The Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) is signed on 18 April 1951 in Paris and enters into force on 23 July 1952. This Treaty is concluded for a period of 50 years from the date of its entry into force.

The Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) is signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and enters into force on 1 January 1958.

The Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) is signed in Rome on 25 March 1957 and enters into force on 1 January 1958.

The Treaty on European Union is signed in Maastricht on 7 February 1992 and enters into force on 1 November 1993.

The Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities is signed in Brussels on 8 April 1965 and enters into force on 1 July 1967.

The Single European Act is signed on 17 February 1986 in Luxembourg and on 28 February 1986 in The Hague and enters into force on 1 July 1987.

The Treaty on European Union is signed in Maastricht on 7 February 1992 and enters into force on 1 November 1993.

The Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts is signed in Amsterdam on 2 October 1997 and enters into force on 1 May 1999.

The Treaty of Nice amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts is signed in Nice on 26 February 2001 and enters into force on 1 February 2003.

Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon, 13 December 2007.

Traité instituant la Communauté économique européenne tel que modifié par l’Acte unique européen des 17 et 28 février 1986.

Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community as amended by the Treaty of Maastricht of 7 February 1992.

Treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Treaty of Maastricht of 7 February 1992.

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community as amended by the Treaty of Maastricht of 7 February 1992.

Treaty on European Union as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

Treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

Treaty on European Union as amended by the Treaty of Nice of 26 February 2001.

Treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Treaty of Nice of 26 February 2001.

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community as amended by the Treaty of Nice of 26 February 2001.

Treaty on European Union as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon and which entered in force on 1 December 2009.

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon and which entered into force on 1 December 2009. The Treaty of Lisbon amends and renames the Treaty establishing the European Community. This Treaty is now known as the ‘Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union’.

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon and which entered into force on 1 December 2009.

Protocols annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon and which entered into force on 1 December 2009.

Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon which entered into force on 1 December 2009. This is the consolidated version from 2012.

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended and renamed by the Treaty signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon which entered into force on 1 December 2009. This is the consolidated version from 2012.

Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, as amended by the Treaty signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon which entered into force on 1 December 2009. This is the consolidated version from 2012.

On 9 May 1950, the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, proposes to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and other European countries that they should pool their coal and steel resources within a common European organisation. He puts forward his proposal in an address inspired by Jean Monnet.

Excerpt from the Declaration made by Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950 in Paris.

On 25 October 1955, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe recommends to the Committee of Ministers that it adopt the flag of 12 gold stars on a blue background as the organisation's emblem and that it propose to the other European organisations that they adopt emblems similar to the Council of Europe's emblem.

On 8 December 1955, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopts an emblem for the organisation consisting of a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. The same emblem is adopted by the European Community in 1985.

The Fontainebleau European Council of 25 and 26 June 1984 emphasises the need to adopt measures designed to strengthen and promote the identity and the image of the European Community among its citizens and in the world and decides to set up an ad hoc committee to make preparations for and coordinate such activities (see point 6: ‘A People’s Europe’).

At the press conference which concludes the Fontainebleau Summit held from 25 to 26 June 1984, François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, holds aloft the first European passport. From 1985, the European passport is to be introduced in Italy, France, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg.

The Milan European Council of 28 and 29 June 1985 approves the proposals set out in the second report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a People's Europe, known as the Adonnino Committee, including those concerning the adoption of the flag and anthem of the European Community and the establishment of ‘Europe Day' (see point 9: ‘Strengthening of the Community's image and identity').

In 1985, the European Communities adopt the same flag as that chosen by the Council of Europe in 1955.

In 1985, the European Communities adopt the same anthem as that chosen by the Council of Europe in 1972. The melody is taken from the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, composed in 1823, which sets to music the ‘Ode to Joy’, a poem written in 1785 by Friedrich von Schiller. However, because of translation problems, Schiller’s words do not form part of the European anthem. The music is arranged by Herbert von Karajan.

In 1985, the European Communities adopt 9 May as Europe Day in celebration of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950.

On 16 December 1995, the Madrid European Council adopts a road map for the introduction of the single currency. The future currency is to be called the ‘euro’, a simple name which symbolises Europe and which will be the same in all the official languages of the European Union.

The official euro sign (€) is based on the Greek letter epsilon (e), to symbolise the cradle of European civilisation, and is similar to the first letter of the word ‘Europe'. The two parallel lines represent the stability of the euro. This is a graphic symbol like those used by other major international currencies such as the pound sterling (£), the US dollar ($) and the Japanese yen (Y).

On 4 May 2000 in Brussels, at the end of the competition to find ‘A Slogan for Europe’, which 80 000 young people entered, a Grand Jury, consisting of 15 eminent Europeans and chaired by Jacques Delors, selects the slogan ‘Unity in Diversity’. The winning entry is chosen from a shortlist of seven selected in April 2000 by a European media panel from among 2 000 entries. This — unofficial — slogan is presented symbolically to Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, in the presence of 500 schoolchildren seated in the Chamber.

In 2004, a poster published by the European Commission for Europe Day celebrates the fifth enlargement of the European Union to include 10 new Member States. The motto ‘United in diversity’, selected by the European Convention for inclusion in the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of 13 June and 10 July 2003, is printed on the poster in the 20 official languages of the enlarged Union. Here is a facsimile of the Polish version.

In the series of European Treaties, the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed in Rome on 29 October 2004, is the first to define the symbols of the Union.

In 2005, a poster published by the European Commission for Europe Day celebrates the fifth enlargement of the European Union to include 10 new Member States. The motto ‘United in diversity’, officially selected in October 2004 for inclusion in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, is printed on the poster in all the official languages of the enlarged Union.