Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

60 years ago the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was signed in Rome.

The immigration rate to the European Union is higher than the emigration rate.

Passengers with reduced mobility are entitled to free help at all European airports on departure, arrival and during transit.

122 years ago Jean Monnet was born in Cognac. Jean Monnet dedicated himself to the cause of European integration. He was the inspiration behind the Schuman declaration which is considered to be the birth certificate of the European Union.

Eighty-two years ago Germany and the Allies signed the armistice that brought an end to the First World War in Marshal Ferdinand Foch’s staff dining car in the clearing near Rethondes. Today we are observing this armistice!

16 years ago a popular referendum is held in Sweden on the country's accession to the European Communities. The Swedish population vote in favour of European integration. On 1 January 1995 Sweden joins the European Economic Community.

If you live in another EU country, you have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal and European elections held in that country. The conditions are the same for you as for nationals.

Exactly 99 years ago, Walter Hallstein was born in Mainz. A former professor of law, Walter Hallstein was a dedicated proponent of European integration. In 1958 he became the first president of the European Commission, a position he held for 9 years.

Exactly 19 years ago, the European Court of Justice issued the Francovich ruling. In this milestone decision, the Court ruled that member states can be held liable for failure to transpose European directives into their national legislation within the required timeframe. In such cases, under certain conditions, the member state can be held liable before the national courts by private individuals for damages they have incurred as a result of this delay.

Fifteen years ago the Dayton Peace Accords were accepted by the governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The accords put an end to inter-ethnic conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Precisely 51 years ago, General de Gaulle expressed his vision for Europe in a speech given in Strasbourg: "Yes, it is Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals, it is Europe, it is the whole of Europe that will decide the fate of the world!" The statement, made in the midst of the Cold War, suggested questioning of the order established at the end of the Second World War and a specific stance toward the great American ally.

Today we celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding when the Lisbon Treaty came into force in December 2009.

Three years ago, François-Xavier Ortoli died at the age of 82. This former President of the Commission of European Communities (1973-1977) and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs (1977-1984) was one of the chief architects of the creation of the European Monetary System (EMS) and of the European Monetary Unit (ECU) in 1979.