European Union – Key Historical Milestones (1950-2020)

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing every major treaty, enlargement and milestone in the EU timeline from 1950 to 2020.

Schuman Declaration

1950

The Treaty of Paris - establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

1951

Treaty of Rome - establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Euratom.

1957

First enlargement - Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join

1973

First elections of the European Parliament

1979

Greece joins

1981

Schengen Agreement - end of border checks

1985

Portugal and Spain join

1986

European Community - the Single European Act is passed, creating the European Community (EC)

1986

Maastricht Treaty - EEC becomes the EU

1992

Finland, Sweden and Austria join

1995

Single currency (the euro)

1999

Eastern and southern enlargement - Largest EU enlargement to date

2004

Romania and Bulgaria join

2007

Treaty of Lisbon - in force in 2009

2007

Croatia joins

2013

the United Kingdom votes in a referendum to leave the European Union.

2016

the United Kingdom eaves the European Union

2020