On 17 February 1986, in Luxembourg, nine Member States sign the Single European Act (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom). In the foreground is the Dutch President of the European Council, Hans van den Broek.

On 7 February 1992 in Maastricht, the Foreign and Finance Ministers of the 12 Member States of the European Communities sign the Treaty on European Union.

In 2000, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, illustrates the long road ahead for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) as they prepare for accession to the European Union.