1993-2004

Single European Act enters force (January 1993)

 Danish 56.8% “yes” vote on the Maastricht Treaty (May 1993)

TELEVISION BBC Report of the UK Prime-minister John Major defending the Maastricht Treaty in Parliament (July 1993)

European Council, Copenhagen (June 1993)  instructs the Commission to prepare a White Paper on long-term strategy to promote growth, competitiveness and employment;  confirms that accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway is to be accomplished by 1995 and it assures associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe that they will become full members as soon as they satisfy the requisite political and economic conditions

 EU agrees to reopen talks with US on agriculture and “culture” within GATT (September 1993)

 European Council, Brussels (October 1993) issues a declaration to mark the entry into force of the Treaty on the European Union, confirms that the second phase of economic and monetary union will come into effect on 1 January 1994 and it identifies several matters for joint action to be undertaken by the Union under common foreign and security policy. A decision is also taken on the location of several Community offices and agencies.

Treaty of Maastricht enters force (November 1993)

 EU-USA compromise within GATT (December 1993)

 European Council, Brussels (December 1993) draws up an action plan for the short and medium term, based on the Commission's White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, and an initial action plan in the field of justice and home affairs. It decides to convene a conference to conclude a stability pact for Central and Eastern Europe.

 European Monetary Institute created in Frankfurt (January 1994)

 EEA enters force (January 1994)

 Hungary applies for EU membership (April 1994)

Poland applies for EU membership (April 1994)

 Fourth direct elections to European parliament (June 1994)

 European Council, Corfù (June 1994) The main item is the follow-up to the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment. A new partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities, the Member States and Russia is signed

Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway sign Treaty of Accession.

 Norway 1994 referendum rejects (52.2%) EU membership

MAP Distribution of results and comparison with 1972.

 European Council, Essen (December 1994) approves strategy of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment with special reference to measures to combat unemployment and create trans-European networks into operation; agrees strategy to bring the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe closer to the Community and reiterates its determination to establish an Euro-Mediterranean partnership. It approves the principle of a multi-annual aid programme for Northern Ireland

 Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU (January 1995)

 RADIO French President Francois Mitterrand speech (January 1995) presents to Parliament his country’s program at the start of its stint of EU Presidency (Extract of text and audio in two parts)

 Customs union agreement signed with Turkey (March 1995)

 TELEVISION BBC report on the way Europe was undermining Conservative Prime Minister John Major’s leadership (June 1995)

 Association agreement signed with the Baltic States (June 1995)

 Association agreement signed with Slovenia (June 1995)

 European Council, Cannes (June 1995) An overall agreement on external financing including financing arrangements for the eight European Development Fund (EDF) for Africa, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) States is reached. The transition to a single currency by 1 January 1999 is confirmed

 Europol Convention signed (July 1995)

 European Council, Madrid (December 1995) sets March 29, 1996 as the starting date for the IGC and confirms the introduction of the single currency ("euro") for January 1st, 1999.

 Czech Republic applies for EU membership (January 1997)

 European Council, Turin (March 1996) opens IGC to revise Maastricht Treaty and lays down guidelines

 European Parliament Retrospective database on the 1996 IGC

 Berlin agreements on reform of NATO (June 1996) concede principle of a European defence identity

 Slovenia applies for EU membership (June 1996)

 European Council, Florence (June 1996) establishes objectives and agenda of the IGC, endorses Commission plan for eradicating BSE and resolves the problem of the Court of Justice's authority to interpret the Europol Convention

 European Council, Dublin (December 1996) reaches agreement on measures necessary for introduction of the single currency (legal framework, stability pact, new exchange rate mechanism), adopts the Dublin declaration on employment and confirms timetable for the IGC.

 RADIO Audio extract of John Major speech (April 1997) asking his party not to “bind his hands”during the up-coming negotiations

 European Council, Amsterdam (June 1997) reaches consensus on a draft Treaty. It approves various proposals facilitating the smooth passage to the third phase of the Economic and Monetary Union, adopts a resolution on growth and employment and clears the way for launching the enlargement process

 Commission proposes CAP reforms within context of Agenda 2000 (July 1997)

 TELEVISION BBC report of Labour’s policy towards euro membership (September 1997)

 Treaty of Amsterdam (October 1997) signed. Original french version.

TELEVISION BBC Report on the signing.

