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End of World War 2
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End of World war 2
The first annual Cannes Film Festival takes places in the French seaside resort. Twenty-one countries present their films. Since 1991, more than 40 films co-financed by the EU’s MEDIA programme have been awarded Cannes Film Festival’s top prizes -
Cold war
Political tensions between eastern and western Europe over ideology, economics and government lead to a ‘Cold War’- fought with proxy wars rather than direct military conflict - that lasts for more than 40 years. Tensions between the two spheres had begun in 1945, but the term ‘Cold War’ was first used in 1947 in a speech by Bernard Baruch, an American Statesman. The expression was then widely used to designate this period in history. -
Congress of Europe
Around 800 representatives from European countries meet at the Congress of Europe in the Dutch city of The Hague to discuss new forms of cooperation -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty is signed in Washington, establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), an alliance between the United States, Canada and 10 western European countries. Its purpose is to ensure safety and freedom for its members. NATO remains a cornerstone of western defence today. -
The six founding countries
Schuman’s vision starts to take shape when six countries — Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — sign a treaty to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. -
Court of Justice of the EU
The Court of Justice of the European Union — the EU’s highest legal authority — is created. Its job is to ensure that EU law is interpreted and applied in the same way in every EU country, and that countries and EU institutions abide by EU laws. The Court of Justice is based in Luxembourg. -
Football World Cup final
West Germany defeats Hungary in the football World Cup by 3 goals to 2. -
Treaty of Rome
Building on the success of the coal and steel treaty, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands expand cooperation to other economic sectors. They sign the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the European Economic Community or ‘common market’, allowing people, goods and services to move freely across borders -
First EU enlargement
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 -
First European Elections
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 (16), and Greece (17). -
Greece joins the European Communities
Greece becomes the 10th country to join the European Communities, now known as the European Union. -
Greenland leaves the European Communities
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. -
Spain and Portugal join the European Communities
Spain and Portugal join the European Communities, bringing the total number of members to twelve. -
United in diversity
After a competition to find a motto for Europe, which attracted 80 000 entries from young Europeans, a Grand Jury, chaired by former European Commission President Jacques Delors, selects the winner: ‘United in diversity’. It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages. -
Youth Guarantee Scheme
In response to unprecedented levels of youth unemployment, EU leaders agree to set up a Youth Guarantee Scheme for young people under the age of 25. This is a commitment to give every young person a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. Since it was launched in 2014, more than 18 million young people have entered Youth Guarantee Schemes. -
First ban on food waste in supermarkets
France becomes the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. Shops must donate wastage to food banks or charities. -
Brexit - UK leaves the EU
Having been an EU Member State since 1973, the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, following the 2016 referendum result. The so-called “Brexit agreement”, jointly approved by the European and the British Parliaments, now provides for a negotiation period that will redefine the relationship between the EU and the UK in many areas, including trade, education, defence and employment, with a substantial impact on both European and British citizens.