In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty was signed, paving the way for the creation of the European Union (EU). Upon its entry into force on 1 November 1993, the European Union was officially established, bringing together 12 member states: Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain.
The Maastricht Treaty, officially known as the Treaty on European Union, is particularly significant because it set the process in motion that ultimately led to the introduction of the single European currency, the euro, in 2002.
Negotiations on the Maastricht Treaty emerged from the desire of the member states of the European Community to achieve deeper integration in the field of economic policy. This was to be accomplished through greater economic convergence among member states and the introduction of a single European currency.
In June 1992, Denmark rejected the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum. Meanwhile, in France, where the treaty was also put to a referendum, it received only 50.4 per cent of the votes in favour. This narrow victory represented a significant challenge for the European integration process. Despite these difficulties, the Maastricht Treaty moved forward. Political solutions were sought in response to the outcome of the Danish referendum, and, gradually, the obstacles arising from the French vote were also overcome.
The Maastricht Treaty was officially signed on 7 February 1992 by the foreign ministers of the member states in the Dutch city of Maastricht, from which it takes its name. Located near the borders with Germany and Belgium, the city became the setting for an agreement that would reshape the future of Europe.
However, immediately following its signing, the treaty faced considerable challenges. As it represented a major step forward in the European integration process, it was not universally welcomed, particularly by certain Eurosceptic groups.
Given its significance and the foundations it established, the treaty went far beyond the initial economic objectives set by the Community. It marked a new stage in the process of achieving an “ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”, thereby giving the economic project a broader political dimension.
With its entry into force on 1 November 1993, the European Union was officially established, comprising the 12 member states of the European Community: Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. The number of member states would increase to 15 in 1995.
The origins of the European Union, however, date back to the end of the Second World War. The founding fathers sought to ensure that the massacres and destruction caused by the war would never happen again.
On 9 May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented a proposal for enhanced cooperation, marking the beginning of the process of European integration.
Based on the plan presented by Schuman, six countries—Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands—signed an agreement in 1951 to jointly manage their respective coal and steel industries.
Following the success of this initiative, the six countries decided to extend their cooperation to other sectors. Consequently, the Treaty of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), was signed in 1957, with the aim of promoting the free movement of people, goods and services.
In 1973, the EEC expanded to include three additional countries: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Six years later, for the first time, citizens directly elected the members of the European Parliament, who had previously been appointed by national parliaments.
In February 1992, the Treaty on European Union was signed in Maastricht. It established specific rules concerning the single currency, common foreign policy, and cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs. Under the Maastricht Treaty, the name European Union replaced that of the European Community.
In 1995, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU, bringing the number of member states to 15 and extending the Union across almost the whole of Western Europe. In March of the same year, the Schengen Agreement entered into force in seven countries. From that point onwards, travellers of all nationalities were able to move between participating countries without having to present their passports at internal borders.
In 2002, euro banknotes and coins entered circulation in 12 countries.
Two years later, eight Central and Eastern European countries—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary—joined the EU, marking the end of the division of the European continent imposed by the major powers six decades earlier. Cyprus and Malta also joined the Union. In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became member states.
In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon officially entered into force, with the aim of enabling the EU to respond more effectively to global challenges and granting greater powers to the European Parliament.
On 1 July 2013, Croatia became the 28th member state of the European Union. Following Slovenia, it became the second of the six former Yugoslav republics to join the EU. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom withdrew from the Union through the Brexit process, bringing the current number of EU member states to 27.
The Main Institutions of the European Union
The four main institutions of the European Union are the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
European Parliament
The European Parliament is elected directly by the citizens of the European Union every five years to represent their interests.
Its main responsibility is to adopt European legislation based on proposals submitted by the European Commission. This legislative responsibility is shared with the Council of the European Union.
The European Parliament and the Council also share responsibility for adopting the EU’s annual budget.
The Parliament’s main plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg, France, while additional sessions and parliamentary work take place in Brussels, Belgium.
European Council
The European Council consists of the Heads of State or Government of the EU member states, together with its President and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also participates in its proceedings.
The European Council defines the EU’s overall political direction and priorities but does not exercise legislative functions.
Its meetings are generally held twice every six months and are convened by its President. In exceptional circumstances, the President may call special meetings.
The President of the European Council serves a term of two and a half years, renewable once. The European Council usually holds its meetings in Brussels.
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is one of the EU’s principal decision-making institutions. Together with the European Parliament, it is responsible for adopting EU legislation.
It consists of government ministers from all EU member states. Depending on the subject under discussion, the ministers responsible for the relevant policy area attend the meetings.
Every six months, a different member state assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council, taking responsibility for chairing meetings and helping establish the Council’s political agenda.
The rotating presidency does not apply to the Foreign Affairs Council, which is chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union and represents the interests of the Union as a whole.
It prepares proposals for new European legislation and submits them to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It is also responsible for implementing common EU policies and managing the Union’s funds and programmes.
Furthermore, the Commission acts as the guardian of the EU Treaties, ensuring that member states and institutions comply with European treaties and legislation. Where necessary, it can take action against those who violate EU rules, including referring cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The Commission consists of 27 Commissioners, one from each EU member state.
The President of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament. The other Commissioners are proposed by their respective national governments in consultation with the President-elect and must also receive the approval of the European Parliament.
Commissioners do not represent the national governments of their countries of origin. Instead, each is responsible for a specific policy area within the EU.
All Commissioners are appointed for a five-year term.
