Timeline of European Integration
The EU today is based on a series of treaties, pacts
1967: French President Charles de Gaulle vetoes
British membership for the second time.
and agreements between member states, which
have steadily increased the areas (political and
1970: The Werner Report sets out a path towards
economic) in which nations states in the EU are
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); the EC
integrated. This means that member states have
agrees to work towards greater integration and a
agreed to allow many policy decisions to be made at
single market. Proposals are for a customs union,
a European level by all governments together, rather
with the removal of all internal customs duties and
the application of a common external tariff. Free
than decisions being made separately by their own
movement of labour is also guaranteed.
national governments. Integration has tended to
occur in waves, and has particularly accelerated
The EC launches
its first
attempt to
How does a General 1972:
Election
actually
work?
since the early 1980s.
harmonise exchange rates: participating
The UK is a liberal democracy. This means that we democratically elect politicians, who
governments are required to confine the
interests. It also involves that individual rights are protected.
1951: The Treaty of Paris is represent
signed byour
Belgium,
fluctuations of their currencies within a range of
France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the
+/- 2.25% against each other. Countries that
The type
of liberal
have is a constitutional monarchy, where the powers of
.
Netherlands
(the 'Original Six'),
creating
the democracy westruggle
to do so can request aid in the form of
the monarch
are limited
and conditions put down in the constitution.
European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC).
The by the terms
loans. The new system is referred to as the 'snake
European Court of Justice (ECJ) is established.
in the tunnel'.
1953: A common market for coal, iron ore, scrap iron
Parliamentary
and steel is formally established
in Europe. system
1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom
formally join the European Communities.
The UK has a parliamentary system of democratic governance. Unlike presidential and
semi-presidential systems, there is
an interconnection
between
the the
legislative
(law1977:
Customs duties
between
nine EC
1955: A conference of ECSCmaking)
foreignand
ministers
in
June
executive (law-enforcing)
branches
of government
in a parliamentary
members
are completely
abolished.
agrees to encourage free trade
between
member
system. In the UK, this means that the executive (consisting of the Queen and the
states through the removalgovernments
of tariffs andofquotas.
1979:
Inand
March,
the European
England, Scotland,
Wales
Northern
Ireland) is Monetary
accountableSystem
to the is
launched
as House
a stepof
towards
thedevolved
eventualAssemblies
goal of in
legislature or Parliament (House of
Commons,
Lords and
1955: The Treaty of Rome is signed by the Original
EMU. It encourages countries to coordinate a
Wales and Northern Ireland).
Six as the first step towards establishing the
central exchange rate under the Exchange Rate
common market, customs union,
andPrime
free Minister (or chancellor)
Mechanism
(ERM).
This provides
basis for
Appointed
as Head
of Government
andthe
a monarch
(or
movement of capital and labour.
The
European
ceremonial president) as Head of creating
State. a single European currency in the future
Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic
(i.e. the Euro). All members apart from the UK join
Energy Community (Euratom) are established. The
the ERM.
ECJ becomes the court of the EEC to interpret the
Treaty of Rome and rule in disputes over EEC
In June, direct elections to the European
decisions.
Parliament (EP) are held for the first time (until this
First-Past-The-Post
point, Members of the Parliament were appointed
1958: The first European Commission
office.in the House
by national
parliaments).
Members oftakes
Parliament
of Commons
are elected using the first-past-thepost electoral system. Each of the 650 voting constituencies in the UK are represented by
1963: French President Charles
de Gaulle, vetoes
1981:
Greece
becomes
the 10th
member
the
EC,
an MP. During the general and most
local
elections,
the candidate
with
most ofof
the
votes
British membership of the EEC on the grounds that
thecampaign
start of adoor-to-door,
decade of increased
becomes the local representative.marking
Candidates
hold debates and
Britain lacks commitment to European integration.
expansion and integration.
publish manifestos (comparable to shopping list of what they are planning to do once
they are in power). Eligible voters, about 46m in the UK, receive their polling card once
1965: On 8 April, the Merger
Treaty is signed in
they
register
they can vote by post.
Brussels. It merges the executives
of theonline,
ECSC,or
EEC,
and Euratom to become collectively known as the
Party with most of the votes is invited by the Queen to form a government. If there is no
European Communities (EC).
clear winner, there is a hung Parliament. In this case, a minority or coalition government
can be formed. A minority government does not have an overall majority in Parliament. A
© CIVITAS Institute for the Study of Civil Society 2015
More EU factsheets: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/index.php
Author:
Clareto
Daley,
10/2010
coalition government means that two or more political parties
agree
share
power in
Book EU events:
http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/EUevents.php
Last update: Anna Sonny, 08/2015
government. If that does not work out, new elections may be called.
Timeline of European Integration
1985: Jaques Delors, as President of the
Commission, argues that the single market
programme will revive European integration by
spilling over from the economic into the political
arena. The Single European Act is proposed - as a
revision of the Treaty of Rome - to revitalise the
process of European integration.
