The Polish trade union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household names across Europe and the world following the Gdansk shipyard strikes in the summer of 1980. In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU and Spain and Portugal follow five years later.
In 1986 the Single European Act is signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast six-year program aimed at sorting out the problems with the free-flow of trade across EU borders and thus creates the ‘Single Market’.
There is major political upheaval when, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the border between East and West Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years, this leads to the reunification of Germany when both East and West Germany are united in October 1990.
These wonderful photos were taken by paul_3747 that show street scenes of Europe in 1985 and 1986.
East Germany. Erfurt, 1985
Denmark. Copenhagen, 1985
East Germany. ‘Beware of the tanks!’ sign,Village of Crawinkel, July 1986
East Germany. Dresden, October 1985
East Germany. Early morning in Dresden, October 1985
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