The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe posed a number of new
challenges for the European Community. Still, the twelve member states
initially concentrated on deepening European integration. At a meeting
in the Dutch town of Maastricht in 1991, EC heads of state and
government agreed upon the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Under the
treaty, the name “European Union” officially replaced “European
Community.” The treaty saw a political union on the basis of and through
the further development of the Single European Act as the end goal of
integration. It called for the establishment of three “pillars” of
cooperation: the pillar of the existing European communities was to be
reformed and joined by two new pillars, “Common Foreign and Security
Policy” and “Justice and Home Affairs.” The treaty also introduced the
concept of European Union citizenship, which granted EU citizens the
right to vote in local elections in member states and entitled them to
consular support at the diplomatic missions of EU countries.
Furthermore, a schedule for creating the European Economic and Monetary
Union was agreed upon. The Maastricht Treaty needed to be ratified by
member states; in Germany, it was challenged before the Federal
Constitutional Court. It was only after the court handed down its ruling
on October 12, 1993, that the treaty took delayed effect in Germany on
November 1, 1993.
The photo shows EC heads of state and government at the Maastricht
conference on December 9, 1991.
The European Council in Maastricht (December 9, 1991)
Christian Stutterheim
Source
Source: Bildarchiv, B 145 Bild-00009285
REGIERUNGonline/Stutterheim