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The European Union - some information

 


Chronicle History of the European Union

1950

 
9.May

In his speech the French Foreign Minister Robert represent the plan from Jean Monnet. The plan from Monnet involve the idea to put together the production of steal from France and Germany and to establish an organisation which is open for other European countries.

   

1951

 
18.April

In Paris six Countries signed the contract for the EGKS - Europaeische Gemeinschaft fuer Kohle und Stahl (European Community for coal and steel)

   

1952

 
27.May

In Paris the countries signed the contract of the EVG – Europaeische Verteidigungsgemeinschaft (a European mutual protection pact).

   

1954

 
30.August

The French National Assembly decline the EVG contract.

20. - 23.October

After the conference from Lonon they bring the contracts of Paris to an end. They involve the conditions for the expansion to the Western European Union (WEU).

   

1955

 
1. - 2. June

In the conference from Messina the six countries decide to expanse the European integration to the whole economy.

   

1957

 
25. March

In Rome they signed the contracts EWG – Europaeische Wirtschafsgemeinschaft (European economical community) and the EAG – Europaeische Atomgemeinschaft (European Atom Community).

 
 

1958

 
1. January

The work of the EWG and the EAG started in Brussels.

 
 

1960

 

4. January

Out of an initiative from the UK the countries signed the agreement of Stockholm. The EFTA – European Free Trade Agreement.

 
 

1962

 

30. July

A shared agricultural policy (GAP) started.

 
 

1963

 

14. January

In a press conference Grenral de Gaulle declared France will decline the joining from the UK in the EWG.

20. July

In Jaunde the EWG signed the association agreement with 18 African countries.

   

1965

 

April

The contract for the fusion of the three executive parts (WEU, EWG, EAG) and for the common council be signed. The work began at 01. July 1967.

   

1966

 

29. January

After the Luxemburger compromise France came back in the council.

   

1968

 

1. July

18 month earlier then planed all internal duty for economical products became abolish. The shared duty tariff (GZT) with third countires was founded.

   

1969

 

1. - 2. December

In the summit meeting from Den Haag the countries decide to start with the end phase of the community. The final agricultural policy was decided.

   

1970

 

22. April

The contract of the step by step financing through own resources was decided.

30. June

Negotiations with Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the UK in Luxemburg.
 

   

1972

 

22. January

The joining from Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the UK signed in Brussels.

24. April

The six decide the system of the “currency sneak”. The maximum changing between the exchange rate of the member states is 2,25 %

   

1973

 

1. January

Denmark, Ireland, and the UK joined the EWG. (negative referenda in Norway).

   

1974

 

9. - 10. December

The nine (not longer six) decide that the European councillor has to come together for three times per year. They make the suggestion of a direct election for the European assembly. The EFRE - European fond for regional elaboration) was founded.

   

1975

 

28. February

Lomé I, a agreement with 46 countries from Africa, the Caribbean room and the Pacific ocean (AKP) was signed in Lomé

22. July

The European audit office was found and the enlargement for the budgetary authority was decided. The work from the audit office started at 01. June 1977.

   

1978

 
6. - 7. July

In the summit meeting from Bremen France and Germany propose a deeper teamwork in the currency part. The EWS - Europaeisches Wahrungssystem (European currency system) has to replace the “currency sneak”.

   

1979

 

13. March

The EWS began to work.

28. May

Greece and the Europaeische Gemeinschaft – EG - signed a contract for the joining from Greece in the EG.

7. and 10. June

The first direct election for the 410 member of the European parliament.

31. October

Lomé II, a agreement with 58 countries from Africa, the Caribbean room and the Pacific ocean (AKP) was signed in Lomé

   

1981

 

1. January

Greece joined the EG.

   

1984

 

28. February

The ESPRIT program - Europäisches strategisches Programm für Forschung und Entwicklung auf dem Gebiet der Informationstechnologie – (European program for science and development in IT).

14. and 17. June

The second election of the European parliament.

8. December

Lomé III, a agreement with 66 countries from Africa, the Caribbean room and the Pacific ocean (AKP) was signed in Togo.

   

1985

 

January

Jacques Delors became president from the committee of the EG.

   

1986

 

1. January

Spain and Portugal joined the EG.

