Handbag 1

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.

Treaty of Nice

The Treaty of Nice reforms EU institutions to allow for the EU enlargement to Eastern Europe. It further extends the application of codecision.

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

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.

2014 European elections

The eighth European elections take place in 28 EU countries. The European People’s Party (EPP) retains the largest political group in Parliament, but new parties gain influence. Turnout remains largely at 2009 level.

Brexit referendum

UK voters decide to support leaving the European Union in a closely-fought referendum called by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. The outcome of the referendum triggers the resignation of Cameron. His successor Theresa May pledges to take the UK out of the EU and initiates the process on 29 March 2017.

Antonio Tajani

Antonio Tajani served as President of the European Parliament from 2017 to 2019.

David Sassoli

David Sassoli served as President of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2022.

Value of culture

(…) the intrinsic value of culture and of artistic expression should always be preserved and promoted and that artistic creation is at the heart of cooperation projects. European Parliament legislative resolution of 28 March 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 (COM(2018)0366 – C8 0237/2018 – 2018/0190(COD))

2019 European elections

The European elections in May 2019 see about 51% of EU voters go to the polls, the highest turnout in 20 years. The centre-right European People’s Party and centre-left Social Democrats lose seats but remain the two largest groups in Parliament, while other centrist and liberal parties make gains.

Brexit

After the European Parliament ratified the withdrawal agreement on 29 January, the UK leaves the EU about three and a half years after voters supported the move in a referendum.

As of 1 February, the number of EU member states is 27 and the term of office of UK MEPs ends. The number of MEPs is 705 (previously 751), as some of the UK seats are allocated to existing member states to reflect demographic changes, while others are kept in reserve for when another country joins the EU.

Acquisition programme of works of art from Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden following the Bureau decision from 25 November 2019