1991 – NATO Rome Summit and creation of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC). NACC becomes the structure for cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries in a changed political situation. Estonia is one of the founding members of the NACC.
1994, January – Partnership for Peace (PfP) is introduced at NATO Brussels Summit.
1994, February 3, Estonia joins the PfP program.
1995, January – Under PfP the Planning and Review Process (PARP) is started. Estonia takes part in the process, which is designed to provide a basis for identifying and evaluating forces and capabilities which might be made available for multinational training, exercises, and operations in conjunction with Alliance forces.
1996 – The 16+1 negotiations between NATO and Estonia start under the name of Intensified Dialogue on the Questions of Membership.
1997, May – In the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO partner countries in Portugal, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) is created. EAPC replaces NACC.
1999, April – NATO Washington Summit. NATO’s 50th anniversary is celebrated. NATO recognises Estonia as a probable applicant country. Membership Action Plan (MAP) is presented to nine candidate members.
2002, November - NATO Prague Summit. Estonia along with Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia is invited to begin accession talks to join NATO.
2003 January to 2003 March – accession talks to join NATO are held.
2003, March 26 – representatives of the 19 NATO member countries sign Protocols of Accession, which once ratified by the Allies would allow seven new states to join NATO.
2004, March 10 – Estonian Parliament (the Riigikogu) ratifies the North-Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty), and the President promulgates it on 11 March 2004.
2004, March 29 – the North-Atlantic Treaty (Estonia’s instruments of accession) is deposited in the US Treasury Department making Estonia an official member of NATO.
2004, April 2 – A ceremony to mark the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The flags of the 7 new members were added to the 19 flags flying in front of the NATO headquarters.
2004, June – NATO Istanbul Summit. Estonia participated as a full NATO member for the first time.
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