On Nov. 1 the Maastricht Treaty on European Union formally entered into effect following the completion of the ratification process in October.
Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online
Read the article and then do an activity
The new designation of "European Union" (EU) not only embraced the European Communities (EC), which continued to conduct business under the Treaty of Rome, and which now had increased powers in some matters under the Maastricht treaty, but also involved the two intergovernmental "pillars" covering common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and co-operation on justice and home affairs issues.
On Nov. 8 the EU's Council of Ministers decided to call itself in future the Council of the European Union. This meant that the 12 ministers, who conducted both EC and EU business depending on the subject matter involved, could sit as the same body under the EU umbrella. On Nov. 17 the Commission of the European Communities decided to call itself the European Commission (as it was often popularly referred to in any case).
The changes caused some confusion, especially because it was stressed that the EU as such had no "legal personality". Thus, for example, the conclusion of treaties with third parties would be done formally in the name of the EU rather than the EU.
Work continued on the establishment of a 189-member Committee of the Regions as provided in the Maastricht Treaty, which was due to meet for the first time in January 1994, although only about half the required delegates had as yet been named.
On Nov. 29 the EU interior and justice ministers met for the first time as part of the third "pillar" of the European Union (co-ordinating justice and home affairs policy) and thus replaced the Trevi Group.
Keesings Worldwide Online
| 