 RADIO Chancellor Heulmut Kohl celebrates opening of the European Central bank in Fankfurt (June 1998) Extract

 European Council, Cardiff (June 1998) sets out EU strategy for further economic reform to promote growth, prosperity, jobs and social inclusion. It identifies concrete ways of bringing the Union closer to the people, establishes guidelines and time frame for further negotiations on Agenda 2000 and launches a longer term debate on the Union's further development

 Commission Prsident Jacuqes Santer defends Commission in European parliament against charges of fraud and corruption (October 1998)

 RADIO BBC Report on the launch of the Euro (January 1999) but not the issue of coins (that would have to wait until 2002)

 European Parliament, First Report on Allegations regarding Fraud, Mismanagement and Nepotism in the European Commission (March 1999)

RADIO BBC portrait of EU Commissioner Edith Cresson who was at the centre of the Commission scandal (March 1999)

TELEVISION BBC interview with Jacques Santer after the decision of the Commission to resign en masse (March 1999)

 European Council, Berlin (March 1999) reaches overall agreement on Agenda 2000. Prodi asked be the President European Commission and two statements on Kosovo are adopted. Other declarations deal with the Middle East peace process and enlargement, and approve the trade and cooperation agreement with South Africa is approved

Agenda 2000: Summary in all languages designed to prepare the EU for the next round of enlargement. See also here.

 European Council, Cologne (June 1999) adopts the first EU common strategy, which concerns Russia, and declarations on Kosovo and on the strengthening of European common foreign and security policy. Javier Solana Madariaga appointed High Representative for the CFSP and Secretary-General of the Council. It also adopts the European Employment Pact, sets out the brief of the forthcoming IGC and decides to lay down an EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

 Fifth direct elections to Eurpean parliament (June 1999)

 European Council, Tampere (October 1999) reached on a number of guidelines and political priorities, in particular relating to the right of asylum, immigration, access to justice and combating crime. Decisions are taken on the procedures for drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

 European Council Helsinki, Finland (December 1999) decides to open accession negotiations with Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Malta and to recognise Turkey as an applicant country. It agrees to call an IGC to revise the Treaties in February 2000

 Fourth Ministerial EU-APC Conference, Brussels (February 2000) agrees on the plan of action that is to follow the fourth Lomé convention coming to an end by February.

 European Council, Lisbon (March 2000) discusses a new strategy to strengthen employment, economic reform and social cohesion as part of a knowledge-based economy. 

 German foreign minister Joschka Fischer’s speech at Humboldt University (May 2000)
And in German

 European Council, Santa Maria da Feira http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/previous.htm  (June 2000) The broad economic policy guidelines adopted; Greece's entry into the euro is approved; a common strategy on the Mediterranean region is adopted; an action plan for the northern dimension in external and cross-border policies of the European Union is endorsed and backing is given to the European Union's anti-drugs action plan

 Danish referendum rejects (53%) joining the euro (September 2000)

 European Council, Nice (December 2000) confirms that it would like to see the Charter of Fundamental Rights disseminated as widely as possible amongst the Union's citizens. It welcomes accelerating the accession negotiations with the candidate countries and welcomes the progress made in implementing the pre-accession strategy for Turkey. The Council also discusses the European security and defence policy and approves it approves the European Social Agenda. IGC ends with a political agreement on the Treaty of Nice.

 Treaty of Nice (February 2001) and the IGC 2000. Archives available in all languages

 European Council, Stockholm (March 2001) lays down guidelines in order to achieve sustained growth, stable macro-economic conditions and employment-rate targets

 European Council, Gothenburg (June 2001). Agreement is reached on the framework for the successful completion of the enlargement negotiations, a strategy for sustainable development is approved, broad economic policy guidelines are endorsed and the key principles for securing the long-term sustainability of pension systems are approved. An EU programme for the prevention of violent conflicts is also approved and advances relating to the Union's northern dimension are also achieved.

 UK Prime Minister Tony Blair speech to the European Research Institute (November 2001)
RADIO Audio extract

 European Council, Laeken (December 2001). Adopts a declaration on the future of the Union paving the way for major reform and plans a convention to prepare the ground for the forthcoming IGC. It also takes decisions to strengthen Europe's in the fight against terrorism, and to conclude negotiations by the end of 2002 with the candidate countries ready for accession in time to take part in the European Parliament elections in 2004. Declarations are adopted on the operational capability of the common European Security and Defence Policy and on the situation in the Middle East.

 European Council, Barcelona (March 2002) focuses on economic, social and environmental issues, and gives priority to the interconnection of the European economies at the level of financial markets and energy, transport and communications networks, urging the speedy adoption of legislation for the opening of markets to this end. Reinforces policies on full employment and the development of a competitive knowledge-based economy.

 Second Irish referndum on Nice Treaty gives a “yes” vote (October 2002)

 TELEVISION BBC interview with Valery Giscard d’Estaing on the Convention   (October 2002)

 EU Draft Constitution (October 2002)

TELEVISION BBC report

RADIO Extract from interview with Valery Giscard d’Estaing 

 CAP Reforms (June 2003) adopted by Council of Agricultural ministers

Summary and downloadable documents (all languages).
More documentation here.

 European Convention (July 2003) completed its work with a Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. This is the massive official retrospective site of its work.

 Swedish “no” vote in the referendum to join the euro (September 2003)
RADIO BBC report

TELEVISION BBC report

 4 October 2003 Opening of IGC on the Constitution

TELEVISION BBC Report

 May 2004 EU enlarges to 25 members