2002 in the European Union

Events from the year 2002 in the European Union.

• Commission President — Romano Prodi
• Council Presidency — Spain (January–June), Denmark (July–December)
• Parliament President — Nicole Fontaine (until 15 January), Pat Cox
• High Representative — Javier Solana

• 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.^[1]
• 15 January - Irish MEP Pat Cox is elected President of the European Parliament.^[2]
• 28 February - The Euro becomes the sole legal tender in all 12 Eurozone countries.^[3]
• 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.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• November - The European Christian Political Party (ECPP), a European political party is founded in Lakitelek, Hungary.