Teaching Geography: Workshop 7

1949

The Council of Europe is established with ten countries. New members have continued to join, and since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the entry of Russia and most of the Eastern European countries has brought the total to more than forty.

Click here to see a map of Council of Europe members in 2002.

1951

The Treaty of Paris establishes the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The ECSC was created to establish a common market for coal and steel. Per the Treaty of Paris, the ECSC was to expire in 2002. Its functions are now handled by provisions in the 1965 treaty that established the European Community.

1957

The Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC). One aim of the EEC was a free market to allow the free movement of persons, services, and capital. There is no expiration date for the EEC.

1957

The Treaty of Rome establishes the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Euratom was set up to promote nuclear energy, particularly for civil use. There is no expiration date for Euratom.

1958

The European Parliament is established, based on provisions made in the Treaty of Rome.

1965

The European Community is established by a treaty merging the executives of the ECSC, EEC, and Euratom. The treaty is signed on April 8, 1965, and goes into force on July 1, 1967. In the wake of World War II, the European Community is meant to unite the nations of Europe economically so another war among them would be unthinkable.

1973

Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom enter the European Community, bringing membership to nine.

1977

Customs duties between the nine European Community members are completely removed.

1981

Greece joins the European Community as its tenth member.

1986

Portugal and Spain enter the European Community, bringing the total membership to twelve.

1993

The Treaty on European Union was ratified. Although the Treaty was signed in 1992, Denmark delayed ratification until provisions for its opting out of a single currency and common defense policy were made. The Treaty went into effect November 1, 1993.

1994

The EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) form the European Economic Area, a single market of 19 countries.

Since the end of World War II, many European countries have been working to foster increasing unity. This interactive timeline traces the development and future of the European Union (EU).

Using your mouse pointer, select dates on the timeline below to follow the development of the EU.

1995

Austria, Finland, and Sweden enter the EU.

There are no more passport controls between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain.

1998

EU opens accession negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

1999

EU opens accession negotiations with Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Malta.

2002

January 1: Euro notes and coins enter into circulation in twelve member states that have agreed to adopting the euro. Participants include Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
March 1: The dual circulation period ends and the euro becomes the sole legal tender in the twelve participating member states.

2002

Map of Council of Europe members in 2002. Compare this to the list of original members.

Click here to return to the map of Council of Europe members in 1949.