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The common themes
1974 was an important year for the Europa-Stamps collection, because since then, a common theme replaced the common design system used since 1956! Only the CEPT logo on each stamp indicates that the stamp is a Europa-Stamp.
Here are for each year the common them chosen by the CEPT.

1974 Sculptures (23 countries; 49 stamps)
1975 Paintings (24 countries; 50 stamps) new Cyprus T.
1975, first Europa issue of the Turkish part of Cyprus. Due to the political situation on the island of Cyprus, the stamps issued by the Turkish part of the island aren't recognized on an international level. Even if those stamps bear the Europa logo, they are not official Europa-Stamps but most of the Europa stamps collectors collect them as they issue Europa-Stamps on a regular basis since 1975 !
The CEPT logo is featured on each Europa-Stamp since 1974. Only this logo make Europa-Stamps different from all the other stamps !
1976 Handicrafts (27 countries; 58 stamps) new Guernsey & Isle of Man
1977 Landscapes (28 countries; 56 stamps)
1978 Monuments (30 countries; 65 stamps) new Jersey
1979 Postal history (31 countries; 68 stamps) new Faroe Is. & Gibraltar
1980 Famous people (32 countries; 67 stamps)
1981 Folklore (35 countries; 69 stamps) new Azores & Madeira
1982 History (35 countries; 70 stamps)
1983 Inventions (35 countries; 71 stamps)
1984 25 years of the CEPT: common design (35 countries; 67 stamps)
1985 European year of music (35 countries; 73 stamps)
1986 Nature conservation (35 countries; 74 stamps)
1987 Modern architecture (35 countries; 74 stamps)
1988 Transport and communication (35 countries; 79 stamps)
1989 Children games (35 countries; 80 stamps)
1990 Post offices (35 countries; 78 stamps)

Till 1981, the number of countries issuing Europa-Stamps grew up till a record number of 35, especially with the venue of Dependencies and Autonomous country parts. The number of 35 stayed stable till 1990 but the number of stamps grew up till 80 in 1989!
In 1984, the CEPT celebrates their 25th Anniversary. To commemorate this event, the CEPT decided to select a common design, as in the early years of the Europa-Stamps.
The winning design is a symbolic bridge designed by the French artist Jean Larrivière.