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1950
Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, proposes his plan to communitise the coal and steel industries in Western Europe.
1951
Six counties (France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg) create the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
1957
The Six of Western Europe sign the Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). These Treaties enter into force in 1958. The objective is to remove trade and customs barriers and create a common market.
1967
The three Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) merge into a single body: the European Commission. The respective Councils also merge.
1973
The United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland join the EEC. The Europe of the Nine is born.
1979
First election of the European Parliament by universal suffrage.
1981
Greece joins the EEC.
1986
Spain and Portugal join the EEC to form the Europe of the Twelve.
1986
The Twelve adopt the Single European Act (SEA) with the objective of creating a large single market within the same European area without borders. The idea of economic and monetary union is relaunched.
1992
Treaty of Maastricht signed. The European Community becomes the European Union, with the objective of democratising the EU institutions, developing a common foreign and security policy, establishing police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (pillar structure) etc. Treaty enters into force in 1993.
1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the Union.
1997
Treaty of Amsterdam signed. Treaty enters into force in 1998.
2001
Treaty of Nice signed with the objective of establishing how the European institutions would function in preparation for enlargement to 25 Member States.
2002
Euro notes and coins introduced.
2004
Cyprus, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia join.
2004
Treaty establishing a European Constitution signed.
2005
‘No’ votes in France and the Netherlands to the Treaty establishing a European Constitution.
2007
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU to form Europe of the 27.
2007
Treaty of Lisbon signed by the 27 with the objective of reforming the EU institutions, simplifying its decision-making process, improving coherence between foreign policies etc.
2009
Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December. Belgian Herman Van Rompuy is elected as the first permanent President of the European Council. Briton Catherine Ashton takes over the new function of High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs.