reuwind

The history of the European Union.
Milestones and key events. Today in EU history.

#EUHistory #OnThisDay.

[reuwind @reuwind_]

9 August 1961 | UK applies to join the EU.

Accession Talks started in Nov, but the application was vetoed by De Gaulle's Gov. in 1963 -as a 2nd one in 1967. It was only in 1969 that green light was given

UK joined the EU in 1973 and left in 2020

#EUHistory 🇪🇺🇬🇧 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

7 August 1992 | The economic aid programme (PHARE) starts for Slovenia.

PHARE is one of the pre-accession instruments financed by the EU to assist applicant countries.

Created in 1989, it helped 🇵🇱🇭🇺🇨🇿🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇸🇰🇸🇮🇧🇬🇷🇴

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

6 August 2015 | The EU and Vietnam reach an agreement on a free trade deal after two and a half years of intense negotiations.

It entered into force 1 August 2020 & it was announced It will ultimately scrap duties on 99% of all goods traded.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺🇻🇳 #OnThisDay @Trade_EU

[reuwind @reuwind_]

30 July 1962 | The regulations creating a common agricultural policy (CAP) enter into force.

Set up after WWII-with food shortages & rations in Europe-the CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. Managed & funded at EU level from resources of #EUbudget
#EUHistory 🇪🇺 @EUAgri

[reuwind @reuwind_]

30 July 1952 | Luxembourg is chosen as the temporary headquarters for the ECSC.

Suggested by Joseph Bech and adopted by 'the Six'.

The High Authority of the ECSC remained in Luxembourg until the mid-1960s.

#EUHistory 🇱🇺#OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

29 July 1969 | Signature of the second Yaoundé convention.

An agreement between the EEC and the African ex-colonies that had recently gained independence, based on the principle of free trade between the EEC and each of the AASM countries.

#EUHistory #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

28 July 1977 | Spain formally applies to join the European Communities.

The application was presented by Marcelino Oreja, @SpainMFA, after Spain's first democratically elected gov in more than 40 years came to power.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺🇪🇸 #OnThisDay @ComisionEuropea

[reuwind @reuwind_]

27 July 1976 | Negotiations for the accession of Greece to the European Community open -formally -

Greece joined the EU in 1981.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺🇬🇷 #OnThisDay @EEAthina

[reuwind @reuwind_]

26 July 1995 | The Member States sign the @Europol Convention for police cooperation.

It came into force 1 October 1998.

The European Police Office started its full activities in 1999.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

26-27 July 1965 | The Council, meeting in Brussels, accepts the memorandum of the @EU_Commission on the financing of the CAP as a sound basis for discussion.

The 'empty chair crisis' is still on.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

23 July 2007 | Formal opening of an intergovernmental conference (IGC) on a draft reform Treaty to amend the EU Treaties.

The final result was the Lisbon Treaty, signed in December by

🇳🇱🇱🇺🇮🇹🇩🇪🇫🇷🇧🇪🇪🇸🇵🇹🇧🇬🇨🇿🇩🇰🇪🇪🇮🇪🇬🇧🇬🇷🇨🇾🇱🇻🇱🇹🇭🇺🇲🇹🇦🇹🇵🇱🇷🇴🇸🇮🇸🇰🇫🇮🇸🇪

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

23 July 2009 | Iceland 🇮🇸 applies for EU membership.

🇪🇺 In 2010, the EU granted the official candidate status and accession negotiations started that same year.

🛑 In 2013 the Government dissolved its accession team and suspended its application with no referendum involved.

🗳️ Following the November 2024 parliamentary elections, the new coalition government has pledged to hold a referendum by 2027 on whether to resume EU accession talks.

📈 Recent polls (early 2025) suggest a growing public support for at least reopening accession negotiations. (58% of Icelanders)

In the meantime, Iceland maintains a very close relationship with the EU through its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen Area.

This means Iceland already implements a significant portion of EU law regarding the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, and participates in various EU programs and agencies

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

23 July 1952 | The ECSC Treaty enters into force. Jean Monnet is appointed president of the High Authority and Paul-Henri Spaak, of the Common Assembly

Signed in Paris in 1951 by 🇧🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇱🇺🇳🇱 the Treaty established the European Coal and Steel Community

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

22 July 2004 | The @Europarl_EN elects @JMDBarroso🇵🇹 as the new President of the @EU_Commission.

"I see myself as someone who can build bridges".

