June 14th 1985: Signing of the Schengen Agreement

The European common market gradually put an end to goods inspections at member countries’ borders. But for people travelling across borders, the customs inspections remained. At the beginning of the 1980s, the Benelux countries (which already had free movement of people) proposed that France and Germany gradually establish free movement of people also. The agreement between the five countries was signed on June 14th 1985 in the small Luxembourg town of Schengen. It would later be integrated into the community treaties and extended to other member states.

June 14th 1985: Presentation of Jacques Delors’ White Paper

Very soon after being named President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors presented the leaders of the member states with 310 steps to completing the single market. Despite the opening of borders, several administrative and regulatory obstacles were still preventing total freedom in the movement of goods.  Delors was convinced that if the last trade barriers disappeared, it would revive economic growth in Europe. He set December 31st 1992 as the date for reaching this goal. The Community thereafter put great effort into achieving ‘objective 92’.

January 1st 1986: Enlargement of the Community to include Spain and Portugal

Their dictatorial regimes had kept Spain and Portugal at a distance from the construction of Europe. After the death of Franco and the fall of Salazar, both countries were in the process of democratisation and henceforth aspired to be part of the European family. After long negotiations caused by the economic concerns about Spain and Portugal’s membership, both countries joined the European Community on January 1st 1986 bringing the number of members to twelve.

February 17th 1986: Signing of the Single European Act

For the first time since the entry into force of the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, the twelve members decided to revise it. The workings of the institutions were changed. For example, qualified majority voting in the Council of the EU was extended to include issues relating to the internal market. Also, the role of the European Parliament was strengthened. These changes aimed to complete the single market in accordance with Jacques Delors’ programme.

The Single European Act was thus called because it brought together in one text the changes to the community treaties and formalised European cooperation in foreign affairs.

June 15th 1987: Launch of the Erasmus programme

In 1987, the European Commission launched a plan to enable student exchanges between European universities. The plan was named after Erasmus of Rotterdam, a humanist from the Renaissance period who was famous for his travels and open-mindedness. Since the Erasmus programme was created, 1.2 million students have benefitted from it by completing a study period abroad. Erasmus is a cultural phenomenon and has become the flagship of the European spirit. 

October 3rd 1990: Germany reunifies within the European Community

In 1989, the unexpected fall of the Berlin Wall jeopardised the international order that had been in place since the Second World War. A year later, Germany was reunified. For the European Community, this did not involve another enlargement but an extension of the German Federal Republic. No membership procedure was required, just some institutional changes to take account of the new size of Germany.

This reunification raised fears among European countries. A reunified Germany, it was feared, might abandon the Community in favour of a solitary policy of neutrality or even of power. After this, Helmut Kohl pledged commitment to Europe by accepting the deepening political integration established by the Maastricht Treaty.