Chronology of the Union
Chronology of the Union
1947 Marshall Plan for the economic revival of a Europe devastated by war
1948 March 17 Benelux Treaty enters into force
1948 Creation of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation
(OEEC) to
administer the Marshall Plan
1949 Creation of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg
1950 May 9 Schuman Declaration
1951 April 18 Signing of the Treaty of Paris establishing the European
Coal and Steel
Community (ECSC)
1952-54 Preparation and failure of the plan for a European Defence Community (EDC)
1955 June 2 Building of Europe relaunched by the Messina Conference
1957 March 25 Signing of the Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)
1967 Merger of the institutions of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC and Euratom)
1968 Completion of the customs union
1972 January 22 Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom
1973 January 1 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Community
1979 May 28 Signing of the Treaty of Accession of Greece
1979 First election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
1981 January 1 Greece joins the Community
1985 June 12 Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Portugal and Spain
1986 January 1 Portugal and Spain join the European Community
1986 February to 1987 July Signing of the Treaty and entry into force of the Single Act
1992 February 7 Signing of the Treaty on European Union ("Maastricht Treaty")
1993 January 1 Introduction of the single European market and the European Economic Area
1993 November 1 Coming into force of the "Maastricht Treaty" creating the "European Union"
1994 June 24 Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden
1995 January 1 Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union
