In Rome, the six ECSC countries sign the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which have become known as the Treaties of Rome.

The Treaties of Rome comes into force. The EEC, Euratom and ECSC have two common institutions: the Court of Justice and the Common Assembly. The latter has 142 members at this time and is known as the European Parliament from 1962.

The Council and Commission, which had previously worked separately for each of the three communities, become unified institutions.

The European Community grows in size from six to nine countries: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join.

The members of the European Parliament are directly elected for the first time.

The community grows southward: Greece becomes a member.

The agreement on the Single European Act creates the foundation for the completion of the single market and for the start of European political cooperation. The southern enlargement is continued in 1986 with the accessions of Spain and Portugal.

The European Union (EU) is founded by the Treaty of Maastricht. From then on, the “community system” also extends to cooperation between the governments of the member states in the fields of Common Foreign and Security Policy as well as Justice and Home Affairs.

The community grows to 15 countries: Finland, Austria and Sweden join.

The euro is officially introduced as the unit of account in 11 member states; euro coins and notes enter circulation in 2002. The Treaty of Amsterdam comes into force in May. The powers of the European Parliament are again significantly extended.

The European Union prepares for the accession of 10 new member states with the Treaty of Nice. It also envisages new rules for European Union institutions and the way they work. Greece is the 12th country to join the eurozone.

The European Convention presents a draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Eastern enlargement: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia join the EU. As a result, the EU becomes the world’s largest single market with more than 450 million inhabitants and an economic product of 10.7 trillion euros. The heads of state and government sign the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in Rome on 29 October 2004.

In April accession treaties are signed with Bulgaria and Romania. On 29 May and 1 June the populations of France and the Netherlands vote against the constitutional treaty. The failed referenda prompt a period of reflection on the future of the Union. In October the EU commences membership negotiations with Turkey and Croatia.

In the first half of 2007 Germany assumes the presidency of the European Union. Bulgaria and Romania join the EU and increase the number of member states to 27. The euro is introduced in Slovenia.