2008 in the European Union

Events in the year 2008 in the European Union.

← 2007 2006 2005 2008 in the European Union → 2009 2010 2011
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2008 Timeline of EU history

2008 was designated as:

• European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

Incumbents

• President of the European Council
  • Janez Janša (Jan – Jun 2008)
  • Nicolas Sarkozy (July – Dec 2008)
• Commission President
  • José Manuel Barroso
• Council Presidency:
  • Slovenia (January – June)
  • France (July - December)
• Parliament President
  • Hans-Gert Pöttering
• High Representative
  • Javier Solana

Events

• 1 January - Cyprus and Malta join the eurozone.^[1]
• 1 January - Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopt the euro.^[2]
• 1 January - Slovenia starts the presidency of European Union as the first of new member states.^[3]
• 29 March - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia implement the Schengen Agreement for airports.^[4]
• 1 July - France takes over the Presidency from Slovenia.
• 12 December - Switzerland joins the Schengen area.^[5]