On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall collapsed. On that day thousands gathered all along the wall that had separated East and West Germany since 1961.

The accession of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Republic) completed the reunification process on 3 October 1990. Moreover, with the accession of the former GDR to the Federal Republic, the GDR integrated into the European Economic Community (EEC) of the time via a special procedure. As the GDR's status as a subject of international law ended with its accession to the Federal Republic, a normal EEC Treaty accession procedure was not possible. The European Parliament followed the chain of profound political developments triggered by the fall of the Berlin Wall closely.

The fall of the Berlin Wall

Helmut Kohl, German Federal Chancellor, from 1/10/1982 to 27/10/1998, and François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, from 21/05/1981 to 17/05/1995, worked hard to bolster the post-war relationship between France and Germany, and underscored the importance of peace between their nations in the pursuit of European integration.

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On 22 November 1989 in Strasbourg, François Mitterrand, President in office of the Council of the EU, invited Helmut Kohl to address the MEPs aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

22 November 1989 - Addresses by Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor and François MITTERRAND, President of the French Republic

These are stories about the fall of the Berlin Wall. When it came down 30 years ago, our lives changed. Hundreds of stories, documents, photos and videos published by people from all over Europe. This is "My History", a collaborative project from the European Parliament, where history and the lives of European citizens coincide.

East meets West – You tell us the rest

30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - in the presence of Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag

Plenary session - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - General view of the Plenary Chamber in Brussels during the Visit of Wolfgang Schäuble for the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Plenary session- 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall- Order of business

EP Plenary - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - in the presence of Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag

Visit of Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag at the EP in Brussels- Signature of the distinguished visitors book

Visit of Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag at the EP in Brussels- Handshake

Opening event of the temporary exhibition Behind the Berlin Wall - State Security in the GDR Dictatorship

Inauguration of the ' Europa Experience - The exhibition of the European House, Berlin '

Plenary session in Brussels - week 46 2014 - EP President Opening of the Plenary: 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.  Statement by the President

MEPs Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN and Gianni PITTELLA in plenary session in Brussels

MEPs Constanze KREHL and Gianni PITTELLA in plenary session in Brussels

Piece of the Berlin Wall outside the European Parliament in Brussels

25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Fire works explode on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during a ceremony in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on November 09, 2014.

The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, speaks on occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during a ceremony of the land Berlin in the concert hall at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin on November 09, 2014.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reacts to standing ovation applause on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during a ceremony of the land Berlin in the concert hall at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin on November 09, 2014.

A reproduction of the Checkpoint Charlie border crossing is seen during celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, on November 8, 2014.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Velvet revolution in the streets of Prague - Josef S. released these pictures in memory of his uncle who took these shots

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). Closing remarks by David SASSOLI, EP President.

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Closing remarks by David SASSOLI, EP President

Ahead the plenary session (13-14/11/2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag: arrival, handshake and signature of the Golden book, in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag: arrival, handshake and signature of the Golden book

Debate on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, during the plenary session (13-14/11/2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), and Martin SCHIRDEWAN (GUE/NGL, DE).

30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: extracts from the debate

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). Introductory speech by David SASSOLI, EP President The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Introductory speech by David SASSOLI, EP President

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). One round of political group speaker: Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Jörg MEUTHEN (ID, DE), Ryszard LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (GUE/NGL, DE), and Mislav KOLAKUŠIĆ (NI, HR).

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: One round of political group speakers

During the plenary session (13-14/11/2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President, makes a statement commemorating the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall on 9 November 1989.

30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: extracts from the opening remarks by David SASSOLI, EP President

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 January 2019). Ambiance shots of the arrivals, slide show presentation (3 minutes looping).

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Ambiance shots of the arrivals and ambiance of the slide show presentation

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). Statements by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister of the European Affairs and President in office of the Council of the EU

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Statements by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC and by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister of the European Affairs, on behalf of the Council

During the plenary session (13-14/11/2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels, Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag, makes a statement in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: extracts from the statement.

30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: extracts from the statement by Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). Address by Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Address by Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, President of the German Bundestag

Live replay of the Formal sitting on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-14 November 2019). Live musical part: - "Suite n°2 pour violoncelle en Ré mineur", and "Sarabande"(Johann Sebastian Bach) performed by Liav KERBEL, Musica Mundi School

Formal sitting - 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Live musical part

East meets West. You tell us the rest. Tento příběh vypráví o pádu Berlínské zdi. Když k němu před třiceti lety došlo, naše životy se změnily. Stovky příběhů, dokumentů, fotografií a videozáznamů od lidí ze všech koutů Evropy. To je „Moje historie“, projekt spolupráce připravený Evropským parlamentem a zachycující prolínání dějin s životy evropských občanů.

East meets West - Simona tells us the rest

East meets West. You tell us the res. Dies ist eine Geschichte über den Fall der Berliner Mauer. Als die Mauer vor 30 Jahren fiel, veränderte sich unser Leben grundlegend. Hunderte von Geschichten, Dokumenten, Fotos und Videos von Menschen aus ganz Europa – darum geht es bei „Meine Geschichte“, einem Projekt des Europäischen Parlaments. Es soll zeigen, wie eng die Geschichte Europas und die Lebensgeschichten seiner Bewohner miteinander verflochten sind.

East meets West - Jeanette tells us the rest

East meets West - Romana tells us the rest

East meets West. You tell us the rest. Esta es una historia sobre la caída del Muro de Berlín. Cuando cayó, hace 30 años, nuestras vidas cambiaron. Centenares de testimonios, documentos, fotos y vídeos publicados por personas de toda Europa. «Mi historia» es un proyecto colaborativo del Parlamento Europeo en el que convergen la Historia y las vidas de los ciudadanos europeos.

East meets West - Ignacio tells us the rest

East meets West. You tell us the rest. Voici une histoire de la chute du Mur de Berlin. Il est tombé il y a 30 ans et cela a changé nos vies. Des centaines d’histoires, de documents, de photos et de vidéos publiées par des personnes de toute l’Europe. C’est « Mon Histoire », un projet collaboratif du Parlement européen où se rejoignent l’histoire européenne et les vies de citoyens.

East meets West - Cathy tells us the rest

East meets West. You tell us the rest. See on Berliini müüri langemise lugu. See 30 aasta tagune sündmus muutis meie elu. Sajad lood, dokumendid, fotod ja videod inimestelt üle kogu Euroopa. See on „Minu ajalugu“, Euroopa Parlamendi koostööprojekt, mis põimib ühte Euroopa ajaloo ja eurooplaste elu.

East meets West - Meelik tells us the rest

East meets West. You tell us the rest. To dzieje upadku Muru Berlińskiego. Kiedy 30 lat temu mur runął, historia obrała inny bieg. Setki opowieści, dokumentów, zdjęć i filmów z całej Europy. „Moja historia” to projekt Parlamentu Europejskiego, który ma pokazać historię widzianą oczami Europejczyków.

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