On 4 October 1949, the Italian daily newspaper Il nuovo Corriere della Sera considers the implications for the West of the Soviet Union’s acquisition of nuclear weapons and raises the spectre of possible nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

On 22 March 1972, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera describes the criticism of the European Economic Community (EEC), by Leonid Brejnev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

On 6 July 1989, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mikhail Gorbachev, First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, outlines his idea of ‘a common European home’ and calls for a reduction in the number of strategic nuclear weapons.

On 10 April 1996, the European Commission proposes a regional cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening political stability and economic development in the Baltic Sea region.

On 10 December 1997, against the background of the enlargement of the European Union, the French daily newspaper Le Monde describes the three Baltic States seeking accession.

On 17 January 2001, the European Commission submits a communication to the Council that analyses the effects of EU enlargement for Russia and Kaliningrad. The document also examines the current situation in Kaliningrad as well as its relations with its neighbours and international organisations, and makes suggestions for the effective management of border crossings and migration flows that might arise from the enlargement process.

On 7 June 2002, Günter Verheugen, Chris Patten and Antonio Vitorino, Members of the European Commission, send a letter to Josep Piqué i Camps, President-in-Office of the Council of the EU, in which they highlight the European Commission’s position on the crossing of EU Member States’ external borders by Russian citizens. They also discuss the agreement on behalf of Lithuania and Poland to implement the requirements of the EU acquis, and raise the question of the Russian stance on basic visa requirements for travel to and from Kaliningrad.

On 18 April 2003, Council Regulation (EC) No 693/2003, signed on 14 April, enters into force. This Regulation establishes a Facilitated Transit Document (FTD) and a Facilitated Rail Transit Document (FRTD), specific authorisations that are territorially valid for the issuing Member States and are intended to facilitate the transit by land of third country nationals who have to cross the territory of one or more Member States to travel between two regions of their country which are not geographically contiguous.

In June 2003, the Thessaloniki European Council instructs the Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) to submit a European Union security strategy to the General Affairs and External Relations Council. This document, entitled A Secure Europe in a Better World, is adopted by the European Council in Brussels on 12 December 2003. It emphasises the need for a multilateral and global approach to security in Europe and throughout the world.

On 20 December 2006, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopt a regulation for the development of an efficient system of local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States, as well as the amendment of the provisions of the Schengen acquis. Particular reference is made to the conditions and criteria for the issuing of local border traffic permits. Reference is also made to the authorisation given to Member States to conclude or maintain bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries for the purpose of implementing the local border traffic regime established by this Regulation.

On 13 December 2011, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopt Regulation (EU) No 1342/2011, whose purpose is to amend Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 as regards the Kaliningrad border area. The Regulation provides for the inclusion of the Kaliningrad oblast and certain Polish administrative districts in the eligible border area, and also for further promotion of the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Russian Federation.