1986: The European flag is unveiled. Portugal and
Spain become members of the EC.
1997: The Treaty of Amsterdam is signed, which
follows on from the Maastricht Treaty and prepares
the EU for eastward expansion. More national
vetoes are abolished as Qualified Majority Voting is
expanded, and the social chapter of the Maastricht
Treaty becomes an official part of EU law. The
Stability and Growth Pact is agreed, defining rules
and penalties for the member states that form the
Eurozone to make sure they keep the amount they
spend and borrow under control in order to help
create stable conditions for the new currency.
1987: The Single European How
Act (SEA)does
comesainto
General Election actually work?
force. This modifies the Treaty of Rome, aiming to
1998: The European Central Bank (ECB) is
The UK is a liberal democracy. This means that we democratically elect politicians, who
complete the formation of a common market, which
established in Frankfurt, Germany. It is responsible
represent our interests. It also involves that individual rights are protected.
the earlier treaty had begun: 1992 is set as the
for setting monetary policy for the Euro countries
deadline for achieving the single market. National
and managing their foreign reserves. The European
The type of liberal democracy we have is a constitutional monarchy, where the powers of
vetoes are abolished by introducing Qualified
Council and European Parliament agree that 11 of
the monarch are limited by the terms and conditions put down in the constitution.
Majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers
the 15 member states meet the criteria to adopt a
for areas relating to the single market (based on
single currency.
'four freedoms' allowing goods, services, people and
capital to move freely throughout the EC). The
1999: On 1 January, the Euro is launched as the
Parliamentary
system
legislative power of the European Parliament is
official currency in (11 out of the 15 EU member
UK has a foreign
parliamentary system
of democratic
Unlike presidential
and
increased and the basis for The
a European
states):
Austria, governance.
Belgium, Finland,
France, Germany,
semi-presidential
there Ireland,
is an interconnection
betweenthe
theNetherlands,
legislative (lawpolicy is laid. The Single European
Act is the systems,
first
Italy, Luxembourg,
making)
and executive
(law-enforcing)
branches
of government
a parliamentary
commitment by member states
to create
a
Portugal
and Spain
(however,inthe
Euro only exists
system. In the UK, this means that
executive
(consisting
the Queen and the
'European Union'.
asthe
a virtual
currency
untilof2002).
governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is accountable to the
1990: Britain enters the ERM.
Two or Parliament (House of
2000:
The Presidents
of theand
EUdevolved
Parliament,
the in
legislature
Commons,
House of Lords
Assemblies
Intergovernmental Conferences
(IGC)
are
launched:
European
Council
and
the
EU
Commission
formally
Wales and Northern Ireland).
the first on EMU; and a second on political union.
proclaim the Charter of Fundamental Rights, a nonAppointed
Minister
as Headdeclaration
of Government
and aby
monarch
Economic policy coordination
and thePrime
removal
of (or chancellor)
legally binding
drafted
a group(orof
obstacles to financial integration
are both
ceremonial
president) as Head oflegal
State.experts, which sets out civil, political,
introduced, as the first stage of EMU.
economic and social rights of European citizens and
all persons resident in the EU.
1992: The Maastricht Treaty turns the European
Community into the 'European Union' (EU). The
2001: The Treaty of Nice, which amends the
Treaty includes developments for monetary union
Maastricht Treaty, is signed. This reforms the
First-Past-The-Post
and a chapter on social policy (the UK secures an
decision-making processes and prepares the EU for
Members
of
Parliament
in
the
House
of Commons
are elected
using the
first-past-theexpansion
to include
ten further
members.
opt-out from both). It also introduces the concept of
electoral
system.
Each of the 650 voting constituencies in the UK are represented by
EU Citizenship, which gives post
Europeans
the
right to
2002:
12elections,
EU statesthe
introduce
and
live and vote in elections inan
any
EUDuring
country.
MP.
the general and most
local
candidateEuro
withnotes
most of
thecoins
votes
and
phase
out
their
national
currencies.
The
becomes the local representative. Candidates campaign door-to-door, hold debates and
1994: The European Monetary
Institute
(EMI)(comparable
is
Convention
onofthe
Future
prepares
a
publish
manifestos
to
shopping list
what
they of
areEurope
planning
to do once
established to oversee the co-ordination
of the
draft
of 46m
the Treaty
Establishing
a Constitution
for
they are in power).
Eligible voters,
about
in the UK,
receive their
polling card once
monetary policies of national
central
banks.
The
EMI
Europe,
as
the
Treaty
of
Paris
(which
established
they register online, or they can vote by post.
also works towards the creation of the European
the ECSC) expires after fifty years.
Central Bank.
