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EU Timeline: 1990s
Significant events:
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
1990
European Year for Tourism
1 January
Ireland takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
29 May
The agreement to establish the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to provide financial support to Central and Eastern Europe, is signed in Paris.
19 June
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands sign a Convention to the Schengen Agreement on the elimination of border controls.
20 June
The European Economic Community and European Free Trade Association start formal negotiations for the creation of the European Economic Area (EEA).
1 July
Italy takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.The first phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) comes into force.
Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain are granted an exceptional regime given their lack of progress towards financial integration.
3 July
Cyprus formally applies to join the European Communities.
16 July
Malta formally applies to join the European Communities.
3 October
Germany is unified, and the Länder of the former East Germany become part of the European Union.
27 November
Italy signs the Schengen agreement.
1991
1 January
Luxembourg takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
14 April
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is launched in London.
1 July
The Netherlands take over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.Sweden formally applies to join the European Communities.
21 October
The Council agrees on the establishment of the European Economic Area (EEA).
9 to 10 December
A European Council meeting in Maastricht agrees on the draft treaty on the European Union.
16 December
"Europe Agreements" are signed with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
1992
European Year for Security, Hygiene and Health in the Workplace
1 January
Portugal takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
7 February
The Treaty on the European Union is signed in Maastricht.
18 March
Finland formally applies to join the European Communities.
4 April
The Portuguese escudo enters the exchange-rate mechanism of European Monetary System (EMS).
2 May
An agreement on the European Economic Area is signed in Porto.
20 May
Switzerland formally applies to join the European Communities.
2 June
A referendum result in Denmark is against the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union.
18 June
A referendum result in Ireland is in favour of the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union.
26 to 27 June
A European Council meeting in Lisbon stresses the importance of keeping to the timetable for the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union.
1 July
The United Kingdom takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
2 July
Luxembourg ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
31 July
Greece ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
20 September
A referendum result in France is in favour of the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union.
26 October
Italy ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
4 November
Belgium ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
25 November
Norway formally applies to join the European Communities.Spain ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
6 December
A referendum result in Switzerland, is against the ratification of the Agreement establishing a European Economic Area.
11 December
Portugal ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
11 to 12 December
The European Council meeting in Edinburgh makes it possible for Denmark to hold a second referendum on the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union, and agrees a timetable for the start of accession negotiations with Austria, Finland and Sweden.
15 December
The Netherlands ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
18 December
Germany ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
1993
European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations
1 January
Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.The Single European Market is enforced.
1 February
Negotiations on the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden open in Brussels.
5 April
Negotiations on the accession of Norway open in Luxembourg.
18 May
In a second vote in Denmark, a referendum result is in favour of the Treaty on European Union.
21 to 22 June
A European Council meeting in Copenhagen confirms that the accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway can take place in 1995, and that associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe can become full members when they satisfy certain political and economic conditions.
1 July
Belgium takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
2 August
The United Kingdom ratifies the Treaty on the European Union.
29 October
A European Council meeting in Brussels confirms that the stage II of economic and monetary union will come into effect on 1 January 1994.
1 November
The Treaty on the European Union is enforced.
13 December
The Council reaches an agreement regarding creating the European Economic Area.[Back to top]
1994
European Nutrition Year
1 January
Greece takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.Stage II of economic and monetary union begins and the European Monetary Institute (EMI) is established.
The agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA) is enforced.
9 to 10 March
The Committee of the Regions, established by the Treaty on the European Union, holds its inaugural session, with Jacques Blanc, French statesman, elected Chairman.
30 March
Accession negotiations with Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway conclude in Brussels.
31 March
Hungary formally applies to join the European Union.
5 April
Poland formally applies to join the European Union.
9 to 12 June
Direct elections to the European Parliament are held for the fourth time.
12 June
A referendum result in Austria is in favour of accession to the European Union.
24 to 25 June
At a European Council meeting in Corfù, the Acts of Accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway are signed.
1 July
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
15 July
At an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels, Jacques Santer, former Luxembourg prime minister, is chosen to succeed Jacques Delors as President of the Commission.
18 July
Free-trade agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are signed in Brussels.
19 to 26 July
The new European Parliament holds first part-session in Strasbourg, with Klaus Hänsch, German statesman, elected President. Jaques Santer is formally appointed as next President of the European Commission.
27 July
The Commission adopts a White Paper on the European Social policy.
