Changing the borders of Europe: The 1990s

The development of a Europe without borders continued in the 1990s, with more expansion, the launch of the single market, border-free travel, and the euro. How did voters react at the polls? 

1994: A new Europe with a new Treaty

The world at the European Union’s borders had become unrecognisable since the previous elections. Germany had reunified, while the break-up of Yugoslavia spurred tensions that would lead to violent wars for much of the following decade.

The fall of the Berlin wall on 9 November 1989 was propelled by peaceful demonstrations and protest marches of newly established East German civil society organisations. The peaceful revolution was embedded in a chain of events ranging from the Solidarność movement in Poland, the Pan-European Picnic in Hungary, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, to the Baltic Way, and Romania’s violent revolution. Across central and eastern Europe, people took to the streets to fight peacefully and in unity for democracy, freedom of movement and the rule of law.

Within the EU, integration continued. The Maastricht Treaty was signed – a major milestone, setting clear rules for the future single currency as well as for foreign and security policy and closer cooperation in justice and home affairs. Parliament acquired a greater role in the decision-making process with the introduction of the co-decision procedure. In addition, the European Commission now needed to be approved by the European Parliament before entering into office.

The single market began with 12 EU Member States in 1993, allowing people, goods, services, and capital to move freely around these countries. Today, it extends throughout all 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

For the first time, EU citizens could vote in their country of residence, even if they were not nationals of that country. Allowing citizens to exercise their democratic rights, no matter where they live in the EU, marked a step towards a truly European democracy. 

1999: Breaking borders in Europe

Voters from Austria, Finland, and Sweden took to the EU polls for the first time.

In March 1999, the European Commission under President Jacques Santer resigned under pressure from the European Parliament.

The Amsterdam Treaty entered into force in May 1999, simplifying and broadening the application of the co-decision legislative procedure, making the Parliament a co-legislator with the Council in many areas. Meanwhile, an enlargement to eastern Europe was on the horizon.

The Schengen Agreement (1995) had taken effect in its first seven countries — Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Travellers could now move between these countries without any passport controls at the border.

The top priority for voters was employment, followed by action to combat drugs and crime, and then environment and consumer policy. The crisis in Kosovo was also a prominent issue for the public.