17. and 28. February

In Luxemburgs and Den Haag the countries signed the Einheitliche Europaesche Akte (unified European file). The aim is a better integration for the rest of Europe.

   

1987

 

14. April

Turkey called for the EWG membership.

1. July

The Einheitliche Europaesche Akte (unified European file) began to work.

27. October

The WEU pass a shared safety precaution.

1988

 

February

Reform in the financing and the structur fond.

   

1989

 

January

4 more years period for the president of the EG commission Jacques Delors.

15. and 18. June

The third direct election of the European parliament.

17. July

Austria called for the EWG membership.

9. November

The Wall of Berlin fall down.

15. December

Lomé 4, an agreement with countries from Africa, the Caribbean room and the Pacific ocean (AKP) was signed.

   

1990

 

29. May

The contracts fort he founding from the Europäischen Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung - EBWE – (European Bank for economic recovery and elaboration) has signed.

19. June

The agreement from Schengen was signed.

4. and 16. July

Malta and Cyprus called for the EWG membership.

3. October

Reunification of Germany.

   

1991

 

1. July

Sweden called for the EWG membership.

21. October

Agreement for the EWR - Europäischen Wirtschaftsraums (European economic Area).

9. - 10. December

Conference of the European councillor in Maastricht.

   

1992

 

7. February

The contract for the European Union has signed in Maastricht.

18. March

Finland called for the EWG membership.

25. March

Norway called for the EWG membership.

2. May

In Porto they signed the EWR.

   

1993

 

1. January

Fulfilment of the internal European market.

1. November

The contract from Maastricht began to work.

   

1994

 

1. April

Hungary called for the EU membership.

8. April

Poland called for the EU membership.

9. and 12. June

The fourth direct election of the European Parlamente.

24. - 25. June

The joining from Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden has signed.

27. - 28. November

Negative Referendum in Norway.

   

1995

 

1. January

Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU.

23. January

The committee of the EU began to work. The Chairmanship has Jacques Santer.

26. March

The agreement from Schengen began to work.

12. June

European agreement with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

22. June

Romania called for the EU membership.

27. June

Slovakia called for the EU membership.

27. October

Latvia called for the EU membership.

24. November

Estonia called for the EU membership.

8. December

Lithuania called for the EU membership.

14. December

Bulgaria called for the EU membership.

 
 

1996

 

16. January

Slovenia called for the EU membership.

17. January

Czechoslovakia called for the EU membership.

   

1997

 

16. July

Presentation of the Agenda 2000.

20. - 21. November

Maximum at work in Luxembourg.

   

1998

 

1. January

Start of the UK presidency.

30. March


Start from the joining procedure from 10 east European countries and Cyprus.

1. July

Start of the Austria presidency

   

1999

 

1. January

Start of the German presidency.

in spring

Election of the European parliament.

1. July

Start of the Finland presidency.

   

2000

 

1. January

Start of the Portugal presidency.

1. July

Start of the French presidency.

   

2002

 

1. January

The EURO

1. July

The national money not longer work.

   

2004

1. Mai

Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta are the new member of the EU. Following the largest expansion in its history, the EU will grow to a population of 450 million people, creating the largest single market in the world. It also means the EU's decision-making bodies, from the European Commission to the European Parliament, will all be required to operate in a whopping 20 languages.

 
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The European flag


The Logo of the European Union

Since 1986 the flag from the Council of Europe is also the flag of the European Union.

The flag consist out of one circle with 12 yellow stars on a blue background. The number of the 12 stars is unchangeable and a symbol for the perfection and the unity of Europe.


The European anthem

The European anthem - Ode an die Freude – is a special version of the last sentence out of the 9th symphony from Ludwig van Beethoven. With the last sentence of his symphony Beethoven set to music the “Ode an die Freude” from Friedrich von Schiller out of the year 1785. This poem was a symbol for Schillers idea that all humans become brothers and friends. Beethoven shared this idea. The same idea is the idea from the European Union.

1972 the Council of Europe appoint it to the Europe anthem. Since 1986 the European Union use the symphony also as the European anthem.

The aim is not to replace the national anthems. The European anthem symbolize the unity in the diversity. The European anthem don’t use any words, only the universal language, the music which is understand over the whole world.

