Important legal notice
    Skip language selection barCastellanoDanskDeutschEllinikaEnglishFrançaisItalianoNederlandsPortuguêsSuomiSvenska
European flag
 NewsActivitiesInstitutionsThe EU at a glanceEU DocumentsInformation sources

  The European Union at a glance
Member States
Candidate countries
Europe in 12 lessons
Key figures
History
Maps
Travelling in Europe
Flag
Anthem
Europe Day
Eurojargon
Glossary
Treaties and law

 

  What's new? | Search | Glossary | Contact | About EUROPA
 

The History of the European Union

1994 1993 | 1995 European Nutrition Year

January
-

1
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) enters into force. 

Top of the pageFebruary
-

19
The Court of Auditors publishes the special report concerning controls of irregularities and frauds in the agricultural area.

Top of the pageMarch
-

9-10
The Committee of the Regions, set up by the Treaty on the European Union, holds inaugural session. Jacques Blanc is elected Chairman.

29
An informal meeting of Foreign Ministers is held in Ioannina. A compromise decision is adopted on rules for qualified-majority decision-making in preparation for the enlargement.

30
Accession negotiations with Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway conclude in Brussels.

31
Hungary formally applies to join the European Union.

 

Top of the pageApril
-

5
Poland formally applies to join the European Union.

6
The Commission adopts a Green Paper on the Union's audiovisual policy.

15
The final Act of the Uruguay Round (GATT) negotiations is signed in Marrakech, Morocco.

19
The Council decides on joint action under common foreign and security policy in support of the Middle East peace process.

26
The Parliament and the Council adopt the fourth framework programme on research, development and demonstration (1994-1998). 

Top of the pageMay
-

25
The board of Governors of the European Investment Bank establishes the European Investment Fund.

26-27
An inaugural conference for a Stability Pact for Central and Eastern Europe is held in Paris, France.

Top of the pageJune
-

9-12
Direct elections to the European Parliament are held for the fourth time.

12
A referendum is held in Austria, the majority is in favour of accession to the European Union.

14
A partnership and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Ukraine is signed in Luxembourg.

24-25
An European Council is held in Corfù, Greece. The main item is the follow-up to the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment. The Acts of Accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway are signed. A new partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities, the Member States and Russia is signed.

Top of the pageJuly
-

1
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

8-10
The twentieth Western Economic Summit is held in Naples, Italy.

14
Faccini Dori ruling. The European Court of Justice affirms that a Member State injuring a private individual by omitting to transpose a directive in its national law must pay compensation provided that certain conditions are satisfied.

15
An extraordinary meeting of the European Council is held in Brussels: Jacques Santer is chosen to succeed Jacques Delors as President of the Commission.

18
Free-trade agreements are signed in Brussels with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

19-26
The new European Parliament holds first part-session in Strasbourg. Mr. Klaus Hänsch is elected President. Mr Santer is formally appointed as next President of the European Commission.

27
The Commission adopts a White Paper on the European Social policy.

Top of the pageOctober
-

10
A cooperation agreement between the Community and South Africa is signed. A conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) opens in Budapest, Hungary.

16
A referendum is held in Finland, the majority is in favour of accession to the European Union.

25
The Commission adopts the first part of the Green Paper on liberalisation of telecommunications infrastructure and cable television networks.

Top of the pageNovember
-

13
A referendum is held in Sweden, the majority is in favour of accession to the European Union.

15
The European Monetary Institute Council meets for the first time in Frankfurt.

28
The Norwegian referendum rejects accession to the European Union.

29
The Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopt the financial perspective 1995-99 adjusted to take account of enlargement.

30
The Council adopts a first joint action in the area of cooperation in the fields of Justice and Home affairs.

Top of the pageDecember
-

6
The Council adopts Leonardo da Vinci Programme in vocational training and first resolution under Social Policy Protocol.

9-10
The European Council held in Essen, Germany lays down lines of action for strengthening strategy of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment with special reference to measures to combat unemployment and to bring trans-European networks into operation; it agrees on an overall 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

15-16
The Council adopts a conclusion on the Community strategy for reducing CO2 emissions and on environment and transport. It also adopts a regulation on the substances which deplete the ozone layer and a directive on the incineration of hazardous waste.

17
The treaty on European Energy Charter is signed in Lisbon.

Top of the page