EU History 1960-2007 Flashcards
EFTA
European Free Trade Association
3 May 1960
The European Free Trade Association is set up by a number of European countries that are not part of the European Economic Community (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) to reduce barriers and increase trade of goods and services with each other. Today, its members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Building of the Berlin Wall
Building of the Berlin Wall
13 August 1961
The communist authorities in East Germany begin to build a high wall through the centre of Berlin to prevent their citizens from escaping to a freer life in the West. It becomes an iconic symbol of the Cold War.
CAP
PAC
GAP
Common Agricultural Policy
Politique agricole commune
Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik
30 July 1962
Launched in 1962, the common agricultural policy (CAP) is one of the EU’s oldest policies, supporting farmers and ensuring that Europe’s food is safe to eat.
Die Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik (GAP) ist ein Politikbereich der Europäischen Union. Sie definiert Regeln für die Landwirtschaft in den Staaten der Europäischen Union. Mit rund 40 Prozent des Gesamtbudgets der EU stellt die GAP den zweitgrößten Haushaltsposten der Gemeinschaft dar.[1] Die GAP gehört auch zu den ältesten Politikfeldern der EU: die sechs Gründungsmitglieder der Europäischen Gemeinschaften einigten sich schon bei der Unterzeichnung der Römischen Verträge 1957 auf die Vergemeinschaftung der Landwirtschaftspolitik. Sie trat 1962 in Kraft.
Die GAP unterstützte Landwirte ursprünglich über Preisgarantien. Staatliche Stellen kauften Produkte, die für den garantierten Preis (Interventionspreis) nicht abgesetzt werden konnten, auf. In den 1990er Jahren wurde die GAP liberalisiert. Preisgarantien wurden gesenkt und schrittweise durch produktionsunabhängige Direktbeihilfen an landwirtschaftliche Höfe ersetzt.[2] Die GAP beruht heute auf zwei „Säulen“. Die erste Säule umfasst Direktzahlungen an Landwirte sowie die gemeinsamen Marktordnungen für einzelne Agrarerzeugnisse. Die zweite Säule ergänzt die GAP seit 1999 und zielt auf die Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums.[3] Seit der Reform 2013 gewann die Reduktion der negativen Umweltauswirkungen der Landwirtschaft an Bedeutung.
Die Förder-Leitlinien der GAP werden in der Regel alle sieben Jahre beschlossen und richten sich nach den mehrjährigen Haushaltsplänen der EU. Für die Periode von 2021 bis 2027 sind rund 365 Milliarden Euro eingeplant.
Yaoundé Convention
Yaoundé Convention
20 July 1963
The EU signs its first big international agreement (The Yaoundé Convention), a deal to help 18 former colonies in Africa. By 2005, it has a special partnership with 78 countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions. The EU is the world’s biggest provider of development assistance
to poorer countries. Its aid is linked to respect for human rights.
Berlaymont building
New European Commission headquarters
1 January 1967
The Berlaymont office building, the European Commission’s headquarters, was originally built in 1967, on the former site of a convent and boarding school run by the Sisters of Berlaymont (Dames de Berlaymont). It was later refurbished and the newly renovated building was unveiled on 21 October 2004. The European Commission President offices occupy the 13th floor.
Merger Treaty
Merger Treaty
1 July 1967
The Merger Treaty comes into effect, creating a single Council of Ministers and a single Commission for the European Communities (the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community). They already share a Parliamentary Assembly and a Court of Justice.
Free cross-border trade
Free cross-border trade
1 July 1968
Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands stop charging taxes on imports of each other’s goods, allowing free cross-border trade for the first time. They also apply the same taxes on the goods they import from other countries. The world’s biggest trading group is born! Trade among the six, and between them and the rest of the world, grows rapidly.
Single market for goods
Single market for goods
1 December 1969
At a meeting in The Hague, in the Netherlands, EU leaders from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands confirm their willingness to move towards a single market with a common currency and reaffirm their agreement on the principle of letting other countries join the EU. Thanks to the single market, it is not only people who can now move around freely in the EU, but also goods, services and money.