To listen the European anthem click here.


European days

5. May


The Europe Day, which is celebrated since 1964 remind for the founding of the Council of Europe at 05. May 1949. In many countries all official buildings becomes decorat with flags.

   
9. May


At the 09. May 1950 Robert Schuman presented his idea for a united Europe as an essential premiss for a friendly peaceful Europe. This proposal (Schuman-Erklaerung, Schuman statement) is excepted as the basic for the European Union. On this day Europe celebrate festivals which are for the idea of a united Europe. The day is a symbol for the European unity like the European flag and the European anthem.


The Schengen agreement

The Schengen area

A area without borders for European countries.

The principle of the free personal traffic is for every national, independent of his nationality.

For the citizen out of the countries in the European Union the free travel and the free personal traffic is nearly conclude.

The agreement was expand to citizens of third countries, asylums and legal immigrant to become a standardized method

Police and security

The police still guarantee the security in the countries, at airports and harbor but with new methods.

The agreement contain shared regulates for the actively oppose against terrorism, smuggler and the organized crime. More than this there is a nearer working planed in the fields justice, police and administration.

More information

If you want to know more about the Schengen agreement, passport regulations, VISA regulation and travel in other countries you can find it in our detailed document.


Short facts about the euro

The euro has been a feature of the financial landscape since 1 January 1999.
On 1 January 2002, it became a physical reality across Europe when the new euro banknotes and coins were introduced.

But what is the background to the euro? Which countries are involved? How did the euro evolve? And what about the distribution of billions of euro banknotes and coins?

In which countries the euro became legal tender?

The euro became legal tender in the 12 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Finland, Austria and Ireland.

What is the conversion rate for the euro for each participating currency?

The rates, which have remained irrevocably fixed since 1 January 1999, appear from the table below.

Country
Per 100 euro
Per 100 currency units
Belgium
BEF 4033.99
2.48 euro
Germany
DEM 195.58
51.13 euro
Greece
GRD 34075.00
0.29 euro
Spain
ESP 16638.60
0.60 euro
France
FRF 655.96
15.24 euro
Ireland
IEP 78.76
126.97 euro
Italy
ITL 193627.00
0.05 euro
Luxembourg
LUF 4033.99
2.48 euro
The Netherlands
NLG 220.37
45.38 euro
Austria
ATS 1376.03
7.27 euro
Portugal
PTE 20048.20
0.50 euro
Finland
FIM 594.57
16.82 euro
Is there a euro symbol?

Yes, just as is the case with the dollar ($) and the British pound (£) there is a symbol for the euro, too. The euro symbol is €.

What is the official euro abbreviation, and how will the euro be denominated?

The official abbreviation is EUR. One euro equals 100 eurocents. You can write 15.45 euro, €15.45 or EUR 15.45.

How many different euro notes and coins will be introduced?

There are seven bank notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros and eight coins in denominations of 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10, cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro and 2 euros.

How can you tell the eight euro coins apart?

The eight coins are different in size, weight, material, colour, edge and thickness allowing the blind and visually impaired to tell the coins apart.

 


History of the euro

Our new currency has been years in the making.

The Treaty of Rome (1957) declared a common European market as a European objective with the aim of increasing economic prosperity and contributing to "an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe".

The Single European Act (1986) and the Treaty on European Union (1992) have built on this, introducing Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and laying the foundations for our single currency.

The third stage of EMU began on 1 January 1999, when the exchange rates of the participating currencies were irrevocably set. Euro area Member States began implementing a common monetary policy, the euro was introduced as a legal currency and the 11 currencies of the participating Member States became subdivisions of the euro. Greece joined on 1 January 2001 and so 12 Member States introduced the new euro banknotes and coins at the beginning of this year.

The successful development of the euro is central to the realisation of a Europe in which people, services, capital and goods can move freely.

This is history in the making. It is the largest monetary changeover the world has ever seen – join us in celebrating and finding out more about our new currency.


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 Action 5.1 activity 9 “Support for quality and innovation of the Program Youth.”
Project no: 5.1/R1/2003/06 Made by Hienet working Teams in cooperation with T.E.S.