1945

1957

The six countries in the Coal and Steel community signed a treaty and created the European Economic community.

1973

Denmark and the United Kingdom joined these communities.

1979

The first European Parliament elections take place and the Single European Currency Unit was introduced (later to become the Euro)

1981 Greece joins EEC The first Mediterranean

enlargement

1986

Portugal and Spain join the EEC

15 June 1987

The EU launches the ‘Erasmus’ programme to fund university students wishing to study for up to a year in another European country. More than 2 million young people have benefited from this and similar EU schemes.

1989

The Berlin wall opens. East Germans can now travel to West Germany via Berlin.

Spain takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

1990

Germany is

reunited

1992

The treaty on European Union is signed at Maastricht. It comes into force on 1 November 1993.

1993

The single market is created.

1995

Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU. The 15 members now cover almost the whole of western Europe.

1997

The Amsterdam treaty is signed

1999

The euro was introduced in 11 countries

2004 Eight more countries join the Czech

Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The 25 EU countries sign a Treaty.

2007

Two more countries from eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania, now join the EU, bringing the number of member states to 27 countries.

The 27 EU countries sign the Treaty of Lisbon.