⌛️ Barroso served as President until 2014, being the longest-serving President, along with Jacques Delors (10 years)

🇧🇬🇷🇴🇭🇷 His presidency oversaw the significant enlargement of the European Union. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, and Croatia joined in 2013, bringing the total number of member states to 28 during his tenure

📜 Barroso played a crucial role in the passage and ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force in 2009.

💶 The global financial crisis and subsequent sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone were defining challenges of his presidency. The Commission under Barroso was at the forefront of coordinating the EU's response, including proposing measures for financial stability and economic governance.

🌲 Barroso's Commission was instrumental in pushing for ambitious climate change legislation. He launched the "2020 program for Climate Change and Energy Security" and advocated for binding greenhouse gas reduction targets.

🕊️ In 2012, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its role in advancing peace and reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe. Barroso, along with the then-President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, accepted the prize on behalf of the EU.

💻 Under his presidency, the Commisison went into its digital communication revolution with the opening of its Social Media presence - starting with Youtube, Facebook and Twitter and followed by others (Google+, Vine, etc..). He was also the first Commission president to host a Youtube live (#AskBarroso) following the SOTEU 2012

#EUHistory #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

22 July 1975 | The Second Budgetary Treaty is signed, granting the European Parliament the power to reject the budget as a whole.

💶 A substantial increase in its budgetary authority compared to the First Budgetary Treaty of 1970, that gave the Parliament the final say on "non-compulsory expenditure" (administrative costs, social policy, research...). The 1975 one included "compulsory expenditure".

🔎 One of the outcomes was the formal establishment of the European Court of Auditors. To audit the accounts of the European Communities and to ensure sound financial management.

🇪🇺 The budgetary powers granted to the Parliament in 1975 laid important groundwork for further enhancements of its role in subsequent treaties, such as the Single European Act (1987) and the Maastricht Treaty (1992), which introduced the co-decision procedure.

#EUHistory

[reuwind @reuwind_]

21 July 2020 | After 4 days and nights of intense negotiations, EU leaders agree on #NextGenerationEU recovery package and #EUbudget for 2021-2027.

⌛ One of the longest #EUCO in history that brought the decision to issue common debt to finance NextGenerationEU, described as a "Hamiltonian moment".

📈 A substantial portion of the NextGenerationEU funds, over 50%, was explicitly dedicated to supporting the green and digital transitions. This includes investments in research and innovation (Horizon Europe), fair climate and digital transitions (Just Transition Fund and Digital Europe Programme), and strengthening preparedness and resilience. Specifically, 37% of investments and reforms should have contributed to climate neutrality and 20% to digital transformation.

📊 While NextGenerationEU encompasses several programs, the vast majority of its funding (around 90%) was channeled through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This instrument provides grants and loans to Member States based on their national recovery and resilience plans, which outline reforms and investments aligned with EU priorities.

🇪🇺 The funds borrowed to finance NextGenerationEU grants will be repaid over a long-term period, until 2058. To facilitate this, the EU is exploring new sources of revenue ("own resources") for its budget, such as a carbon border adjustment mechanism and a digital levy, in addition to traditional sources like customs duties and VAT-based contributions. This innovative approach to financing aims to avoid placing immediate pressure on Member States' national finances.

#euhistory

[reuwind @reuwind_]

21 July 2008 | Radovan Karadžić is arrested after 13 years on the run and sent to the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia for trial. Convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity & war crimes.

#OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

@Oberschwaben @Europarl_EN Yes. There was. Mario Soares (former President of Portugal). He Lost the elections against Nicole Fontaine.

You can ask @grok if you need It.

[reuwind @reuwind_]

20 July 1999 | The @Europarl_EN elects Nicole Fontaine as its President.

She led the EP from 1999 to 2002. The 2nd woman in history to hold that position.

She oversaw the adoption of the euro, focused on a 'EU for citizens' and signed the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union...among many other things.

"A consensus-seeker, coalition-builder, conciliator... nowhere more at home than in the Byzantine corridors of Europe, canvassing cross-party support, flashing her smile, teasing out compromise", wrote The Economist

"I hope we do not have to wait another 20 years to see the EP elects another woman President".

Europe had to wait indeed another 20 years to see another woman as President.

The 3 women Presidents of the European Parliament in history 👇🏻

1979 - 1982 | Simone Veil
1999 - 2002 | Nicole Fontaine
2022 - | @RobertaMetsola

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay

[reuwind @reuwind_]

20 July 2004 | The @Europarl_EN elects @JosepBorrellF as its President.

The third Spanish 🇪🇸 politician to hold the position, after Enrique Barón and José María Gil-Robles.

He led the EP until 2007.

#EUHistory 🇪🇺 #OnThisDay