The EU's Many Milestones

The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957 by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg - established the European Economic Community and lay the foundations for many more treaties to come - Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. These European cities became synonymous of arduously negotiated European treaties and symbols of ever deeper economic and political integration. But Europe's milestones are more than a series of treaties.

1957 - There's a festive atmosphere at the signing ceremonies in Rome, but now the real work begins. The intial focus is on integrating the markets of the six founding members. Custom duties are abolished. In 1961 the United Kingdom knocks on the EC's door wanting to join the club. But historic rivaleries run deep and UK membership is rejected by a French veto.

1973 - It's finally time to expand and the United Kingdom along with Denmark and Ireland join the European community.

1979 - For the first time Europeans choose their representatives directly in the European parliament, the bloc's common assembly. This first direct vote is an important step towards making Europe more democratic and giving the European Parliament more powers.

1991 - By the end of 1991 the EU has 12 members. Their leaders meet in the Dutch town of Maastricht and negotiate a major amendment to the Treaty of Rome. The Maastricht Treaty lays the foundation of a single currency the Euro and defines criteria that countries will have to meet before adopting it. The Union also expands into the field of foreign and security policy as well as judicial and home affairs. Maastricht also brings about a name change. Renaming the European Community, the European Union is yet another sign of the continent growing together.

1995 - Internal borders dissolve in 1995 as the Schengen Agreement comes into force. It means citizens of 9 participating countries can now leave their passports at home when travelling within this zone.

1999 - 11 countries adopt the Euro as their common currency. Greece is not quite ready yet, but joins two years later. Sweden, Denmark and Britian choose to opt out. On January 1st 2002 Europeans use the Euro for the first time.

2004 - It's the big bang. The fifth enlargement of the EU in 2004 is not only the largest, but also the most significant. 10 new members join -- most of them from the former Soviet Block. It's a rubber stamp on the end of the Cold War and decades of East - West divide.

2005 - But not everything goes according to plan in the EU. In 2005 one of the most ambitious EU projects - a common European Constitution, is knocked back by voters in France and the Netherlands.

2007 - Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union as it celebrates its 50th birthday.

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Poland is intimately acquainted with the challenges of integration and enlargement. It was part of that big bang of new members admitted three years ago. For Poland, then, the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome is first and foremost an opportunity for reflection. Given Poland’s past, this means remembering the decades this nation was unable to participate in the process of European integration. 

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