2016 in the European Union

Events in the year 2016 in the European Union.

Incumbents

 * 🇪🇺 President of the European Council
 * 🇵🇱 Donald Tusk
 * 🇪🇺 Commission President
 * 🇱🇺 Jean-Claude Juncker
 * 🇪🇺 Council Presidency
 * (Jan – Jun 2016)
 * (July – Dec 2016)
 * 🇪🇺 Parliament President
 * 🇩🇪 Martin Schulz
 * 🇪🇺 High Representative
 * 🇮🇹 Federica Mogherini

January

 * 1 January
 * Netherlands takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of EU.
 * San Sebastián (Spain) and Wrocław (Poland) are the European Capitals of Culture for 2016. Both cities will host events to promote their local culture.

May

 * On 26 May 2016 the European Commission issued letters of formal notice to 21 member states who had failed to notify the Commission of their transposition of one or more of the three new public procurement directives into their national laws by the due date.
 * Pact of Amsterdam, 30 May 2016: EU ministers responsible for urban policy agree to allow European cities to have more influence in EU policies across 12 priority policy areas critical to the development of urban areas.

June

 * The United Kingdom held a referendum on European Union membership, and voted to leave the EU.

July

 * 1 July
 * Slovakia takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of EU.

European Capitals of Culture

 * 🇪🇸 San Sebastián, Spain
 * 🇵🇱 Wrocław, Poland