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European Single Market, 1993

The programme to remove barriers to movement of goods, people, services and capital. This page combines historical context with 28 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database EEC archive.

28 matching archive records 1948–1994 record span Open full 936-record archive

Historical context

European Single Market, 1993: overview and significance

What happened?

The internal-market programme sought to remove remaining regulatory and physical barriers among member states. The single market was formally launched on 1 January 1993.

Why was it important?

The single market became one of the central economic achievements of European integration and reshaped trade, regulation and movement across member states.

World History Database records

European Single Market, 1993 timeline

The records below are selected from the 936-record EEC and European integration archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.

1948
1948

Council of Europe

Prime Minister of France Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Robert Schuman · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

During the last days of his first administration, Schuman's Government proposed plans that later resulted in the Council of Europe and the European Community single market

1985
1985 7th January

Delors Commission Takes Office

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The first Delors Commission took office with completion of the internal market among its central objectives.

1985 January

Internal Market Programme

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

Delors made completion of the internal market a defining priority of his new Commission.

1985 29th March

Brussels European Council

Prime Minister of Greece Andreas Papandreou · Greece · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

Represents Greece as leaders prepare for treaty reform and completion of the internal market.

1985 14th June

White Paper on Internal Market

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Commission presented its White Paper setting out measures needed to complete the internal market by 1992.

1985 28th June

Milan European Council

President of France Francois Mitterrand · France · Milan · European Economic Community (EEC)

Mitterrand supported launching treaty negotiations intended to deepen Community integration and complete the internal market.

1985 28th June

Milan European Council

Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl · Germany · Milan · European Economic Community (EEC)

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

1985 28th June

Milan European Council

Taoiseach of Ireland Garret FitzGerald · Ireland · Milan · European Economic Community (EEC)

Represents Ireland as leaders consider the internal market and institutional reform.

1985 28th June

Milan European Council

Prime Minister of Italy Bettino Craxi · Italy · Milan · European Economic Community (EEC)

Hosts the European Council that sets the objective of completing the internal market by the end of 1992.

1985 29th June

Intergovernmental Conference Decision

Foreign Minister of Germany Hans-Dietrich Genscher · Germany · Milan · European Economic Community (EEC)

Supports the Milan decision to convene an intergovernmental conference on treaty reform and the internal market.

1986
1986 February

Single European Act Support

President of France Francois Mitterrand · France · Paris · European Economic Community (EEC)

Mitterrand supported the Single European Act as the treaty basis for completing the internal market.

1986 26th June

The Hague European Council

Prime Minister of Greece Andreas Papandreou · Greece · The Hague · European Economic Community (EEC)

Represents Greece as leaders discuss implementation of the internal market and Community development.

1986

Delors Commission

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Delors Commission accelerated completion of the single market and strengthened plans for economic and monetary union.

1986

Delors Commission

President of European Parliament Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Delors Commission gave a new momentum to the process of European integration. They 'completed' the internal market and laid the foundations for the single European currency. European Economic and Monetary Union was based on the three stage plan drawn up by a committee headed by Delors (the Delors Report)

1986

Delors Report

President of European Parliament Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Delors Commission gave a new momentum to the process of European integration. They 'completed' the internal market and laid the foundations for the single European currency. European Economic and Monetary Union was based on the three stage plan drawn up by a committee headed by Delors (the Delors Report)

1986

Legislation

President of European Parliament Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The first major revision of the treaties since the Merger Treaty, leaders signed the Single European Act in February 1986. The text dealt with institutional reform, including extension of community powers 'g in particular in regarding foreign policy. It was a major component in completing the single market

1986

Single European Act

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Single European Act expanded Community powers and provided the legal framework for completing the internal market.

1986

Single European Act

President of European Parliament Jacques Delors · France · European Economic Community (EEC)

The first major revision of the treaties since the Merger Treaty, leaders signed the Single European Act in February 1986. The text dealt with institutional reform, including extension of community powers 'g in particular in regarding foreign policy. It was a major component in completing the single market

1986

Single Market Legislative Programme

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

Delors pressed governments to implement the legislative programme required for a border-free internal market.

1987
1987 1st July

Single European Act Enters Force

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Single European Act entered into force, strengthening Community powers and the legal basis for the internal market.

1987 1st July

Single Market Treaty Reform Takes Effect

Foreign Minister of Greece Karolos Papoulias · Greece · Athens · European Economic Community (EEC)

Serves as Foreign Minister when the Single European Act begins operating.

1987 1st July

Single Market Programme

Foreign Minister of Italy Giulio Andreotti · Italy · Rome · European Economic Community (EEC)

Serves as foreign minister as the Single European Act strengthens the programme for completing the internal market.

1988
1988 27th June

Hanover European Council

Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl · Germany · Hanover · European Economic Community (EEC)

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

1988 2nd December

Rhodes European Council

Prime Minister of Greece Andreas Papandreou · Greece · Rhodes · European Economic Community (EEC)

Hosts the European Council during Greece's Presidency as leaders discuss the internal market and monetary cooperation.

1992
1992 December

Single Market Completion Programme

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The Delors Commission completed most legislation required for the single market to begin in 1993.

1993
1993 1st January

Single Market Launch

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The European single market began with free movement goals covering goods, services, people and capital.

1993 1st January

Single Market Launch

Prime Minister of Italy Giuliano Amato · Italy · Rome · European Economic Community (EEC)

Heads the Italian government when the European single market begins operating with four freedoms.

1994
1994 1st January

European Economic Area Launch

President of European Commission Jacques Delors · France · Brussels · European Economic Community (EEC)

The European Economic Area extended much of the single market to participating EFTA countries.

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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