Best European moments

Throughout history, remarkable events and experiences have transformed the lives of Europeans, influenced their views of Europe,
and inspired them to fight for a cause. Europe’s Stories asked you to identify your formative, best and worst #EuropeanMoments.

The moments at the top are those most frequently mentioned by our interviewees

EU member states 2004 and candidate members

CIA World Factbook, Public Domain

Eastern enlargement (2004)

Two people with cardboard signs that read "There is no Planet B" and "wenn ihr jetzt nichts tut gehen wir alle baden"

Andol, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mobilisation against climate change (2019)

Leaders on a panel celebrating the adoption of the agreement

UNFCCC (UN Climate Change), CC BY 2.0

Paris Agreement (2015)

EU Nobel Peace Prize, a large folder with colors on the left and certificate on the right

Kaihsu Tai, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain

EU wins Nobel Peace Prize (2012)

European parliament hemicycle, 2023

CC-BY-4.0, © European Union 2023– Source: EP (via Flickr)

European Parliament Elections (2019)

Pride parade in France with people and rainbow LGBTQ pride flags

John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0

Legalisation of same-sex marriage (2001-2015)

Croatian and EU flags hanging on a building

Bogdan Giuşcă, CC BY-SA 3.0

New Member States Join the EU (2007-2013)

Two pages of Treaty of Rome with signatures

Zinneke at lb.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Treaty of Rome (1957)

Flag of Ukraine, blue rectangle on top of yellow rectangle

Government of Ukraine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Visa-Waiver for Ukraine and Georgia (2017)