DECEMBER 2009:LISBON TREATY enacted after years of talks, two referendums in Ireland and the failure of a prior European Constitutional Treaty.
FEBRUARY 2010: FACED WITH a growing financial crisis in Greece, EU leaders make a generalised pledge of unspecific aid to the country.
Months of turmoil follow amid divisions over the scope of any aid deal, and acute German reluctance to go down that path.
MAY 2010:DEAL DONE to provide €110 billion in emergency loans to Greece, but only after IMF becomes involved and the country adopts swingeing austerity plan.
Plan fails to calm mounting market turmoil. A week later, EU leaders create €750 billion rescue scheme with IMF for any distressed euro country.
SUMMER 2010:PRESSURE ON Spain intensifies but it survives a market onslaught. Pressure grows on Portugal and Ireland, both of which have already resorted to drastic budget measures.
SEPTEMBER 2010: IRELAND, FACED with €45 billion bank bailout bill, pledges to intensify four-year austerity programme .
OCTOBER 2010:EU LEADERS agree to reopen Lisbon Treaty to make limited change to create permanent rescue mechanism on euro zone.
Mandate to EU Council president Herman Van Rompuy includes requirement that his proposal does not breach no-bailout clause enshrined in EU law since Maastricht Treaty.