First EU enlargement
First EU enlargement
1 January 1973
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Communities, marking the first enlargement. Together with Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, they bring the membership to nine. Following a referendum, Norway decides not to join.
EU Environment Action Programme
EU Environment Action Programme
22 November 1973
European Community leaders adopt the first Environment Action Programme based on the idea that prevention is better than cure and that there should be a price on pollution. The fight against pollution intensifies in the 1970s with the rise of the environmental movement and the first political parties based on green principles, which include environmentalism, social justice and non-violence. Since then, climate change and the environment
have been very high on the EU’s political agenda.
Creation of European Council
Creation of European Council
9 December 1974
The European Council
is created with the intention of establishing an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government.
First European Elections
First European Elections
7 June 1979
For the first time, European citizens can vote for who they want to represent them in the European Parliament. Before the introduction of direct elections, MEPs were appointed by the national parliaments of each Member State. The European elections have been held every 5 years since then. You have the right to vote at 18 in all EU countries except Austria, Malta, Belgium, Germany (16), and Greece (17).
Simone Veil
Simone Veil
17 July 1979
Simone Veil, former French health minister and survivor of the Holocaust, becomes the first President of the directly-elected European Parliament, and the first woman to hold the post.
1975 brachte sie in FR das Gesetz zur Entkriminalisierung des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs zur Abstimmung, das deshalb als Loi Veil bekannt ist.
Greece joins the European Communities
Greece joins the European Communities
1 January 1981
Greece becomes the 10th country to join the European Communities, now known as the European Union.
Greenland leaves the European Communities
Greenland leaves the European Communities
1 February 1985
Between 1973 and 1985, Greenland was part of the European Communities (today called the European Union). Following a referendum held in 1982, it withdrew from the EU but remains associated with it as an Overseas Country and Territory.
ESPRIT
ESPRIT: first research and development programme
28 February 1984
With computers and technology changing the way we live and work, the EU adopts the ‘ESPRIT’ programme (European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology). It is the first of many research and development programmes
that aim to help the EU stay at the forefront of innovation. Horizon 2020 is the largest ever European funding programme for research and innovation, with EUR 77 billion of EU funding available from 2014 to 2020. The next research and innovation programme is expected to be even bigger!
Schengen Agreement
Schengen Agreement
14 June 1985
A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to the Schengen Agreement that gradually allows people to travel without having their passports checked at the borders. It is signed on 14 June 1985 by Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 26 countries currently make up the Schengen area.
Implementation Agreement:
On 19 June 1990, the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (Schengen Convention) was signed. The Convention provides for compensatory measures to ensure a single area of security and justice following the abolition of internal border controls.
- standardizing the provisions concerning the entry and short-term stay of foreigners in the “Schengen area” (uniform Schengen visa);
- asylum (determination of the Member State responsible for processing the asylum application);
- measures to combat cross-border drug trafficking;
- police cooperation (prosecution) and
- mutual legal assistance.
Schengen members
NL, Belgien, LUX, Deutschland, Frankreich, Portugal und Spanien (seit 26. März 1995)
Italien (seit 26. Oktober 1997)
Österreich (seit 1. Dezember 1997 bei den Luftgrenzen, seit 1. April 1998 bei den Landgrenzen)
Griechenland (seit 8. Dezember 1997)
Dänemark, Finnland, Island, Norwegen, Schweden (seit 25. März 2001)
Estland, Lettland, Litauen, Malta, Polen, Slowakei, Slowenien, Tschechien und Ungarn (seit 21. Dezember 2007)
Schweiz (seit 12. Dezember 2008 bei den Landgrenzen und 29. März 2009 bei den Luftgrenzen)
Liechtenstein (seit 19. Dezember 2011)
Kroatien (seit 1. Januar 2023 bei den Land- und Seebinnengrenzen und 26. März 2023 bei den Luftgrenzen)
Bulgarien und Rumänien (seit 31. März 2024, zunächst nur bei den Luft- und Seebinnengrenzen; die Landgrenzen werden vorerst weiter kontrolliert)