2001 in the European Union

Events from the year 2001 in the European Union.

← 2000 1999 1998 2001 in the European Union → 2002 2003 2004
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2001 Timeline of EU history

The year was designated the European Year of Languages by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.^[1]

Incumbents

• Commission President — Romano Prodi
• Council Presidency — Sweden (January–June), Belgium (July–December)
• Parliament President — Nicole Fontaine
• High Representative — Javier Solana

Events

• 1 January -
  • Sweden takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
  • Greece becomes the 12th member of the Eurozone.^[2]
• 5 March - The electorate of Switzerland vote by a wide margin against joining negotiations to enter the European Union.^[3]
• 7 June - In a referendum, the electorate of Ireland votes against the Treaty of Nice.^[4]
• 1 July - Belgium takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
• 3 July - The European Commission blocks the proposed merger between American companies General Electric and Honeywell, the first time European regulators have prevented such a move.^[5]
• 20 September - In the wake of the September 11 attacks, anti-terrorism measures such as EU-wide search and arrest warrants and the establishment of an anti-terrorism department within Europol are announced.^[6]
• 14 December - Euro coins first go on sale in banks in preparation for its public release into the Eurozone the following month.^[7]