The document provides a high-level overview of major events in the European Union from 2000-2009, organized by year. Each year lists several key events, such as countries holding the rotating presidency of the Council, treaties being signed or ratified, new members joining, and summit meetings being held between the EU and other nations on topics like security, trade, and climate change. The decade saw enlargement of the EU to include new members, the introduction and adoption of the euro currency, and responses to global issues like terrorism and financial crises.

1. The history of the European
Union 2000-2009
·2000 ·2006
·2001 ·2007
·2002 ·2008
·2003 ·2009
·2004
·2005
By: Alfredo Pérez Medina

2. Whats happened in:
2000
• Portugal takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• The intergovernmental conference on institutional reform opens in
Brussels, Belgium.
• A special European Council is held in Lisbon, Portugal, to decide on a new
Union strategy to strengthen employment, economic reform and social
cohesion as part of a knowledge-based economy.
• The Cooperation Council between the European Union and Russia holds a
meeting.
• The Parliament and the Council adopt a decision designating 2001 as the
European Year of Languages.
• France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• The European Central Bank, taking joint action with the US Federal
Reserve and the Bank of Japan, intervenes in support of the euro.
• The European Commission publishes a Green Paper on a European
strategy for the security of energy supply.

3. 2001
• Sweden takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• Greece becomes the 12th member of the euro zone.
• A European Council is held in Stockholm, Sweden. It lays down guidelines
in order to achieve sustained growth, stable macro-economic conditions
and employment-rate targets.
• An EU-Russia summit is held in Moscow.
• A referendum is held in Ireland, the people vote against the Treaty of Nice.
• Belgium takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• A European Union-China summit is held in Brussels, Belgium.
• A stabilisation and cooperation agreement between the European Union
and Croatia is signed.
• The European Commission adopts its work programme for 2002.
• The euro-zone countries begin making the euro-kits available. It is now
possible for citizens to purchase euro coins in advance of the changeover.

4. 2002
• Spain takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The
euro coins and notes enter into circulation in the twelve participating
Member States:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemb
ourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
• GALILEO, Europe's satellite navigation and positioning system, is launched.
• An EU-Mexico summit is held in Madrid, Spain.
• The Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
expires after fifty years.
• In a second referendum, the Irish people vote in favour of the Treaty of
Nice.
• An EU-Chile Association Agreement is signed in Brussels, Belgium.
• A European Council is held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• The euro becomes the sole currency within the twelve participating
Member States, as the period of dual circulation comes to an end. The
opening session of the Convention on the Future of Europe is held in
Brussels.

5. 2003
• Greece takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The EU celebrates 10 years of the Single Market.
• An extraordinary European Council is held in Brussels, Belgium.
• A referendum is held in Slovenia on the country joining the European
Union. The majority is in favour of accession.
• A referendum is held in Hungary on the country joining the EU. The
majority is in favour of accession.
• A referendum is held in Slovakia on the country joining the European
Union. The majority is in favour of accession.
• Italy takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
• A referendum is held in Latvia on the country joining the European Union.
The majority is in favour of accession.
• The European Commission decides to release a first contribution from the
EU budget for reconstruction activities in Iraq.

6. 2004
• The European Community signs a landmark tourism accord with China in
Beijing.
• The inaugural session of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
takes place in Athens, Greece.
• A European Union - Latin America and the Caribbean summit is held in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
• A European Council is held in Brussels, Belgium. The Council decided that
Croatia is a candidate country for membership and that the accession process
should be launched.
• The Netherlands takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European
Union.
• José Manuel Barroso, president-designate of the European
Commission, presented the policy portfolios of the 24 nominee
Commissioners.
• The Sakharov Prize is awarded to the Belarusian association of journalists
during a formal sitting of the European Parliament at its plenary session in
Strasbourg.

7. 2005
• The Commission's strategic objectives for 2005-2009
"Prosperity, Solidarity and Security", are published.
• American President George W. Bush visits NATO and the European Union.
It is the first visit of a US President to the European institutions.
• Today marks the first anniversary of the terrorist attack in Madrid, and has
been established as the first European Day for the Victims of Terrorism.
• The European Parliament gives its approval for the entry of Romania and
Bulgaria into the EU. Actual accessions are scheduled to take place in
2007.
• Second meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between the
EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia takes place in Brussels.
• European Union accession negotiations open with Turkey and Croatia. The
EU - Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Energy holds its first
ever meeting in London.
• The 7th EU - Kyrgyz Republic Cooperation Council meeting is held in
Brussels.

8. 2006
• The eleventh meeting of the Association Council between the European Union
and Bulgaria is held in Brussels.
• The European Commission launches a White Paper on debating Europe -
involving citizens as the foundation of a European Union communication
policy.
• The twelfth meeting of the Association Council between the European Union
and Romania is held in Brussels.
• Today marks the 60th anniversary of the International Court of Justice.
• Finland takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism demands an EU-wide
blacklist of air carriers which do not meet international aircraft safety
standards.
• The president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, visits the European
Parliament, meeting with the leaders of its political groups and EP president
Josep Borrell.
· The Finnish Parliament ratifies the Constitutional Treaty, this brings the
number of Member States which have ratified it to sixteen.

9. 2007
• The European Parliament elects Hans-Gert Poettering as its new
president.
• Informal meeting of the heads of state and government on the occasion of
the fiftieth anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome takes
place in Berlin.
• The European Community becomes the first organisation to accede to the
Hague Conference on Private International Law.
• Fourth meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between the
EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia takes place in Brussels.
• Bulgaria and Romania become full members of Europol.
• The Second Ministerial Troika within the framework of the South Africa-EU
Strategic Partnership is held in Tshwane, South Africa.
• The Treaty of Lisbon is signed at Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, in Lisbon.
European Parliament adopts its second reading of the 2008 EU budget, it
is officially signed at the Parliament in Brussels on 18 December.

10. 2008
• The Council of the European Union adopts a revised accession partnership
with Croatia.
• The European Parliament celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first
meeting of the European Parliamentary Assembly on 19 March, 1958.
• The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) celebrates its 50th
anniversary with a special commemorative plenary session.
• Antonio Tajani is approved by the European Parliament as EU
commissioner for Transport, replacing Franco Frattini.
• EU leaders meet at a summit to discuss the fighting in Georgia and
condemn Russia’s ‘disproportionate reaction’.
• Brussels summit – agreement reached on climate action, support for the
economy and a response to financial crisis. A plan is agreed for Ireland to
ratify the Lisbon treaty.
• The EU welcomes Switzerland to its 'Schengen area', which allows people
to travel between countries without border checks whilst ensuring
increased police cooperation.

11. 2009
• The Czech Republic holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European
Union for the first time. Presidency priorities include the economy and energy.
• European members of the G20 group, which represents the world’s largest
economies, meet in Berlin. Leaders agree on the need for a common
approach to combat the financial crisis and restore trust in the common
market.
• Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, becomes the highest-
ranking US official to visit the European Parliament since Ronald Reagan in
1985.
• Sweden takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European
Union for the second time. Presidency priorities are economic recovery
and climate change.
• A team of European Union observers monitors the presidential election
process in Afghanistan.
• At a meeting of the European Council held in Brussels the 'Stockholm
Programme' is adopted for the years 2010-2014 aimed at further
development of freedom, justice and security.