Greenland’s referendum votes for withdrawal from the EEC (February 1985)
Portugal and Spain sign the Treaty of Accession (March 1985)
European Council, Brussels (March 1985) accepts the adhesion of Spain and Portugal in the Communities and agrees on the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes (IMP) as proposed by the Commission.
The Commission sends to the European Council a White Paper titled “Completing the Internal Market” (June 1985) COM(85)310
The Schengen Agreement (June 1985) on the elimination of border controls is signed by Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
European Council, Milan (June 1985) approves the Commission’s White Paper on the internal market and decide to set up an IGC to consider an institutional reform
European Council, Luxembourg (December 1985) agrees to amend the Treaty of Rome and to revitalise the process of European integration by drawing up a Single European Act
Portugal and Spain join the EEC (January 1986)
Single European Act (February 1986) establishing…. The original treaty can be downloaded from here in all languages and here in French
Checchini Report (1988) evaluating the costs of a “non-Europe”
European Council, Brussels (February 1988) reaches agreement onDelors I, a package of measures including CAP reform and cohesion funds. A new frontier for Europe” dossier
Directive (June 1988) on the free circulation of capital within the EEC by July 1990
European Council, Hannover (June 1988) stresses out the importance of the social aspects of progress towards the objectives of 1992, comments ondangers threatening the environment and appoints a committee to lead to the monetary union. Reappoints Jacques Delors as President of the Commission
Commission adopts a working document on the social dimension of the Single market (14 September 1988)
RADIO European Commission President Jacques Delors addresses the UK Trade Union Council (September 1988) on the social charter – a speech accredited with being instrumental in swinging Labour behind European integration.
European Council, Rhodes (December 1988) assesses of progress towards 1992, emphasising the significance of work on environmental protection and the importance of developing Europe’s audiovisual capacity
Delors speech (January 1989) to European Parliament proposes “a new, more structured partnership, with common decision-making and administrative institutions” with the EFTA countries
EFTA Council, Holmenkollen (March 1989) declares EFTA ready to initiate negotiations with the Community leading to “the fullest possible realization of free movement of goods, services, capital and persons, with the aim of creating a dynamic and homogeneous European Economic Space”.
Delors Report (April 1989) on the economic and monetary union
Agricultural compromise between EEC and USA (May 1989)
Third direct elections to European Parliament (June 1989)
European Council, Madrid (June 1989) adopts conclusions on economic and monetary union, emphasises the need for balance to be struck between social and economic aspects of a single market and confirms that the environment is a priority issue. Under political cooperation procedures, it also adopts two major declarations on the situation in the Middle East and China
Nigel Lawson resigns (October 1989) as UK Chancellor over Thatchers policy towards the ERM. See here for the attack on him by Opposition Chancellor Godron Brown
European Council, Strasbourg http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/strasbourg/default_en.htm (December 1989) decides to convene an IGC before 1990 to draw up amendment to the Treaty for the final stages of economic and monetary union. Heads of State or Government of 11 Member States adopt the Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of Workers (ie not the UK)
Lomë IV (December 1989) signed between EEC and 69 ACP countries
European Council, Dublin (June 1990) agrees on a common approach on German unification and on the Community relations with Central and Eastern European countries
EEC-EFTA negotiations on European Economic Area begin (June 1990)
RADIO Chancellor Helmut Kohl on the reunification of Germany (July 1990)
Malta applies for EEC membership (July 1990)
German reunification (October 1990)
RADIO Speech German President Richard von Weizächer
European Council, Rome (October 1990) finalises the preparation of the two intergovernmental conferences one on Economic and Monetary Union and the other on the aspects of Political Union.
TELEVISION BBC’s report on the resignation of Geoffrey Howe from the UK cabinet (November 1990) on differences over Europe.
TELEVISION BBC report on how Europe was weakening the Thatchers grip on government (November 1990)
TELEVISION BBC Report on Thatcher’s resignation (November 1990)
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe establishes the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (November 1990)
European Council, Rome (December 1990) launches two IGCs, one on Economic and Monetary Union, the other on Political Union.
MacSharry issues two preoposals for CAP reform (1991)
European Council, Luxembourg (June 1991) confirms the need to conduct the proceedings of the two Intergovernmental Conferences, centered on Economic and Monetary Union and on the aspects of Political Union, in parallel on the basis of the draft Treaty prepared by the Presidency.
Sweden applies for EEC membership (July 1991)
Lichtenstein joins EFTA (September 1991)
Kohl and Mitterand decide on the creation of a Eurocorps (October 1991)
TELEVISION BBC report on the UK’s first day of membership of the Exchange Rate Mechanism (October 1991)
EEA talks between EEC and EFTA concluded (October 1991)
Association agreements between EEC and Visegrad countries (November 1991)
European Court ruling (14 December 1991) reopens EEA agreement by declaring that an EEA Court is incompatible with its own competencies under the Treaty of Rome
Treaty on European Union (February 1992). The original treaty can be downloaded from here and here in French.
RADIO BBC report on the signing of the Maastrict Treaty.
TELEVISION BBC report with extracts of interviews with Major, Kohl and Lubbers
TELEVISION French Report with extracts from Mitterrand and Major
Finland applies for EU membership (March 1992)
Treaty of Oporto (May 1992) Creates European Economic Area
Danish referendum records 50.7% against ratification of Maastricht Treaty (June 1992)
RADIO Interview with Danish foreign minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
TELEVISION “Black Wednesday” BBC report on the UK’s departure from the Exchange Rate Mechanism (16 September 1992) after massive speculation against sterling.
RADIO BBC refection on Black Wednesday after ten years
European Council, Edinburgh (December 1992) offers Denmark special arrangements to to hold a second referendum on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty. It endorses the Delors II package and agrees that accession negotiations with Austria, Sweden and Finland will start on January 1st.
Commission Perspectives for the Common Agricultural Policy (1985)
