Development of the EU

The European Union was not created in the form it takes now.  It has developed by stages, through a series of treaties agreed unanimously and ratified by its member states.

Institutional developments

Single European Act

Maastricht Treaty

Treaty of Amsterdam

Treaty of Nice

European Convention

Constitutional treaty

Lisbon treaty

Enlargement

There is a second, parallel development of the European Union which has been underway at the same time, namely the enlargement of the EU to include new member states.  Follow the links here to read about the membership debate in different European countries.

United Kingdom

Turkey

Iceland

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