European Union

The Second World War ends in Europe, leaving the continent devastated with millions of casualties and displaced individuals, and six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Winston Churchill reiterated his calls for a 'European Union' and 'Council of Europe', emphasizing European integration as an antidote to extreme nationalism that led to the war.

The European Union was officially formed in 1950, initially as the European Coal and Steel Community, with the aim of promoting economic cooperation and preventing future wars among European countries.

The Schuman Declaration on 9 May 1950 led to the drafting of the Treaty of Paris, which created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a milestone organization for European economic development and integration.

French foreign minister Robert Schuman made a declaration on 20 June 1950, which led to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This declaration is also known as the Schuman Declaration.

On 18 April 1951, in Paris, six countries including Belgium, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The treaty came into force on 23 July 1952 for a period of 50 years.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was established in 1952 and consists of two courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court. It is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application across all EU member states.

In 1952, the European Coal and Steel Community, European Commission, and European Court of Justice established their headquarters in the city.

In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) or 'Common Market', aiming for free movement of people, goods, and services across borders.

The Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and establishing a customs union. It also established the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for cooperation in developing nuclear power.

The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community, laying the foundation for the European Union and promoting economic cooperation among member states.

Following the success of the Coal and Steel Treaty, the 6 founding countries expanded their cooperation to other economic sectors by signing two treaties, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) on 1 January 1958.

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) was reformed in 1961 into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), extending its membership to states outside of Europe, including the United States and Canada.

The Merger Treaty was signed in 1967, creating a single set of institutions for the European Communities, collectively referred to as the European Communities.

At the Paris Summit, the political leaders of the nine member states agree to establish the European Council, with a commitment to meet three times a year. They also approve the direct elections to the European Parliament and the creation of the European Regional Development Fund.

The Berlin Wall, which had separated East and West Berlin for decades, fell on this date, symbolizing the end of the Cold War era and the reunification of Germany.

Margaret Thatcher resigned as the Prime Minister of the UK on November 22, 1990, amidst internal divisions within the Conservative Party regarding the country's involvement in Europe. Her resignation marked the end of an era in British politics.

The Maastricht European Council adopts a Treaty on European Union, laying the basis for a common foreign and security policy, closer cooperation on justice and home affairs, and the creation of an economic and monetary union, including a single currency.

The Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992, laid the foundation for the European Union by establishing the framework for economic and political integration among European countries.

The Maastricht Treaty, which laid the foundation for the European Union, was signed in 1992, leading to greater political and economic integration in Europe.

The Treaty on the European Union was signed in Maastricht on February 7, 1992, marking a significant step in the integration of European countries. It laid the groundwork for the formation of the European Union and introduced important changes in the political and economic landscape of Europe.

The Maastricht Treaty, also known as the Treaty on European Union, led to the formal establishment of the European Union and introduced the euro as the common currency.

The single market with the '4 freedoms' of free movement for people, goods, services and money is established, marking a significant milestone in European integration.

On January 1, 1993, the European Union (EU) was established, creating a political and economic union between several European countries to promote cooperation and integration.

The Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November 1993, formally establishing the European Union.

The euro was introduced as the official currency in 11 member states of the European Union on January 1, 1999, marking a significant milestone in the economic and monetary union of the EU.

The Tampere European Council decides to transform the EU into an area of freedom, security, and justice, laying the foundation for significant policy changes.

The European Union was officially formed in the year 2000, marking a significant milestone in European integration and cooperation.

The Laeken European Council adopts a declaration on the future of the Union, paving the way for a major reform of the EU and the establishment of a Convention to prepare a European Constitution. Valéry Giscard d’Estaing is appointed Chairman of the Convention.

Several countries joined the European Union in 2004 as part of the largest single expansion of the EU.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia officially become members of the European Union.

The European Union signs accession treaties with Bulgaria and Romania in Luxembourg.

In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became EU members.

The Lisbon Treaty reformed the European Union by merging the EU three pillars system into a single legal entity, creating a permanent president of the European Council, and strengthening the position of the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy.

In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum, fueling Eurosceptics across the continent and sparking speculation about other countries leaving the EU.

On 29 March 2017, the Government of the United Kingdom invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, marking the start of Brexit.

On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union after the Brexit withdrawal agreement took effect.

After the Russian Armed Forces attempted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union imposed heavy sanctions on Russia and agreed on a pooled military aid package to Ukraine for lethal weapons funded via the European Peace Facility off-budget instrument.

On 4 May 2022, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union would seek to ban all imports of Russian crude oil and petroleum products in response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The 2024 European elections are highly anticipated as they will shape the future of the European Union.