Party with most of the votes is invited by the Queen to form a government. If there is no
clear winner, there is a hung Parliament. In this case, a minority or coalition government
can be formed. A minority government does not have an overall majority in Parliament. A
© CIVITAS Institute for the Study of Civil Society 2015
More EU factsheets: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/index.php
Author:
Clareto
Daley,
10/2010
coalition government means that two or more political parties
agree
share
power in
Book EU events:
http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/EUevents.php
Last update: Anna Sonny, 08/2015
government. If that does not work out, new elections may be called.
Timeline of European Integration
2003: The first troops are deployed under the
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP),
following its creation in 1999. The troops are
deployed to take over from a NATO mission in FYR
Macedonia.
2004: Enlargement goes ahead on 1 May 2004, with
10 new countries joining the EU: Cyprus, the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland and Slovenia. EU leaders sign the agreed text
of the Constitutional Treaty.
2010: Two new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty
are filled - Britain's Baroness Catherine Ashton is
appointed High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Belgium's
Herman Van Rompuy is appointed permanent
President of the European Council.
2011: Estonia joins the Eurozone.
2013: Croatia becomes the 28th member state of
the EU.
How does a General Election actually work?
2014: On 1 January, the Euro is launched as the
2005: The French and Dutch electorates reject the
The UK is a liberal democracy. This means that we democratically elect politicians, who
official currency in Latvia.
Constitutional Treaty in referenda, thus preventing
represent our interests. It also involves that individual rights are protected.
its full ratification. The European Union continues to
2015: Lithuania is the last Baltic State to join the
function on the basis of its existing treaties.
The type of liberal democracy we have is a constitutional monarchy, where the powers of
Eurozone.
the monarch are limited by the terms and conditions put down in the constitution.
2007: Bulgaria and Romania become the 26th and
27th members of the EU on 1 January. Germany
takes over the 6-month rotating Presidency of the
EU Council of Ministers, and begins new
Technical terms:
Parliamentary
negotiations on the Constitutional
Treaty. It system
is
UKmost
has aof
parliamentary
system of democratic governance. Unlike presidential and
renamed the Lisbon Treaty,The
with
the
 Integration: reducing
barriers
on transactions
semi-presidential
systems,
between
the legislative
(laworiginal innovations of the Constitution
carried
over,there is an interconnection
between countries. The process of EU integration
making)
and executive
(law-enforcing) branches
of government
in allow
a parliamentary
but some of the more symbolic
aspects,
such as the
means that
states agree to
decisions to be
system. In the UK, this means that the executive
the Queen
and the level.
EU anthem, dropped.
made at(consisting
a European,ofrather
than a national,
governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is accountable to the
 Single market: trading area governed by the same
2008: Ireland holds a referendum
on the
Lisbon (House of Commons,
legislature
or Parliament
House of Lords and devolved Assemblies in
basic rules, enabling the free movement of goods.
Treaty. 53.4% vote no to the
Treaty
(turnout
was
Wales and Northern Ireland).
53%).
Appointed Prime Minister (or chancellor)
as Head of
Government
a monarch
(or
 Exchange
rate:
the ratio inand
which
one country's
2009: An EU Council summitceremonial
prepares president)
the way for
as aHead of State. currency is valued against another.
second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland  Qualified Majority Voting (QMV): majority (as
'protocols' are promised to be attached to the
opposed to unanimous) voting procedure.
treaty to provide guarantees on issues such as Irish
neutrality and ethical issues. At a second
referendum in October, 67% of Irish voters vote
 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC): formal
First-Past-The-Post
'yes' to the treaty (turnout is
59%). In November,
procedure for debating and deciding amendments
to the EU'sare
treaties.
Members
in the House of Commons
elected using the first-past-thethe Czech Republic becomes
the last of
EUParliament
member to
sign the treaty after securing
anelectoral
opt-out system.
from the
post
Each of the 650 voting constituencies in the UK are represented by
 Eurozone: area formed by the states that have
Charter of Fundamental Rights,
which
thethe
treaty
an MP.
During
general and most local adopted
elections,
candidate with most of the votes
thethe
euro.
made legally binding. The Lisbon
Treaty
enters
into
becomes the local representative. Candidates campaign door-to-door, hold debates and
force in December.
publish manifestos (comparable to shopping list of what they are planning to do once
 46m
Opt-out:
theUK,
ability
to decline
signing
they are in power). Eligible voters, about
in the
receive
theirfrom
polling
cardanonce
agreement, against a presumption to do so.
they register online, or they can vote by post.
Party with most of the votes is invited by the Queen to form a government. If there is no
clear winner, there is a hung Parliament. In this case, a minority or coalition government
can be formed. A minority government does not have an overall majority in Parliament. A
© CIVITAS Institute for the Study of Civil Society 2015
More EU factsheets: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/index.php
Author:
Clareto
Daley,
10/2010
coalition government means that two or more political parties
agree
share
power in
Book EU events:
http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/EUevents.php
Last update: Anna Sonny, 08/2015
government. If that does not work out, new elections may be called.