2002 in the European Union

Incumbents

Events

• 1 January -
• * Spain takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
• * Euro notes and coins issued are in Austria, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
• 15 January - Irish MEP Pat Cox is elected President of the European Parliament.
• 28 February - The Euro becomes the sole legal tender in all 12 Eurozone countries.
• 21 April – first round of the presidential election: Jacques Chirac and Jean-Marie le Pen poll the most votes. This was a major political event, both nationally and internationally, as it was the first time someone like Le Pen with such far-right views had qualified for the second round of a French presidential election. Two weeks of demonstrations against the National Front follow.
• 5 May – second round of the presidential election. Jacques Chirac returns for a second term as President of the French Republic.
• 31 May - All 15 member nations of the European Union ratify the Kyoto Protocol, committing to an 8% cut in carbon dioxide emissions between 2008 and 2012 compared to 1990 levels.
• 1 July - Denmark takes over the Presidency of the European Union.
• 19 October - In a second referendum, the electorate of Ireland votes in favour of ratifying the Treaty of Nice.
• November - The European Christian Political Party, a European political party is founded in Lakitelek, Hungary.