treaties

• Treaty of Paris established the European Coal and Steel Community


  18.04.1951
• European Coal and Steel Community

  • Set up an executive known as the 'High Authority', a Parliamentary Assembly, a Council of Ministers, a Court of Justice and a Consultative Committee
  • The common coal and steel market was to be an experiment which could gradually be extended to other economic spheres, culminating in a political Europe
  • The pooling of French and German resources was intended to mark the end of the rivalry between the two countries
• Key features of the European Coal and Steel Community

  • Free movement of goods and free access to sources of production
  • Permanent monitoring of the market to avoid distortions which could lead to the introduction of production quotas
  • Compliance with the rules of competition and the principle of price transparency
  • Support for modernisation and conversion of the coal and steel sectors
• Robert Schuman: 'Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.'
• Treaties of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC, otherwise known as 'Euratom')


  25.03.1957
• Aim of the European Economic Community

  To establish a common market based on the four freedoms of movement (goods, persons, capital and services)
• Aim of Euratom

  To coordinate the supply of fissile materials and the research programmes initiated or being prepared by Member States on the peaceful use of nuclear energy
• Key features of the Treaties of Rome

  • The elimination of customs duties between Member States
  • The establishment of an external Common Customs Tariff
  • The introduction of common policies for agriculture and transport
  • The creation of a European Social Fund
  • The establishment of a European Investment Bank
  • The development of closer relations between the Member States
• Merger Treaty / Treaty establishing the European Community


  08.04.1965
• Merger Treaty

  Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission by merging the executives of the three European Communities (ECSC, the EEC and the Euratom)
• Single European Act


  28.02.1986
• Single European Act

  • Brought changes to the Treaties establishing the European Communities and established European political cooperation
  • The title 'European Parliament'(which the Assembly had used since 1962) was made official
  • Increased the EP's legislative powers with the introduction of the cooperation and assent procedures
• The Treaty of Maastricht

  07.02.1992
• The Treaty of Maastricht

  • Creation of the European Union
  • The Union is founded on three pillars: European Communities, Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), and Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
  • The EEC becomes the European Community (EC)
  • The EP's legislative and supervisory powers increase with the introduction of the codecision procedure and extension of the cooperation procedure
  • The European Parliament has the right to invite the Commission to present a legislative proposal on matters which, in its view, call for a Community act to be drawn up
  • The entire Commission must also now be approved by the EP, which also appoints the European Ombudsman
• Key changes from the Treaty of Maastricht

  • Move from an economic to a politico-economic organization
  • Developed co-decision procedure
  • Initiated a monetary union
  • Provided social dimension to EU
  • Created European Citizenship
  • Enshrined principle of subsidiarity
• Treaty of Amsterdam

  02.10.1997
• Treaty of Amsterdam

  • Absorbed the Schengen Agreement into EU law, allowing for open borders between participating member states, making travel easier
  • Established a framework for future accession of new member states, especially from Eastern Europe, preparing for the EU's expansion
  • Expanded the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), giving the EU a more prominent role in international affairs
  • Increased the use of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV), simplifying the decision-making process within the EU
  • Made adjustments to EU institutions to improve efficiency and readiness for future growth
  • Strengthened the integration of EU law into member states' legal systems, promoting consistency across the union
  • Fostered deeper cooperation among member states in various areas, laying the groundwork for future EU policies and initiatives
• Treaty of Nice


  26.02.2001
• Treaty of Nice

  • Extended the use of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of the EU, making it easier for decisions to be made, especially as the EU grew larger
  • Changed how the President of the European Commission was elected and gave them the power to remove individual Commissioners
  • Set limits on the number of Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to streamline decision-making processes
  • Initiated the process for drafting an EU constitution, recognizing the need for clearer rules as the EU expanded
  • Aimed to improve cooperation among EU member states, ensuring smoother operations and better adaptation to changing circumstances
• Treaty of Lisbon


  2007
• Treaty of Lisbon

  • Created the roles of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a permanent President of the European Council, providing clearer leadership in foreign affairs and EU summits
  • Brought the Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR) into EU law, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for all EU citizens
  • Clarified the roles and powers of EU institutions, making decision-making processes more transparent and accountable
  • Made Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) the default method for decision-making in most areas, speeding up the legislative process
  • Outlined a procedure for member states to leave the EU for the first time, providing a legal framework for potential withdrawals
  • Allowed certain member states, such as the UK and Poland, to opt-out of certain EU policies, such as those related to justice and home affairs
  • Strengthened coordination in foreign affairs and security policy, enabling the EU to speak with a more unified voice on the global stage