2002 28th February
European Convention Opens
Giscard dEstang opened the Convention on the Future of Europe as its chairman.
European integration · permanent subject timeline
European Constitutional Treaty
The Convention on the Future of Europe and the unsuccessful constitutional treaty. This page combines historical context with 19 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database EEC archive.
Historical context
European Constitutional Treaty: overview and significance
What happened?
European leaders and the Convention on the Future of Europe developed a treaty intended to consolidate and reform the Union's constitutional framework. The treaty was signed in Rome in 2004.
Why was it important?
Although the Constitutional Treaty did not enter into force, much of its institutional reform agenda reappeared in the later Treaty of Lisbon.
World History Database records
European Constitutional Treaty timeline
The records below are selected from the 936-record EEC and European integration archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
2002
2002
European Convention Chairmanship
Former French President Valery Giscard dEstang chaired the Convention on the Future of Europe, established after the Laeken Declaration.
2003
2003 20th June
Draft European Constitution
Giscard dEstang presented the Convention's draft constitutional treaty to European leaders.
2004
2004 18th June
European Constitutional Treaty Agreement
Helps broker unanimous political agreement on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
2004 29th October
Constitution of France
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in Rome by the governments of the European Union member states.
2004 29th October
Constitutional Treaty Signature
Chirac joined European leaders in signing the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
2004 29th October
European Convention
The Constitution, having been agreed by heads of Government from the 25 Member States, is signed at a ceremony in Rome
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty Signature
Signs the European Constitutional Treaty alongside Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty Signature
Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe for Germany.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty
Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on behalf of Greece.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty
Signs the European Constitutional Treaty alongside Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty
Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on behalf of Ireland.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty
Signs the European Constitutional Treaty for Ireland as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
2004 29th October
European Constitutional Treaty Ceremony
Hosts the Rome ceremony at which the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is signed.
2004
Constitution of France
The European Convention is established, presided over by former French President Valery Giscard dEstaing, and was given the task of consulting as widely as possible across Europe with the aim of producing a first draft of the Constitution
2004
European Convention
The European Convention is established, presided over by former French President Valery Giscard dEstaing, and was given the task of consulting as widely as possible across Europe with the aim of producing a first draft of the Constitution
2005
2005 April
European Constitutional Treaty Ratification
Heads the government as Italy completes parliamentary ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty.
2005 29th May
Constitution of France
French voters rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in the referendum held on 29 May 2005.
2005 29th May
Constitution of France
Negotiations to modify EU institutions began in 2001, resulting first in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which would have repealed the existing European treaties and replaced them with a "constitution". Although ratified by a majority of member states, this was abandoned after being rejected by 54.67% of French voters on 29 May 2005
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database EEC records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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