** European Monetary Union (EMU) **
note - an integral part of the European Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union
proposed - 1-2 December 1969 at summit conference of heads
of government; signed - 7 February 1992 - Maastricht Treaty
aim - to promote a single market by creating a single
currency, the euro; time table - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted
members - (12) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note - Denmark, Sweden, and UK decided not to join
** European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) **
note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire
established - 1 July 1953; effective - 29 September 1954