The European Union: A Timeline of Key Events and Milestones, Study Guides, Projects, Research of European Union law

Download The European Union: A Timeline of Key Events and Milestones and more Study Guides, Projects, Research European Union law in PDF only on Docsity! Timeline #7 The Road to European Union 1944 Bretton Woods agreement creates world monetary system w/fixed exchange rates 1947 Creation of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade) 1952 Creation of European Coal-Steel Community (ECSC) with "the Six."1 1954 Britain becomes "associate" member of ECSC 1958 Treaty of Rome creates European Economic Community (EEC) with "the Six" 1959 Turkey applies for associate membership in EEC 1960 Creation of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with "the Seven".2 1963 France vetoes Britain's application to join EEC 1967 France vetoes Britain's application to join EEC (again!!) EEC becomes EC (just "European Community") 1969 EEC Conference at The Hague decides to enlarge the Community 1972 Norwegians reject EC membership in referendum EC leaders commit the Community to monetary union (EMU) by 1980 1973 The "Northern Enlargement": Britain, Ireland & Denmark join EC.3 1975 EC gets its own income based on external customs duties and 1% VAT 1979 Establishment of an improved European Monetary System (EMS) 1981 Greece joins EC in first step of EC's "Southern Enlargement"4 1985 "Single European Act" sets goal of achieving "common market" by 1992.5 Greenland leaves the EC.6 1986 Spain & Portugal join EC to complete "Southern Enlargement"7 1987 Turkey applies for full EC membership 1990 Reunification of Germany; former GDR now becomes part of EC Malta & Cyprus (Greek portion) apply for membership 1991 Members of EC conclude Treaty on European Union in Maastricht, Netherlands.8 1992 Referendum in Denmark rejects Maastricht treaty (50.7% against) Britain & Italy leave Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) after massive speculation Switzerland applies for membership, but abandons application the same year 1993 EC single internal market comes into existence Second Danish referendum supports amended Maastricht treaty European Union (EU) comes formally into existence 1994 Norwegian referendum rejects accession to the Union for second time (see 1972) GATT becomes the World Trade Organization (WTO) 1995 Austria, Sweden & Finland join the EU.9 1 "The Six" – constituting the core of the states of the European union – were Germany (FRG), France, Italy & the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). 2 "The Seven" included Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal--later joined by Iceland (1970) and Finland (1985). That is, "the Seven" were in effect the non-Six. 3 Application by these three countries first made in 1961 (Norway's first application in 1962). 4 Greek application made in 1975 5 The "Single Act" was ratified in 1987. 6 Greenland had received home rule from Denmark in 1979 and held a referendum in 1982, in which 52% of the population voted to leave the EC. To my knowledge, this is the only case of a country leaving the EC. 7 Application by Spain & Portugal made in 1977. 8 Calls for creation of single currency, the Euro, by 1999 and other elements of further integration. 9 Applications made in 1989, 1991, and 1992 respectively. Creation of World Trade Organization (WTO) as successor to GATT 1997 Turkey is excluded from current round of negotiations for inclusion in EU 1999 Introduction of Euro for certain non-cash transactions Turkey recognized as candidate, but no date set for negotiations 2002 Euro fully replaces national currencies (except in the UK, Denmark & Sweden)10 2004 Ten countries, mostly former communist countries join the Union.11 Croatia gains status as a candidate for membership in EU EU establishes conditions for opening of accession negotiations with Turkey 25 Member states sign European Constitution – but ratification required12 2005 Macedonia formally becomes candidate for membership in EU France & Netherlands reject European Constitution in referenda; ratification ceases13 2007 Romania & Bulgaria join the EU Slovenia adopts the Euro formally Negotiations on Reform (Lisbon) Treaty begin, to replace failed European Constitution 2008 Malta & Cyprus (Greek portion) adopts the Euro 2009 Slovakia to adopt Euro as of January 1 Members of the European Union (and Its Predecessors) 1957 (6) 1973 (9) 1981 (10) 1986 (12) 1995 (15) 2004 (25) 2007 (27) Belgium UK Greece Portugal Austria Cyprus Bulgaria France Denmark Spain Finland Czech Rep. Romania FRG Ireland Sweden Estonia Italy Hungary Luxembourg Latvia Netherlands Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia 10 New members of EU (2004 and 2007) also did not adopt Euro immediately. 11 Those countries (with years of application in parentheses) are Cyprus & Malta (1990), Poland & Hungary (1994), Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech republic, Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia (1995-1996). 12 European Constitution – more accurately, Treaty Establishing a Constitution or Europe – was designed to replace all early EU treaties. 13 Votes in were 54.68% vs. 45.32% (France) and 61.54% vs. 38.46% (Netherlands). The Dutch referendum was only consultative, but the Dutch government resolved not to ratify the Constitution after the vote.