The Treaty on European Union (TEU), also known as the Maastricht Treaty, is a foundational treaty that established the European Union and laid the groundwork for its development as a political and economic union. It was signed on November 7, 1991, and entered into force on November 1, 1993. The TEU has been subsequently amended and supplemented by other treaties, but its provisions remain at the core of the EU's functioning.
European Union: The TEU formally created the European Union, replacing the European Communities. The EU is a supranational organisation composed of member states that have pooled their sovereignty in certain areas to achieve common goals. It aims to promote peace, stability, and prosperity within Europe.
Objectives and principles: The treaty sets out the EU's objectives, which include promoting economic and social progress, establishing an area of freedom, security, and justice, and fostering economic and monetary union. It also lays down the principles of democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the principles of equality and solidarity.
Three pillars: The TEU established a division of the EU's activities into three pillars, each with distinct areas of cooperation:
- First pillar - the European Communities: This pillar covers the areas in which the EU has exclusive competence, including the internal market, agriculture, fisheries, transport, and regional policy. It also provides for the EU's institutions and decision-making procedures.
- Second pillar - Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): The CFSP pillar aims to develop a common approach to foreign policy among member states. It includes cooperation in diplomacy, defence, conflict prevention, and crisis management. Decision-making in this area is intergovernmental, with unanimity often required.
- Third pillar - justice and home affairs: This pillar deals with cross-border cooperation in areas such as asylum, immigration, border control, judicial cooperation, and police cooperation. Decision-making in this pillar is also intergovernmental, but certain aspects have been transferred to the EU level over time.
European citizenship: The TEU introduced the concept of European citizenship, which is in addition to national citizenship. Every person holding the nationality of an EU member state is also considered a citizen of the European Union. EU citizenship provides individuals with certain rights, including the right to move and reside freely within the EU, the right to vote and stand in local and European Parliament elections, and the right to consular protection from any EU member state when outside the EU.
Economic and monetary union: The TEU laid the foundation for the establishment of the Economic and Monetary Union, which encompasses the adoption of a single currency, the euro, and the coordination of economic and monetary policies among member states. It introduced convergence criteria, known as the Maastricht criteria, which countries must meet to join the eurozone. The treaty also established the European Central Bank to manage the monetary policy of the Eurozone.
Enhanced cooperation: The TEU introduced the concept of enhanced cooperation, which allows a group of EU member states to pursue integration in specific policy areas without the participation of all member states. This mechanism enables those willing and able to move forward with deeper integration while respecting the rights and interests of others.
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): The treaty aimed to develop a common foreign and security policy among EU member states. It established the European Council as the body responsible for defining and implementing the CFSP. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was also created to coordinate and represent the EU's foreign policy.
Democratic institutions and decision-making: The TEU outlines the EU's institutional framework, which includes the European Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the Court of Justice of the European Union. It defines their roles, powers, and decision-making procedures, aiming to ensure transparency, democratic accountability, and efficient governance within the EU.
The TEU has undergone subsequent amendments and treaties to adapt to the evolving needs and challenges of the EU such as the Amsterdam Treaty (1997), the Nice Treaty (2001). Notably, the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force in 2009, further modified and consolidated the EU's legal framework.
You can learn more about this topic with our EU Law notes.
