1990

1 July - The trans-European mobility scheme for university studies (hereinafter referred to as Tempus) was adopted by the Council, ‘within a perspective of five years, for an initial pilot phase of three years.’ This first phase of the Tempus programme was launched to respond to the modernization needs of the higher education sector in Central and Eastern European countries, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Countries: Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia (from 1993 as Czech and Slovak Republics)

1991

Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia entered Tempus for 1991 only

1992

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Albania were added to the partner countries Tempus worked with.

1993

29 April - The European Council Decision that the second phase of the Trans-European Cooperation Scheme for Higher Education, Tempus II, was adopted for a period of 4 years as of 1 July 1994.

Partner countries included during 1993 were Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Belarus.

1994

1 July 1994 Tempus II started.

Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan became partner countries.

1995

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Mongolia entered Tempus.

1996

Tempus II was extended in 1996 so that activities could continue until 2000. Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan were included in the programme.

1998

25 May The Sorbonne Joint Declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system was signed by education ministers from France, Germany, UK and Italy.

1999

29 April The Council adopted the third phase of the Trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) for the period from 2000 to 2006.

19 June Following from the Sorbonne Declaration, 29 European Ministers of higher education signed the Bologna Declaration on establishing a European Area of higher education by 2010 and promoting the European System of higher education world-wide.

2000

March 23-24, 2000 - Lisbon summit - Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion: Towards a Europe based on Innovation and Knowledge. The European Council has therefore concluded that Europe’s education and training systems need to adapt both to the demands of the knowledge society and to the need for an improved level and quality of employment. In terms of education, this new approach has three main components: the development of local learning centres; the promotion of new basic skills, in particular in the information technologies; and increased transparency of qualifications.

1 July - Tempus III was initiated (running until 2006).

5 December - The Cards Regulation of 5 December 2000 amends the Tempus III Decision to include the participation of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and sets out the framework for Community assistance to the Western Balkans

2002

27 June - On the basis of its proven strengths, the geographic scope of the Tempus Programme was formally enlarged by the Council to include the Mediterranean region. In addition, the duration of the Programme was extended until 31 December 2006 to bring it into line with other Community programmes in the field of education and training.

2004

9 March - Commission adopted communication on the future of Tempus and other EU Education programmes, "The new generation of Community education and training programmes after 2006”. This Communication outlined the possible design of a future Tempus programme, Tempus Plus, which would extend its scope to vocational education and training. The programme is to be guided by the Neighbourhood Policy, and the geographical scope will be maintained. Tempus will continue to support bottom-up multi-lateral cooperation and top-down complementary measures and will seek to enhance the volume and quality of transnational mobility.

2005

19-20 May - The 40 signatory states of the Bologna declaration met in Bergen to welcome new members from the Tacis region, (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and set directives for further work towards the 2010 target date of realising the European Higher Education Area.

The changing nature of Tempus, as shown in this timeline, is reflected in the series of Council Decisions pertaining to the programme.

2006

31 December - Tempus III comes to and end. The content and modalities of the new Tempus programme are being developed.