The chronology of Europe's integration after World War II

1947	Winston Churchill calls for a United States of Europe
1947	Marshall Plan for rebuilding Europe
1948	Establishment of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)
1948	Establishment of the Western Union (United Kingdom, France, Benelux countries)
1949	Establishment of NATO
1949	Establishment of the Council of Europe
1952	Establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (Benelux countries, Italy, France, Germany)
1954	Establishment of the Western European Union (WEU)
1958	Entry into force of the treaties establishing the EEC and Euratom (Benelux countries, Italy, France, Germany)
1960	Conclusion of the convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
1960	Re-organisation of OEEC into OECD
1962	Establishment of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
1966	Luxembourg compromise
1967	Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (Merger Treaty)
1968	Entry into force of the Customs Union of the European Communities (EC)
1973	Accession of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark to the EC
1979	Implementation of the European Monetary System (EMS) and adoption of the European currency unit (ECU)
1979	First elections to the European Parliament
1981	Accession of Greece to the EC
1986	Accession of Portugal and Spain to the EC
1987	Entry into force of the Single European Act (SEA)
1990	Beginning of the first stage of EMU
1990	Reunification of Germany
1993	Entry into force of the Treaty establishing the European Union (Maastricht Treaty)
1994	Beginning of the second stage of EMU
1994	Entry into force of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA)
1995	Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the EU
1994-1996	Application of 10 Central and Eastern European countries for EU membership
1996	Intergovernmental Conference preparing the accession process and the Amsterdam Treaty
1998	Opening of accession negotiations with 5 CEE countries (incl. Estonia) and Cyprus
1999	Beginning of the third stage of EMU, adoption of the single currency euro as an electronic currency in 11 countries (excl. Greece, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden)
1999	Entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty
1999	Opening of accession negotiations with 5 more CEE countries, Malta and Turkey
2000	Intergovernmental Conference preparing the institutional reform and the EU enlargement
2001	Adoption of the single currency euro in Greece
2001	Entry into force of the Treaty of Nice
2002	Adoption of the euro as banknotes and coins in 12 Member States
2004	Accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia to the EU on 1 May
2007	Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU on 1 January (the number of EU Member States reaches 27)