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Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community - Paris Treaty
Purpose: to create interdependence in coal and steel so that one country could no longer mobilise its armed forces without others knowing. This eased distrust and tensions after WWII. The ECSC treaty expired in 2002 -
The Treaty of Rome
Purpose: to set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). The Treaty established four institutions - a Commission, a Council of Ministers, a European Parliament, a European Court of Justice. The treaty focused on economic co-operation. -
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EU Treaties from the first to the last signature
The European Union was created through a series of treaties. These treaties were an attempt to heal the wounds caused by the devastation of World War II and create a spirit of harmony, trust, and cooperation among the countries of Europe for the benefit of its citizens and residents -
Merger Treaty - Brussels Treaty
Purpose: to streamline the European institutions.
Main changes: creation of a single Commission and a single Council to serve the three European Communities (EEC, Euratom, ECSC). Repealed by the Treaty of Amsterdam -
The Single European Act
The Single European Act was the first attempt made by member states to amend the arrangements made under the Treaty of Rome.
Purpose: to reform the institutions in preparation for Portugal and Spain's membership and speed up decision-making in preparation for the single market.
Main changes: extension of qualified majority voting in the Council (making it harder for a single country to veto proposed legislation), creation of the cooperation and assent procedures, giving Parliament more influence -
The Treaty of Maastricht
This treaty was a revision of earlier signed treaties of Rome, single European Act and Paris. Some of the major goals of the treaty of Maastricht were; to develop a universal foreign and security strategy, to set up a fiscal and financial union and several others. The treaty is made up of three pillars the major one consisting of all the provisions laid out in earlier treaties. The other two pillars were in relation to mutual aid among the governments of member states. -
The Treaty of Amsterdam
The Treaty of Amsterdam was the third major amendment to the arrangements made under the Treaty of Rome (1957). The purpose of the Amsterdam 1997 treaty was to build political and institutional structures so that the European Union could meet future challenges. Some of the major challenges were drug trafficking, terrorism and crime, and pressure on public health. -
The Treaty of Nice
It amended the Maastricht Treaty (or the Treaty on European Union) and the Treaty of Rome (or the Treaty establishing the European Community)
Main changes: methods for changing the composition of the Commission and redefining the voting system in the Council. -
The Treaty of Lisbon
The Lisbon Treaty confirmed the power of the EU to act in areas such as human rights, judicial and foreign policy, and re-emphasised the idea that every citizen of a member state is also an EU citizen.
The Lisbon treaty clarifies which powers:
belong to the EU
belong to EU member countries
are shared.
Purpose: to make the EU more democratic, more efficient and better able to address global problems, such as climate change, with one voice.
