EU Time LineEU Time Linefrom 1945 to 1959from 1945 to 1959from 1960 to 1969from 1960 to 1969from 1970 to 1979from 1970 to 1979from 1980 to 1989from 1980 to 1989from 1990 to 1999from 1990 to 1999

from 2000 to today from 2000 to today

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1945-1959The beginnings of cooperation

1960-1969A period of economic growth

1970-1979A growing community

1980-1989The fall of the Berlin Wall

1990-1999A Europe without frontiers

2000-todayA decade of further expansion

1945 -1959A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation

The historical roots of the European Union lie in the Second World War. Europeans are determined to prevent such killing and destruction ever happening again. Soon after the war, Europe is split into East and West as the 40-year-long Cold War begins. West European nations create the Council of Europe in 1949. It is a first step towards cooperation between them, but six countries want to go further.

9 May 1950 — French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presents a plan for deeper cooperation. Later, every 9 May is celebrated as 'Europe Day'.

18 April 1951Based on the Schuman plan, six countries sign a treaty to run their heavy industries – coal and steel – under a common management. In this way, none can on its own make the weapons of war to turn against the other, as in the past. The six are Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Founding Member States: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)Churchill, a former army officer, war reporter and British Prime Minister (1940-45 and 1951-55), was one of the first to call for the creation of a 'United States of Europe'.Following the experience of the Second World War, he was convinced that only a united Europe could guarantee peace. His aim was to eliminate the European ills of nationalism and war-mongering once and for all.He formulated his conclusions drawn from the lessons of history in his famous 'Speech to the academic youth' held at the University of Zurich in 1946: "There is a remedy which ... would in a few years make all Europe ... free and ... happy. It is to re-create the European family, or as much of it as we can, and to provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and in freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe."Thus the driving force behind the anti-Hitler coalition became an active fighter in Europe's cause.Sir Winston Churchill also made a name for himself as a painter and writer; in 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Alcide de Gasperi (1881-1954)From 1945 up until 1953, Alcide de Gasperi, in his roles as Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, forged the path of Italy's internal and external policies in the post-war years.He was born in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige (South Tyrol) which had, until 1918, belonged to Austria. Like other exceptional statesmen of his time, he campaigned actively for European unity. His experiences of fascism and war - he was imprisoned between 1926 and 1929 before finding asylum in the Vatican - led to his conviction that only the union of Europe could prevent their recurrence.Time and again he promoted initiatives for the fusion of Western Europe, working on the realisation of the Marshall Plan and creating close economic ties with other European countries, in particular France. Furthermore, he supported the Schumann Plan for the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community, and helped develop the idea of the common European defence policy.

25 March 1957Building on the success of the Coal and Steel Treaty, the six countries expand cooperation to other economic sectors. They sign the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘common market’. The idea is for people, goods and services to move freely across borders.

CuriosityClothes and accessories of the 1950s.

In the 1950s, most children have little pocket money. They wear the same kind of clothes as their parents. But their taste in music changes

with the start of rock and roll.Later, blue jeans appear, mainly for boys. Girls still wear full skirts and ankle socks. One of the most popular crazes of the decade is the hula

hoop.

Fashion that was popular in the 1950s. brightly coloured clothes and accessories became fashionable in the 1950's and the bikini was developed.

In August 1961, the communist authorities in East Germany build a wall across Berlin to prevent their citizens from escaping to a freer life in the West. A few people still escape; others are shot by guards in the attempt. ‘Beatlemania’ sweeps the world in 1963. The Beatles, the first pop supergroup, attract huge crowds of teenagers wherever they appear. They stimulate a cultural revolution, widening the generation gap. The Beatles: Ringo Starr on drums and, from left to right,Paul McCartney, George Harrisonand John Lennon.

The ‘Swinging Sixties’ – a period of economic growth

The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture’, with groups such as The Beatles attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to stimulate a cultural revolution and

widening the generation gap. It is a good period for the economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production, so that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and many changes in society and

behaviour become associated with the so-called ‘68 generation’.

CuriosityClothes and accessories of the 1960s.

In the 1960s, young people affirm their identity. Their ideas often differ from those of adults and a

true youth culture emerges. The pop industry booms, helped by television, transistor radios and

LPs (long-playing records). Teenagers make fashion statements: miniskirts and high boots for girls, and long hair and pointed shoes for boys. This is a time

when EU countries experience growth and rising prosperity — the golden sixties.

Fashion1960s

1960s

The Americans reassert their supremacy in space by landing a man on the moon in July 1969.

CRONOLOGIA 19927 febbraio

Firma a Maastricht del trattato sull’Unione europea (che pone le premesse per una politica estera e di sicurezza comune, una maggiore cooperazione nei settori della giustizia e degli affari interni e la creazione di un’Unione economica e monetaria comprendente una moneta unica), che entra in vigore il 1° novembre 1993 1993 1 gennaio Completamento del mercato unico europeo 2002 1 gennaio Immissione in circolazione dei biglietti e delle monete in Euro.

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Gli stati membri dell’UESono 27, infatti dal 1°

gennaio2007 sono entrate la

Romaniae la Bulgaria tuttavia non

tutti gli stati hanno aderito

all’EuroIn azzurro sono indicati

gli statiUE che hanno mantenuto una

moneta propria in verde gli stati che hanno

adottato l’Euro

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