The Maastricht Treaty, Amsterdam Treaty, Nice Treaty
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∙ In December 1990 the community’s leaders formally convened two intergovernmental conferences, the first to map out the steps need to establish economic and monetary union and the second to deal with obstacles standing in the way of a political union.
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∙ The outcome of the two conferences was the Treaty on European Union signed by the member States in Maastricht on 7 February 1992.
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∙ Before it could be enforced on 1 November 1993 the treaty had to clear several hurdles.
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∙ On 2 June 1992 the Danish people voted against ratification and it was only after a second referendum in May 1993 that approval was secured.
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∙ A good deal of criticism was voiced by other countries such as France the U.K and Germany.
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∙ The public were also apprehensive due to the fact that the decision to move forward to European Union was taken behind closed doors.
The Maastricht treaty amended the treaty of Rome and the single European Act and introduced new powers and policy areas. Major aspects of EC policies were not changed at all by the new treaty e.g. the common agricultural policy.
The treaty went into effect on 1 November 1993.The European Economic Community- renamed the ‘European Community’ under the Treaty of Maastricht-takes a broader approach than the other two Communities. Its task was to mould the Member States into a single Community embracing every sector of the economy. It covered key areas such the free movement of goods and workers, freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services, the free movement of capital and payments, competition policy, economic and monetary policy, agricultural policy, transport policy, environmental policy, research and technology and industrial policy. This treaty mapped out economic and monetary policies leading eventually to a single European currency.
In 1994 the cohesion fund and three other structural funds were set up to achieve economic and social unity. Their objectives were to promote and develop regions lagging behind. Help areas severely affected by industrial decline to redevelop. Combat long term unemployment by facilitating the integration of young people into working life. Finally to speed up the adjustment of farm structures and promote the development of rural areas.
The Maastricht treaty brought the areas of justice and police co-operation- including the problems of asylum and immigration within the European Unions.
The treaty of Amsterdam went further: (17th June 1997)
It had four main objectives:
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∙ To place employment and citizens rights at the heart of the union;
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∙ To strengthen security and remove any remaining obstacles to freedom of movement;
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∙ To give Europe a stronger voice in world matters;
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∙ To make the Unions institutions more efficient with a view to enlargement.
The countries concerned in the enlargement are Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Malta, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech republic, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey. Although the negotiations began in March 1998 the enlargement will take place in stages and it is possible the first new Member States may join as soon as 2003. To become a member each country must comply with the rules laid down by the Copenhagen council in 1993.
Nice
A most recent Intergovernmental Conference opened in February 2000 and completed its work in Nice December 2000.
The UK and Ireland were not part of the “Schengen” agreement. Since it has integrated into the treaty, both countries can opt in, wholly or in part. Amsterdam confirmed that the UK and Ireland would not be forced to participate in any measures in the field of visa, asylum and immigration policy and free movement of persons.
