Europe (Treaty of Strasbourg).

The European Coal and Steel Community

9 MAY 1950: In a speech inspired by Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposes that France and Germany and any other European country wishing to join them should pool their Coal and Steel resources ("Schuman Declaration").

5) Founding of the ECSC:

18 APRIL 1951: The Six (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands) sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

27 MAY 1952: The Six (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands) sign in Paris the European Defense Community (EDC) Treaty.

6) The Next Evolution - The European Community:

29 MAY 1956: Meeting in Venice, the Foreign Ministers decide to open intergovernmental negotiations for the conclusions of two Treaties setting up an European Economic Community and an Atomic Energy Community.

25 MARCH 1957: The Treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) are signed by the Six in Rome (“Treaties of Rome”).

7) The European Community:

1 JANUARY 1958: The Treaties of Rome enter into force. The EEC and Euratom Commissions are set up in Brussels.

1 JANUARY 1959: The first steps are taken in the progressive abolition of customs duties and quotas within the EEC.

8) What about the other European Nations?

3 MAY 1960: The Stockholm Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) among 7 European countries (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom) enters into force.

9) Social and Economic Integration:

20 SEPTEMBER 1960: The Council of the Six adopts the first regulation on the European Social Fund.

14 DECEMBER 1960: The Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) becomes the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

10) When did Spain join?

28 JULY 1977: Spain applies for Community membership.

29 NOVEMBER 1978: The Commission gives favourable opinion on Spain's application for membership.

5 FEBRUARY 1979: Spanish accession negotiations formally open in Brussels.

12 JUNE 1985: Signature of Accession Treaty of Spain (Portugal also approved.)

1 JANUARY 1986: Spain and Portugal join the Community.

11) Fiscal and Monetary Integration:

6/7 JULY 1978: At the Bremen European Council an agreement on a common strategy to achieve a higher rate of economic growth in order to reduce unemployment is approved. A plan setting up a European Monetary System (EMS) is also approved.

4/5 DECEMBER 1978: Brussels European Council establishes the European Monetary System based on a European currency unit (the ECU) and calls in a committee of leading personalities to consider adjustments to institutional mechanisms and procedures in the context of enlargement.

13 MARCH 1979: European Monetary System enters into force.

1 JULY 1990: The first phase of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) comes into force.

12) European Parliament and European Union:

7 and 10 JUNE 1979: First election to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

14 FEBRUARY 1984: The draft Treaty on the establishment of the European Union (Spinelli draft) is passed by the European Parliament by a large majority.

1 JANUARY 1985: The first European passports are issued in most of the Member States

13) Integration and the Internal Market:

14 JUNE 1985: Commission sends European Council a White Paper on completion of internal market by 1992. Schengen Agreement on elimination of border controls is signed by Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in Schengen (Luxembourg).

Italy joined the Schengen Group in 1990, Portugal and Spain in 1991, and Greece in 1992.

9 SEPTEMBER 1985: First meeting of Intergovernmental Conference attended by Foreign Ministers of Ten, Spain and Portugal.

2-4 DECEMBER 1985: Luxembourg European Council: the Ten agree to amend the Treaty of Rome and to revitalize the process of European integration by drawing up a Single European Act.

14) Spain and Portugal and the ECU:

13 MAY 1987: Bank of Spain signs agreement to join the European Monetary System.

10 NOVEMBER 1987: Bank of Portugal signs agreement to join the European Monetary System.

19 JUNE 1989: Peseta enters EMS exchange-rate mechanism; composition of ECU adjusted following inclusion of Peseta and Escudo.

15) Austrian and German Developments:

17 JULY 1989: Austria applies to join the European Community.

9 NOVEMBER 1989: Collapse of the Berlin Wall. The German Democratic Republic opens its borders.

28 APRIL 1990: Dublin European Council approves common approach in German unification and in relations with Central and Eastern European countries.

3 OCTOBER 1990: Unification of Germany

1 JANUARY 1995: Austria becomes a member of the European Union.

16) Treaty on European Union (Maastricht, 1992):

9/10 DECEMBER 1991: Maastricht European Council reaches agreement on Treaty on European Union draft.

7 FEBRUARY 1992: Treaty on European Union signed in Maastricht by Foreign and Finance Ministers of Member States.

25 NOVEMBER 1992: Spain ratifies Treaty on European Union.

18 DECEMBER 1992: Germany ratifies Treaty on European Union.

17) Treaty of Amsterdam, 1999:

1 JANUARY 1993: The Single European Market enters into force.

1 NOVEMBER 1993: All ratification procedures completed; Treaty on European Union enters into force.

1 MAY 1999:The Treaty of Amsterdam, amending the Treaty on European Union, the treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, went into effect.

18) Goals of the European Union:

The ultimate goal of the European Union is “an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen”.

The objective is to promote economic and social progress which is balanced and sustainable, assert the European identity on the international scene, and introduce a European citizenship for the nationals of the Member States.

19) Institutions of the European Union:

European Parliament, Council of the European Union, European Commission, Court of Justice, Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, European Investment Bank, Statistical Office.

20) Languages of the European Union:

Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Efforts to support the languages of minorities are ongoing. Examples are Basque and Friesian.

21) The Euro:

15 NOVEMBER 1994: European Monetary Institute Council meets for the first time in Frankfurt.

15/16 DECEMBER 1995: Madrid European Council sets 29 March 1996 as starting date for Intergovernmental Conference and confirms the introduction of the single currency called “Euro” on 1 January 1999.

22) The Notes:

There are 7 Euro notes. In different colors and sizes they are denominated in 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 Euros. The designs are symbolic for Europe's architectural heritage. They do not represent any existing monuments.

Windows and gateways dominate the front side of each banknote as symbols of the spirit of openness and cooperation in the EU. The reverse side of each banknote features a bridge from a particular age, a metaphor for communication among the people of Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world.

23) The Coins:

There are 8 Euro coins denominated in 2 and 1 Euros, then 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Every Euro coin will carry a common European face. On the obverse, each Member State will decorate the coins with their own motifs. No matter which motif is on the coins they can be used anywhere inside the Member States.

The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins put emphasis of Europe's place in the world while the 10, 20 and 50 present the Union as a gathering of nations. The 1 and 2 Euro coins depict Europe without frontiers. Final designs were agreed at the European Council meeting in Amsterdam in June 1997.

24) An Example:

A French citizen will be able to buy a hot dog in Berlin using an Euro coin carrying the imprint of the King of Spain. The common European face of the coins represents a map of the European Union against a background of transverse lines to which are attached the stars of the European flag.

25) The Euro and other symbols:

What gender is the Euro? Masculine.

The Flag has 12 stars. Why 12 stars? It makes a perfect circle.

The European Anthem - adapted from the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony - was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1972. It is also used by the European Union. Herbert von Karajan acceded to a request by the Council of Europe to write three instrumental arrangements for solo piano, wind and symphonic orchestras.

26) Europe Day:

When is Europe Day? Why?

Europe Day is the 9th of May, an annual occasion for activities that bring Europe closer to the citizens. It is an occasion for providing information and encouraging discussion on European Union issues, and for festivities that bring together people and cultures from different European countries.

27) The Motto of the European Union:

The Motto was to bve decided by an open contest in 2000. Suggestions?

28) The Future - the EU’s main objectives:

The main objectives are the implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam (which contains new rights for citizens, freedom of movement, employment, strengthening the institutions); an enlargement of the EU, taking in the applicant countries from central and eastern Europe (Agenda 2000); and the launching of the Euro.