2002 Event European construction
Euro notes and coins
Three hundred million Europeans change currency on 1 January.
A shared history
European construction did not begin in 1950. This thread links the ancient inheritance, the Judeo-Christian matrix and the contemporary Union.
326
events
3600 BC
earliest marker
46
countries covered
0
already discussed
Event density
One century per bar before 1500, one decade after: archives are not evenly spread.
Ancient Greece
Early Middle Ages
Renaissance
Enlightenment
Concert of Europe
European integration
Rome
High and Late Middle Ages
Reformation and wars of religion
Age of revolutions
World wars
Cold War
2000
2004
2009
17 events
2000 2024
European integration 17 events2002 Treaty Contemporary period Monaco France
Friendship treaty with France
The text modernises the bilateral relationship and secures dynastic succession.
2002 Event European construction Montenegro
Unilateral euro adoption
Without being in the euro area, the country makes the euro its official currency.
2004 Event European construction
The big bang enlargement
Ten states, eight of them formerly communist, join the Union: the continent’s division ends.
2004 Event European construction Poland
Accession of Poland to the Union
With nine other states, Poland joins the EU: the political reunification of the continent.
2004 Event European construction Slovenia
Accession of Slovenia to the Union
The only former Yugoslav republic in the great enlargement of 2004.
2004 Event European construction Cyprus
Accession of Cyprus to the Union
Cyprus joins the EU; the acquis remains suspended in the northern part of the island.
2004 Event European construction Malta
Accession of Malta to the Union
The smallest member state joins the EU and adopts the euro four years later.
2005 Discovery Contemporary period Estonia
First national online vote
Estonia becomes the first country in the world to hold elections over the internet.
2006 Event Contemporary period Montenegro
Independence referendum
55.5 % of voters choose separation from Serbia.
2007 Event European construction Romania
Accession of Romania to the Union
With Bulgaria, Romania joins the EU and becomes its eastern frontier on the Black Sea.
2007 Event European construction Slovenia
Euro adoption in Slovenia
The first of the 2004 new member states to join the single currency.
2008 Text Contemporary period Kosovo
Declaration of independence
On 17 February Pristina proclaims independence; recognition remains partial.
2008 Disaster Contemporary period Iceland
Banking collapse
The three big banks fail; the crisis leads to an EU application, withdrawn in 2015.
2008 Event European construction Switzerland
Schengen entry
Without Union membership, Switzerland abolishes its border controls.
2009 Treaty European construction
Treaty of Lisbon
The Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes binding; Parliament becomes a full co-legislator.
2009 Event European construction Slovakia
Euro adoption in Slovakia
The first Visegrád economy to join the euro area.