Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The European Copenhagen Summit began on 3 December 1982. Priority economic goals were announced during the Summit as was the political commitment to enlargement.

Every December 5^th since 1926 has been stamped by the homage paid to mark the death of the renowned painter Claude Monet. Considered the leading representative of the Impressionist school, he is, without a doubt, among the most famous artists in European history.

The Treaty of Nice was adopted on 7 and 8 December 2000. This Treaty aimed at reforming the decision-making system of the European Union with the idea of a future enlargement.

On 9 and 10 December 1974 the Summit of Paris was held, in the course of which the new Heads of State and Government took the decision to meet regularly in the European Council (at the rate of three times per year). They also proposed to elect the European Parliament by universal suffrage and decided to set up the European Regional Development Fund.

On 11 and 12 December, during the European Council of Edinburgh, Denmark obtained an easing of the Treaty of Maastricht so that it could conduct a second referendum. In addition, the opening of accession negotiations with Austria, Sweden and Finland was accepted.

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed on 13 December 2007. Among the principal reforms that this treaty provides for: creation of a permanent post of President of the European Council, modification of the post of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (PESC), extension of the vote by qualified majority within the framework of decisions of the Council of Ministers to numerous areas, strengthening of the powers of the European Parliament, etc.

On 16 December 1631 the Sicilian volcano Vesuvius erupted powerfully. Vesuvius is one of the best known volcanoes in the EU. Since 2003 the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has been using a high-resolution radar system known as LISA to monitor volcanic activity. The system is currently in use for a different Italian Volcano: Stromboli.

PHARE is one of the three pre-entry instruments of the EU with which the Union offers help to candidate member states in the necessary preparation to join the EU.
It was established on 18 December 1989 to support Poland and Hungary in their political and economic switch. Since the Essen European Council of 1994, PHARE is used for financial and technical cooperation which each country that wishes to become a member state.

The euro was introduced in December 1995. The European currency was named at the Madrid Summit 15 years ago.

One year ago, Serbia knocked at the door of the EU asking to join the club of 27. Since 25 October, Serbia has been an unofficial candidate member state. However, it may take a number of years before the Serbs can effectively join the EU. 

Ariane I, the first European rocket was launched successfully on 24 December 1979, from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana. The rocket was developed to take two telecommunication satellites into the atmosphere. The rocket was launched successfully nine times. Two launch attempts failed.

The share of people aged 65 years or over in the total EU population is projected to increase from 17.1 % to 30.0 %. And the number of 65 year olds is projected to rise from 84.6 million in 2008 to 151.5 million in 2060. Similarly, the number of people aged 80 years or over is projected to almost triple from 21.8 million in 2008 to 61.4 million in 2060.

The 2008-based national population projections (EUROPOP2008 convergence scenario) show the EU population rising gradually from 495.4 million in 2008, to a peak of 520.7 million in 2035. Thereafter, it will decline gradually to 505.7 million on 1 January 2060.

In 2007, the European Union counted around 96 million young people aged between 15 and 29 years. These young people and their elders are facing two demographic challenges: the ageing and the impending decline of the European population. In fact, according to projections, by 2050 the population aged under 15 will account for a quarter of all persons of working age (15–64) and for half of the population aged over 64.