16 October
A referendum result in Finland is in favour of accession to the European Union.
13 November
A referendum result in Sweden is in favour of accession to the European Union.
28 November
The referendum result in Norway is against accession to the European Union.
6 December
The Council adopts Leonardo da Vinci Programme in vocational training.
9 to 10 December
The European Council meeting in Essen agrees a strategy to bring the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe closer to the Community.
1995
European Year of Road Safety and Young Drivers
1 January
France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.Austria, Finland and Sweden become members of the European Union.
14 March
The Council and the Parliament sign the Socrates Programme (education).
26 March
The Schengen Agreement between Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain is enforced.
9 April
A referendum result in Liechtenstein is in favour of accession to the European Economic Area.
28 April
Austria signs the Schengen agreement.
1 May
Liechtenstein takes its place in the European Economic Area.
3 to 10 May
The Commission adopts a White Paper on preparing the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe for integration into the European Union internal market.
31 May
The Commission adopts a Green Paper on the arrangements for the establishment of the single currency.
12 June
European Association Agreements are signed with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
22 June
Romania formally applies to join the European Union.
26 to 27 June
A European Council meeting in Cannes confirms 1 January 1999 as the date for transition to a single currency.
27 June
Slovakia formally applies to join the European Union.
1 July
Spain takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
12 July
The European Parliament appoints Jacob Söderman, a Finnish statesman, as Ombudsman of the European Union.
13 October
Latvia formally applies to join the European Union.
24 November
Estonia formally applies to join the European Union.
8 December
Lithuania formally applies to join the European Union.
14 December
Bulgaria formally applies to join the European Union.
15 to 16 December
A European Council meeting in Madrid confirms the date for the introduction of the single currency ("euro") as 1 January 1999.
1996
European Year for Lifelong Learning
1 January
Italy takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.Customs Union between the European Union and Turkey is enforced.
17 January
The Czech Republic formally applies to join the European Union.
10 June
Slovenia formally applies to join the European Union.
1 July
Ireland takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
13 October
Austria holds European Parliament elections.
14 October
The Finnish mark joins the EMS exchange rate mechanism.
20 October
Finland holds European Parliament elections.
25 November
The Italian lira re-enters the EMS exchange rate mechanism.
19 December
Denmark, Finland and Sweden sign the Schengen agreement.[Back to top]
1997
European Year Against Racism and Xenophobia
1 January
The Netherlands take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
4 June
The Commission sets out an action plan for the Single Market.
16 to 17 June
A European Council meeting in Amsterdam agrees a draft treaty enabling smooth passage to stage III of economic and monetary union, and for proceeding with enlargement.
1 July
Luxembourg takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
16 July
The Commission presents "Agenda 2000 - for a stronger and wider Europe" about the applications of ten Central and Eastern European countries.
2 October
The Treaty of Amsterdam is signed.
12 to 13 December
A European Council meeting in Luxembourg takes the decisions necessary to begin the enlargement process.
1998
1 January
The United Kingdom takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.The Cooperation agreement with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is enforced.
1 February
The Europe Agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are enforced.
12 March
A European Conference in London is attended by the fifteen member states and the countries which have formally requested access to the European Union.
16 March
The Greek drachma enters the European Monetary System (EMS) exchange rate mechanism.
25 March
The Commission accepts the convergence report and recommends that eleven member states adopt the euro on 1 January 1999.
30 March
A ministerial meeting begins the accession process for the ten Central and Eastern European applicant countries and Cyprus.
3 May
A special Council meeting decides that eleven member states meet criteria enabling them to adopt the single currency on 1 January 1999. Following on from this decision, the Commission and the European Monetary Institute lay down conditions for determining of the irrevocable conversion rates for the euro.
7 May
Germany ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam
15 May
Sweden ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
26 May
The member states adopting the single currency appoint the president, vice-president and other members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.
1 June
The European Central Bank is established.
15 June
The United Kingdom ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
24 June
Denmark ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam
1 July
Austria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
15 July
Finland ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
21 July
Austria ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
24 July
Italy ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
30 July
Ireland ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
4 September
Luxembourg ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
4 November
The Commission adopts the reports assessing progress of countries applying for accession.
10 November
Meetings with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia, to discuss their accessions to the European Union.
31 December
The Netherlands ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam.
1999
1 January
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain adopt the euro as their official currency.
