▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Tour ▁de ▁France , ▁only ▁to ▁stop ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁ad verse ▁effects ▁of ▁the ▁dru gs ▁on ▁his ▁health . ▁At ▁this ▁same ▁press ▁conference , ▁R olf ▁Ald ag ▁also ▁conf esses ▁to ▁long - term ▁E PO ▁use . ▁▁ 1 ▁June ▁- ▁The ▁D AX ▁exceed s ▁ 8 0 0 0 ▁points ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁eight ▁years . ▁▁ 6 – 8 ▁June ▁- ▁ 3 3 rd ▁G 8 ▁sum mit ▁in ▁Heil ig end amm , ▁Me ck len burg - Vor p omm ern . ▁▁ 1 6 ▁June ▁- ▁The ▁Left ▁Party . P DS ▁and ▁the ▁W AS G ▁f use ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁Left ▁Party . ▁▁ 1 6 ▁June ▁- ▁ 2 3 ▁September : ▁document a ▁ 1 2 ▁▁ 2 1 ▁December ▁- ▁Border ▁controls ▁with ▁Germany ' s ▁eastern ▁neighb ours ▁are ▁removed ▁as ▁the ▁Czech ▁Republic , ▁Poland ▁and ▁seven ▁other ▁countries ▁join ▁the ▁Sch engen ▁border - free ▁zone . ▁The ▁only ▁remaining ▁German ▁border ▁with ▁border ▁controls ▁is ▁that ▁with ▁Switzerland . ▁ ▁Date ▁unknown : ▁Volks wagen ▁AG ▁gained ▁ownership ▁of ▁Swedish ▁company ▁Sc ania ▁by ▁first ▁bu ying ▁Vol vo ' s ▁st ake ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁after ▁the ▁latter ' s ▁ab orted ▁take over ▁attempt , ▁increasing ▁it ▁to ▁ 3 6 . 4 % ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁quarter ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁ ▁Popular ▁culture