Europe

Maastricht Treaty

The Maastricht Treaty paves the way for the creation of the European Union and the euro. It introduces the codecision procedure giving Parliament an equal say with the Council in some areas of legislation and gives Parliament the power to approve the Commission as a whole.

Continuation of the 2nd round of acquisitions: the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Klaus Hänsch

Klaus Hänsch served as served as President of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997.

1994 European elections

European elections are held for the fourth time. A total of 567 members of the European Parliament from 12 countries are elected with the Socialists forming the largest group (35%) ahead of the centre-right EPP (28%).

Enlargement

Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU bringing the number of member states to 15.

José María Gil-Robles

José María Gil-Robles served as President of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999.

Signature of Amsterdam Treaty

Signing of the Amsterdam Treaty. The Treaties establishing the European Communities and a few related acts were signed in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, José María Gil-Robles.

Belfast Agreement

The signing of the ‘Good Friday’ or ‘Belfast Agreement’ between the Irish and the British governments led to the end of 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland.

1999 European elections

Voters from 15 EU countries go to the polls to elect 626 MEPs. The centre-right EPP-ED becomes the largest political group for the first time.

Nicole Fontaine

Nicole Fontaine served as President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2002.

EURO

The euro was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency on 1 January 1999, replacing the former European Currency Unit (ECU).

Amsterdam Treaty

The Amsterdam treaty simplifies and broadens the application of the codecision lawmaking procedure. Parliament gets the right to approve the Commission president.

Charter of Fundamental Rights

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is solemnly proclaimed after having been drafted by a European convention with the active involvement of MEPs.

Article 13.
Freedom of the arts and sciences. The arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint. Academic freedom shall be respected.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000/C 364/01)

Acquisition programme

3rd round of acquisitions with Austria, Finland and Sweden.

National parliaments exhibiton in Brussels and Strasbourg. This exhibition was created at the initiative of President Gil Robles and was officially opened on 17 December 2001 by the then President Nicole Fontaine. It consists of works of art donated or loaned by 15 national parliaments.

Pat Cox

Pat Cox served as President of the European Parliament from 2002 to 2004.

Euro is launched

Euro notes and coins come into circulation – a crucial stage in the construction of an economic and monetary union in Europe.

2004 European elections

Elections for the European parliament take place in 25 member states. The centre-right EPP-ED win 37% of the 736 seats.

Josep Borrell

Josep Borrell served as President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007.

Eastern enlargement

Ten countries, mostly from Eastern Europe, join the EU in the largest enlargement so far: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Hans-Gert Pöttering

Hans-Gert Pöttering served as President of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009.

Acquisition programme

Acquisition programme of works of art from Cyprus, Czechia and Estonia following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

Enlargement: Bulgaria, Romania

Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.

Acquisition programme of works of art from Hungary and Latvia following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006.

2009 European elections

In the seventh European elections voters from 27 countries elect 736 MEPs. The centre-right EPP retains its majority, taking about 36% of the seats, followed by the Socialists and Democrats with 25% and Liberals with 11%.

Jerzy Buzek

Jerzy Buzek served as President of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2012.

Acquisition programme

Acquisition programme of works of art from Poland and Lithuania following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

Lisbon Treaty

The Treaty of Lisbon completes the institutional reform of the EU and makes the Charter of Fundamental rights legally binding. The Parliament is put on an equal decision-making footing with EU governments in all but a few legal areas.

Acquisition programme of works of art from Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

Acquisition programme

Acquisition programme of works of art from Bulgaria and Romania following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

(…) artistic trades constitute one of the pillars on which our cultural heritage and our economy rest (…) their continuity must therefore be safeguarded by means of appropriate mechanisms for passing on knowledge and skills, as emphasised in Parliament’s resolution of 10 April 2008 on cultural industries in Europe (…)

European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2011 on unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries (2010/2156(INI))

Establishment of a temporary rotating exhibition to mark rotating EU presidencies, starting from January 2011 (…)

The exhibition would be organised by a rotating system following the changing of the EU presidencies. Every six months, the Artistic Committee would decide on a selection of 8 to 10 works of art from the Member State concerned(…) GEDA D (2010) 41679

Martin Schulz

Martin Schulz served as President of the European Parliament from 2012 to 2017.

Art@Europarl

The Art@Europarl exhibition presents a small selection of 27 works, mostly paintings, by artists from 27 EU countries at the Parlamentarium, the Parliament’s visitors center. It’s the first time that the general public has direct access to part of the collection.

The European Union gets Nobel Peace Prize

The EU is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo for the contribution of Europeans to peace and reconciliation.

Acquisition programme

Acquisition programme of works of art from Croatia following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006.

Enlargement Croatia

Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU and newly-elected Croatian MEPs take their seats in the European Parliament.