2001 in the European Union

← 2000 1999 1998 2001 in the European Union → 2002 2003 2004
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2001 Timeline of EU history

Events from the year 2001 in the European Union .

The year was designated the European Year of Languages by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. ^[1]

Incumbents

• Commission President — Romano Prodi
• Council Presidency — Sweden (January–June), Belgium (July–December)
• Parliament President — Nicole Fontaine
• High Representative — Javier Solana

Events

• 1 January -
  • Sweden takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
  • Greece becomes the 12th member of the Eurozone. ^[2]
• 5 March - The electorate of Switzerland vote by a wide margin against joining negotiations to enter the European Union. ^[3]
• 7 June - In a referendum, the electorate of Ireland votes against the Treaty of Nice. ^[4]
• 1 July - Belgium takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
• 3 July - The European Commission blocks the proposed merger between American companies General Electric and Honeywell, the first time European regulators have prevented such a move. ^[5]
• 20 September - In the wake of the September 11 attacks, anti-terrorism measures such as EU-wide search and arrest warrants and the establishment of an anti-terrorism department within Europol are announced. ^[6]
• 14 December - Euro coins first go on sale in banks in preparation for its public release into the Eurozone the following month. ^[7]

References

1. "European Year of Languages 2001". Europa.eu. European Union. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
2. "Greece joins eurozone". BBC News. BBC. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
3. Olsen, Elizabeth (5 March 2001). "Swiss Voters Solidly Reject Talks On Joining the European Union". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
4. Lyall, Sarah (9 June 2001). "Irish Vote Stalls Plan to Expand Europe's Union". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
5. "EU kills GE-Honeywell". CNN. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
6. "EU gears up to fight terrorism". BBC News. BBC. 20 September 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
7. "Euro coins go on sale". CNN. 14 December 2001. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.