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Home / Politics & Society / Towards Brexit? The UK's EU Referendum / Timeline of European integration
Timeline of European integration
Overview of the history and development of the European Union over time.
© The University of Edinburgh CC BY SA 2016
The European Union has progressively evolved over several decades. This timeline chronicles the addition of new members, major treaty changes and the development of flagship EU policies.
1952 – European Coal and Steel Community
Treaty of Paris establishes the European Coal and Steel Community between France, (West) Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg1958 – European Economic Community
Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC)1973 – First Enlargement
UK, Ireland and Denmark join the EEC1981 – Mediterranean Enlargement 1
Greece joins the EEC1985 – Schengen Area
Schengen Agreement establishes borderless travel area by 19951986 – Mediterranean Enlargement 2
Spain and Portugal join the EEC1987 – Single European Act
Commitment to revitalise and complete the Single Market by 19921990 – Unification of Germany
Integration of East and West Germany brings East Germany into the EC1993 – European Union
Treaty of Maastricht creates the European Union (EU) and establishes Economic and Monetary Union (leading to the euro)1995 – ‘Neutral Countries’ Enlargement
Sweden, Austria and Finland join the EU1999 – The Euro
Creation of the euro currency (in virtual form)1999 – Preparation for Enlargement
Treaty of Amsterdam updates the EU institutions in advance of the Eastern enlargement2002 – Euro in Circulation
Euro notes and coins enter circulation2003 – More Institutional Changes
Treaty of Nice makes further reforms of the EU institutions2004 – Eastern Enlargement 1
Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta join the EU2005 – Constitutional Treaty
Constitutional Treaty rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands and is abandoned2007 – Eastern Enlargement 2
Romania and Bulgaria join the EU2009 – EU Institutional Reforms
Treaty of Lisbon reforms the EU, including the European Council, and incorporates much of the original Constitutional Treaty2013 – Balkans Enlargement
Croatia joins the EU
© The University of Edinburgh CC BY SA 2016
This article is from the online course:
Towards Brexit? The UK's EU Referendum
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