{"id":95416,"date":"2022-02-09T03:00:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T02:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=95416"},"modified":"2022-02-08T13:21:34","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T12:21:34","slug":"how-maastricht-changed-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/how-maastricht-changed-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"How Maastricht changed Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union, paved the way for the single currency: the euro and created EU citizenship. The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 and had a profound impact on the development of European integration. The EU, as we know it today, owes its name and its nature to a treaty born in a Dutch city on the banks of the Meuse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In March 2017, European leaders gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The Union that has emerged over the years, from that original treaty, has progressively grown in size, scope and capability.<\/p>\n

Today’s European Union is a powerful voice in support of peace and justice across the world. It is home to the world\u2019s second most traded currency and is the largest global trading bloc. At the same time, it guarantees the rights of almost 450 million European citizens.<\/p>\n

A key step towards this remarkable development was taken when the 12 member states gathered for a European summit in 1991 in the Dutch city better known, at that time, for its potteries.<\/p>\n

Maastricht is the birthplace of the European Union: it is where the treaty which bears its name was negotiated and signed.<\/p>\n

Lasting impact of the Maastricht Treaty<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Maastricht gave birth to the name “European Union”. The member states agreed on important changes to the structure and powers of the Union they had created. The main ones centred on three ‘pillars’, as they were called at that time:<\/p>\n