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The key stages of building Europe
This sheet presents the main stages of building Europe and the EU member countries. The European Union has never stopped changing since it was created in 1952: its areas of action and its territory have grown.
Key points of the sheet
- In 1951, the Treaty of Paris created the ECSC (CECA). In 1957, the Treaty of Rome created the EEC (CEE), for a common market, and Euratom (CEEA).
- In 1992, the Treaty of Maastricht created the European Union. Goods, people and capital can move freely within the EU.
- In 2007, the Treaty of Lisbon changed the institutions and made decision-making more flexible. The fight against climate change became an EU objective.
- In 1957, the EEC was created with 6 countries, including France. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the EEC.
- Greece joined in 1981, then Spain and Portugal in 1986. Germany was reunified in 1990. Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995.
- In 2004, many countries joined the EU, for example Poland and Hungary. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, Croatia in 2013.
- In 2020, for the first time, a country left the EU: the United Kingdom. This is Brexit, on 31 January 2020.
- A list of membership dates gives 1 January 1958 for the first 6 countries. Until 1993, it is called the EEC (CEE).
Words to know
- European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (CECA)
- It is the European Coal and Steel Community, created by the Treaty of Paris in 1951.
- European Economic Community (EEC) (CEE)
- It is the European Economic Community, created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome to create a common market.
- European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) (CEEA)
- It is the European Atomic Energy Community, created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
- free movement of people (libre circulation des personnes)
- It means in particular that any citizen can travel to another EU country.
- Treaty of Lisbon (traité de Lisbonne)
- In 2007, it changed the institutions and added the fight against climate change to the EU's objectives.
- Brexit
- It is the United Kingdom's exit from the EU, on 31 January 2020.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which treaty created the ECSC (CECA) in 1951?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel traité crée la CECA en 1951 ?
In 1951, the Treaty of Paris created the ECSC (CECA).
Which country joined the EU in 2013?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel pays entre dans l'UE en 2013 ?
Croatia joined the EU in 2013. Romania joined in 2007, Greece in 1981 and Sweden in 1995.
Which treaty added the fight against climate change to the EU's objectives?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel traité ajoute la lutte contre le changement climatique aux objectifs de l'UE ?
The Treaty of Lisbon, in 2007, added the fight against climate change to the EU's objectives.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- In which year does the Maastricht Treaty create the European Union?
- Which treaty creates the EEC, to build a common market in Europe?
- Which State left the European Union in 2020?
- Which of these countries has been outside the European Union since 2020?
- In which year was the European Union created?
More in this topic (European institutions)
Source
Sheet “Les étapes clés de la construction européenne” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.