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Europe Direct

EU Timeline: 1960s

Significant events:

1960   |   1961   |   1962   |   1963   |   1964   |   1965   |   1966   |   1967   |   1968   |   1969


1960

4 January

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) convention is signed in Stockholm, Sweden.

3 May

The Stockholm Convention establishing EFTA is enacted.


1961

10 to 11 February

At a summit conference in Paris it is proposed that strong political ties are formed.

7 to 10 June

Hans Furler is re-elected President of the European Parliamentary Assembly.

18 July

At a European Summit meeting in Bonn The Six announce their intention to establish a political union.

31 July

Ireland formally applies to join the European Communities.

9 August

The United Kingdom formally applies to join the European Communities.

10 August

Denmark formally applies to join the European Communities.

20 December

Walter Hallstein is re-elected President of the Commission of the EEC.


1962

10 January

The new EEC Commission, with Walter Hallstein as its President, takes office. Pierre Chatenet, French statesman, is elected President of the EURATOM Commission.

14 January

The Council adopts the first regulations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), moving towards a single market for agricultural products.

27 to 30 March

Gaetano Martino is re-elected President of the European Parliamentary Assembly, which agrees to change its name to the European Parliament.

4 April

The regulations and basic decisions on the CAP are enacted.

30 April

Norway formally applies to join the European Communities.

30 July

The regulations creating the CAP are enforced.


1963

14 January

General de Gaulle, President of France, doubts the United Kingdom is politically motivated to join the Community. Negotiations with all applicant countries are suspended within days.

25 March

Gaetano Martino is re-elected President of the European Parliament.

4 September

Death of Robert Schuman.

23 to 24 September

The Council agrees in principle on the merger of the Executives.

8 October

Dino del Bo, Italian statesman, is elected President of the ECSC High Authority.


1964

10 January

Walter Hallstein is re-elected President of the EEC Commission.

21 March

Jean Pierre Duvieusart, former prime minister of Belgium, is elected President of the European Parliament.


1965

2 March

Victor Leemans, Belgian statesman, is elected President of the European Parliament.

8 April

The Treaty merging the executives of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, EURATOM) is signed in Brussels.

26 June

France ratifies the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

30 June

Germany ratifies the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

1 July

In protest, France breaks off the negotiations about financing the CAP and recalls its Permanent Representative, deciding to withdraw from the Council's and Permanent Representatives Committee's meetings. This is known as "the empty chair" policy.
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1966

1 January

The EEC enters the third and last phase of the transition to the Common Market, seeking to change the Council's voting system from unanimous to majority.

28 to 29 January

The Luxembourg Compromise is agreed whereby, after seven months, France will abandon its "empty chair" policy and resume its place in the Council in return for unanimity where major interests are being voted upon.

7 March

Alain Poher, French statesman, is elected President of the European Parliament.

5 April

Belgium ratifies the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

29 April

Italy ratifies the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

30 June

Luxembourg ratifies the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

25 October

The Netherlands ratify the Treaty instituting a Council and Commission of the European Communities.

28 November

A joint meeting of the European Institutions discusses economic union within the Community and other future prospects.


1967

9 February

The EEC Council of Ministers approves the Community's first medium-term economic policy programme.

13 March

Alain Poher is re-elected President of the European Parliament.

11 May

The United Kingdom (followed by Ireland, Denmark and Norway) re-applies to join the Community, despite General de Gaulle's continued lack of enthusiasm.

29 to 30 May

At a summit conference in Rome celebrating the tenth anniversary of the signing of the EEC and EURATOM Treaties, the merger of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, and EURATOM) is reaffirmed.

1 July

The Merger Treaty, bringing together the Executives of the European Communities (ECSC, EEC, EURATOM), is enforced, meaning that single institutions, (a single Commission and a single Council) now govern the European Communities.

3 July

The Council of the European Communities holds its first session, with Germany at its Presidency.

6 July

The new Commission, with Jean Rey, Belgian statesman, as its President, takes office.

13 September

The Commission considers applications for EC membership of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland and Norway.


1968

1 January

France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

12 March

Alain Poher is re-elected President of the European Parliament.

1 July

Italy takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

27 November

The Council, the European Parliament and the Commission discuss closer monetary cooperation.


1969

1 January

Luxembourg takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

11 March

Mario Scelba, former Italian prime minister, is elected president of the European Parliament.

1 July

The Netherlands takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

6 July

Jean Rey is re-elected President of the Commission.

22 to 23 July

The Council continues to consider applications for EC membership of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland and Norway, requesting an up-dated opinion from the Commission.

10 August

The Commission delivers to the Council its updated opinion regarding the applications for EC membership of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland and Norway.

1 October

The Commission submits an additional opinion regarding the applications for EC membership of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland and Norway.

1 to 2 December

At a summit meeting in The Hague it is agreed to continue towards economic and monetary union, to converge social policies, and, in principal, to enlargement of the Community.

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