THE TREATIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The birth and development of the EU  is marked by a series of treaties, starting from 1951

1951 The  Paris treaty

Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

1957 The  Rome treaty

France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg sign this treaty and form the European Economic Community, with the purpose of removing barries to trade and services.

The object is to strengthen the economies and the currencies of the member states against external competition. The EEC, generally called the Common Market, later becomes  known as the European Community (EC).

1985 The Schengen treaty

Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands decide that they want to remove the frontier controls between them at roads and airports and introduce freedom of movement for people between their countries. Later all other EEC members join the treaty, except for the UK and Ireland. Norway and Iceland, which are not EC members, have also joined.

1986 The Luxembourg treaty

The aim of the Luxembourg treaty is to create the European Common Market from the first of January 1993.

1993 The Maastricht treaty

The Treaty on European Union signed by the economic and foreign ministers of the European Union in Maastricht (Holland) in February 1992 takes the process of the unification of Europe a step further in every direction.

The most significant goals that the Treaty sets are:

Þ  The increase of investments in those fields that will help European industry and economy to better compete omn the world's markets  (e.g. telecommunications, infrastructures)

Þ  The increase of assistance to economically weak regions of the Union

Þ  The implementation of human mobility (the right for EU citizens to reside in any Member State) and complete freedom of movement of capital (the right for EU citizens to deposit their money in any bank and place their money in any chosen investment within the Union)

Þ  The elimination of all obstacles that limit the freedom to provide banking, financial and insurance services

Þ  The harmonization of labour laws, so that every worker in the Union has the same rights, opportunities and health protection at the workplace

Þ  The establishment of a European central banking system. Gradually monetary and economic powers will be transferred to the Union

Þ  The replacement of national currencies by the Union currency

Þ  The harmonization of fiscal policies (e.g. adoption of common VAT rates)

Þ  The introduction of a common foreign and security policy (e.g. attitude towards immigration, visa policy)

Þ  The extension of the European Parliament powers.

1997 The Amsterdam treaty

It strengthens the Union policies and powers, particularly in judicial cooperation, the free movement of persons, foreign policy and public health. For the first time it introduces an Employment Chapter, which enables Europe to create more jobs. It encourages the member states to coordinate their strategies on employment, by benefiting from exchange of experience, information and best practice  on job creation. Relevance is given to the rights of individuals such as combating discrimination, poverty and social exclusion as well as public health, environmental protection, consumer protection, and eliminating inequalities between men and women.

The states create an  "area of freedom, security and justice working", for example, together on the status of refugees, to combat terrorism and drug-trafficking.

2001 The Nizza treaty

It s institutional modifications in view of the enlargement of the Union.