Milestones in the history of the European Union
How familiar are you with the history of the European Union?
Take a look at our timeline where the most events in seven decades of European integration are highlighted.
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French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 20 June 1950. This photo is used to illustrate the declaration of 9 May 1950 as no photographer was present at the press conference.
Photo: © European Communities 1950, EC – Audiovisual Service..
The Treaty of Paris established the European Coal and Steel Community. It entered into force on 23 July 1952 and expired in 2002.
Photo: © European Communities, 1951, EC – Audiovisual Service.
Signing of the Euratom and the European Common Market agreements – Treaty of Rome – in the city hall of Rome, Italy, March 25, 1957.
Photo: © Communautes Europeennes 1957, EP.
The signing ceremony of the accession treaty of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom was held on 22 January 1972 in the Egmont Palace of Brussels. Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, signs the document.
Photo: © European Communities, 1972, EC – Audiovisual Service.
Simone Veil chairing the first sitting of the European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage in Strasbourg.
Photo: © Communautés européennes 1979, EP.
Symbolic picture of the ‘Schengen’ Area.
Photo: © European Communities, 1995, EC – Audiovisual Service.
Signature page of the Single European Act in Luxembourg on February 17, 1986.
Photo: © European Communities, 1992, EC – Audiovisual Service.
Ceremony of the signature of the Treaty on the European Union in Maastricht on February 7, 1992.
Photo: © Communautés européennes 1992, EP.
Signature of the European Commission proposal on the final parities for the euro, 31 December 1998.
Photo: © European Communities, 1998, EC – Audiovisual Service
Estonia’s President Arnold Rüütel (left) and Minister of foreign affairs Kristiina Ojuland sign the EU accession treaty.
Photo: © European Communities, 2003, EC – Audiovisual Service
Seals of signatures of the Treaty of Lisbon at the Brussels Council of Ministers.
Photo: European Communities, 2007, EC – Audiovisual Service
Brexit supporters in central London, holding banners in favour of leaving the European, January 2019.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
