Title: EUR-Lex - xy0026 - EN - EUR-Lex
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Summaries of EU Legislation
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Treaty of Maastricht on European Union
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE TREATY?
KEY POINTS
European Communities (1st pillar)
Common foreign and security policy (2nd pillar)
Cooperation on justice and home affairs (3rd pillar)
Economic and monetary union
Common currency (euro)
New policies
Social protocol
European citizenship
Institutional changes
FROM WHEN DOES THE TREATY APPLY?
BACKGROUND
MAIN DOCUMENT

Content: This encompasses 3 separate strands (so-called pillars): the European Communities,
a common foreign and security policy, and
cooperation between EU governments on justice and home affairs. Among its most prominent innovations, the treaty: lays the foundations for economic and monetary union, the single currency (the euro) and the criteria for its use; provides the legal basis for 6 new EU common policies; strengthens the powers of the European Parliament; and
introduces the concept of European citizenship . KEY POINTS
European Communities (1st pillar)
This groups the traditional activities, working and decision-making procedures of the 3 original EU organisations: European Economic Community ,
European Coal and Steel Community ,
Euratom . Common foreign and security policy (2nd pillar)
This aims to: