*January 1, 1997 "" Netherlands takes over EU presidency.
*May 1997 "" British general elections. With one-seat majority and internal dissent, current Conservative government has little room for manoeuvre over Europe before the poll.
*Spring/summer, 1997 "" Special NATO summit to select countries who will be invited to negotiate membership. Will Russian resistance to expanding the alliance to its borders be overcome by then?
*June 16-17, 1997 "" EU summit in Amsterdam to agree new treaty.
*July 1, 1997 "" Luxembourg takes over EU presidency.
*Summer/Autumn, 1997 "" EC publishes formal opinions on EU membership applications from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia; EU states launch campaigns to ratify Treaty of Amsterdam. Several will need to hold referendums; EC publishes first proposals for future financing of EU from 2000 onwards. Some existing poorer members who benefit from budget arrangements have threatened not to ratify new treaty or allow enlargement until financial review is settled.
*End-1997 "" Formal start of membership negotations with Cyprus, Malta and central and East European countries who receive favourable opinion from Commission.
*January 1, 1998 "" Britain takes over EU presidency
*March 1998 "" French parliamentary elections
*Spring 1998"" Special summit to decide which countries eligible to join single currency "" the Euro "" in 1999.
*July 1, 1998 "" Austria takes over EU presidency.
*Autumn 1998"" General elections in Germany.
*January 1, 1999 "" Germany takes over EU presidency. Exchange rates of countries participating in Euro irrevocably locked.
*April 4, 1999 "" 50th anniversary of NATO. Special summit to welcome first new members from Central and Eastern Europe.