May 9, 1950
Robert Schuman proposes pooling Europe's coal and steel industries.

April 18, 1951
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty signed in Paris.

March 25, 1957
European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) Treaties signed in Rome.

April 8, 1965
Treaty merging the institutions of the three European Communities signed.

July 1, 1968
Customs union completed eighteen months early.

January 1, 1973
Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom join the Community.

February 28, 1975
First Lomé Convention with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries signed.

March 13, 1979
European Monetary System (EMS) becomes operational.

January 1, 1981
Greece joins the European Community.

June 29, 1985
European Council endorses "White Paper" plan to complete single market by end 1992.

January 1, 1986
Spain and Portugal join the Community.

July 1, 1987
Single European Act (SEA) enters into force.

June 26-27, 1989
Madrid European Council endorses plan for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

October 3, 1990
The five Laender of the former German Democratic Republic enter the Community as part of a united Germany.

October 21, 1991
European Community and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agree to form the European Economic Area (EEA).

December 11, 1991
Maastricht European Council agrees on Treaty on European Union.

December 16, 1991
Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia sign first Europe Agreements on trade and political cooperation.

January 1, 1993
European single market is achieved on time.

November 1, 1993
Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) enters into force after ratification by the member states.

January 1, 1995
Austria, Finland, and Sweden join the European Union.

June 17, 1997
Treaty of Amsterdam is concluded.

March 12, 1998
European conference in London launches Europe-wide consultations on issues related to Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Justice and Home Affairs (JHA).

March 30-31, 1998
EU opens membership negotiations with Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia.

May 2, 1998
Eleven EU member states qualify to launch the euro on January 1, 1999.

June 1, 1998
European Central Bank (ECB) inaugurated in Frankfurt, Germany.

January 1, 1999
EMU and euro launched in eleven EU countries.

May 1, 1999
Treaty of Amsterdam enters into force.

September 15, 1999
European Parliament approves new European Commission led by Romano Prodi.

December 10-11, 1999
European Council meeting in Helsinki decides to open accession negotiations with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, and the Slovak Republic and to recognize Turkey as a candidate country.

June 23, 2000
A new partnership agreement (2000-2020) between the EU and the ACP countries is signed in Cotonou, Benin.

December 7 – 11, 2000
European Council agrees on Treaty of Nice (to be ratified by all member states). EU leaders formally proclaim the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

January 1, 2001
Greece joins the euro area.

February 26, 2001
Regulation adopted establishing the Rapid Reaction Force.

January – February 2002
The euro becomes legal tender and permanently replaces national currencies in EMU countries.

December 12 – 13, 2002
Copenhagen European Council declares that Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia will become EU members by May 1, 2004.

February 1, 2003
The Treaty of Nice enters into force.

April 16, 2003
Treaty of Accession (2003) is signed in Athens.

May 1, 2004
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia become EU member states.