Helmut Kohl Biography and Timeline

Birth of Helmut Kohl

Birth of Helmut Kohl

Education

Graduates with a doctorate

Election

Elected to the Landtag of the Rhineland Palatinate

Minister President

Appointed Minister President

Regional Party Chairman

Appointed Regional Party Chairman

Federal Chairman-CDU

Appointed Federal Chairman of the CDU

Copenhagen European Council

Attends his first European Council as chancellor while the Community addresses budgetary and institutional questions.

Role range: 1982-1998

Chancellor

Appointed Chancellor of Germany, 1st term

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Vote of Confidence

Helmut Schmidt is defeated in a vote of no confidence & replaced by Helmut Kohl

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Stuttgart European Council

Hosts the European Council as leaders adopt the Solemn Declaration on European Union.

Role range: 1982-1998 – 1982-1998

Stuttgart Summit Report to Bundestag

Reports to the Bundestag on the Stuttgart European Council and its declaration on European Union.

Role range: 1982-1998

Stuttgart Summit Report to European Parliament

Reports to the European Parliament on Stuttgart and stresses implementation of stronger European political cooperation.

Role range: 1982-1998

Election

Increases support in the general election

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Fontainebleau European Council

Represents Germany as leaders seek a durable settlement of Community budget disputes and institutional reform.

Role range: 1982-1998

Visit to Bitburg

Reagan visits the Bitburg Nazi cemetery with Chancellor Helmut Khol

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Treaty of Accession

Kohl represents West Germany in the member-state settlement admitting Spain and Portugal.

Role range: 1985-1986 – 1982-1998

Treaty of Schengen

Leads West Germany when the five founding states sign the Schengen Agreement on the gradual removal of controls at their common borders.

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1998

Milan European Council

Represents Germany as the Milan European Council considers institutional reform and completion of the internal market.

Role range: 1982-1998

Southern Enlargement Completed

Heads the German government as Spain and Portugal join the European Communities, expanding membership to twelve.

Role range: 1982-1998

Single European Act

Heads the German government when Germany joins the first group of states signing the Single European Act.

Role range: 1982-1998

Single European Act Enters into Force

Heads the German government when the Single European Act enters into force and strengthens the internal-market programme.

Role range: 1982-1998

Hanover European Council

Hosts the European Council as leaders discuss monetary integration and the next stage of the internal market.

Role range: 1982-1998

Election

West German Chancellor Helmut Kohls Christian Democratic Union suffers a major setback in West Berlin municipal elections

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Madrid European Council

Represents Germany as leaders approve launching the first stage of economic and monetary union in July 1990.

Role range: 1982-1998

Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall opens marking the fall of the East German regime

Role range: 1982-1990

Unification

The German Democratic Republic collapses

Role range: 1982-1990

Strasbourg European Council

Represents Germany as leaders consider monetary union, political change in Europe and future treaty negotiations.

Role range: 1982-1998

Special Dublin European Council

Represents Germany at the special European Council discussing German unification and the changing political order in Europe.

Role range: 1982-1998

Schengen Implementing Convention

Heads the German government when the five original Schengen states sign the convention implementing border-free travel arrangements.

Role range: 1982-1998

Treaty of Schengen

During the Schengen process, Kohl leads Germany when the implementing Convention establishes detailed rules for a border-free Schengen area. German officials emphasise reliable information-sharing between national authorities.

Role range: 1985-1999 – 1982-1998

Constitution of Germany

The German Democratic Republic ceases to exist at midnight

Role range: 1982-1990

German Democratic Republic

The German Democratic Republic ceases to exist at midnight

Role range: 1982-1990

Unification

The German Democratic Republic ceases to exist at midnight

Role range: 1982-1990

Rome European Council on EMU

Represents Germany as leaders advance preparations for the second stage of economic and monetary union.

Role range: 1982-1998

Treaty of Re-Unification

East & West Germany sign the re-unification Treaty

Role range: 1982-1990

Unification

East & West Germany sign the re-unification Treaty

Role range: 1982-1990

Border

Germany & Poland sign a Treaty confirming their border at the Oder-Neisse line

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Oder-Neisse Line

Germany & Poland sign a Treaty confirming their border at the Oder-Neisse line

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Treaty Negotiations

Germany & Poland sign a Treaty confirming their border at the Oder-Neisse line

Role range: 1982-1990 – 1982-1990

Treaty of Schengen

Kohl helps lead Germany as Italy signs its agreement to accede to the Schengen Convention. Bonn also backs intensive police cooperation between participating states.

Role range: 1985-1999 – 1982-1998