Prof. Justin O. Frosini The European Union

i. Primary sources 1.TREATIES (as amended) 2.PROTOCOLS attached to the Treaties 3.ACTS OF ACCESSION

1. Treaties of the EU 1957: Treaty of Rome 1986: Single European Act 1992: Maastricht Treaty 1997: Amsterdam Treaty 2000: Treaty of Nice THESE ARE AMENDMEN TS TO THE TREATY OF ROME. THEY SET NEW OBJECTIVES

1957: Treaty of Rome WHO SIGNED IT? France, Germany, Italy, Belgium,The Netherlands and Luxembourg WITH WHICH OBJECTIVES? To engage a closer economic relationship with a number of European nations sharing certain common values (assumptions of liberal democracy)

1986 (Brussels) : Single European Act WHICH ARE THE NEW OBJECTIVES?  High level of employment  Social protection  Protection of the environment  Equality between men and women  High degree of competitiveness

1992: Maastricht Treaty WHICH ARE THE NEW OBJECTIVES? To create the European Union (a more political union among the member States) HOW IS THE EUROPEAN UNION CREATED? Laying legal foundations for implementing:  a common currency  the European citizenship

1997: Amsterdam Treaty WHICH ARE THE NEW OBJECTIVES?  Increase the power of the European Parliament  Transfer parts of the Justice and Home Affairs Pillar of the EU to the EC

2000: Treaty of Nice WHICH ARE THE NEW OBJECTIVES?  Enlargement of the Union  Adoption of a common Bill of Rights (Common declaration on the Charter of Nice was given - “Declaration on the future of Europe”-)

4 steps: 1.December 14th-15th 2001, Laeken Declaration 2.June 20th 2003, Thessaloniki European Council meeting 3.October 29th 2004, Treaty of Rome II 4.Ratification by all Member States ii. The “European Constitution”

1. December 14th-15th 2001, Laeken Declaration The European Council appoints an ad hoc body – the Convention on the future of Europe – to elaborate a draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe

 As envisaged in the Laeken Declaration the President of the Convention (Mr. V. Giscard d’Estaing) gave progress reports to the European Council at its meetings: June 2002, Seville October 2002, Brussels December 2002, Copenhagen April 2003, Athens

2. June 20th 2003, Thessaloniki European Council meeting Draft of aTreaty for a European Constitution  Part I  Part II  Part III  Part IV These two Parts have not been subsequently changed These texts have since been finalised and have been now added to the final draft A draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is presented

3. October 29th 2004, Treaty of Rome II The 25 member States of the European Union sign the so called II Treaty of Rome that provides for the “implementation” of the European Constitution All member states will then RATIFY this Treaty BUTBUT

4. Ratification by all Member States

Note that: Only if ALL ALL MEMBER STATES RATIFY RATIFY the Treaty SIGNED IN Rome on October 29th, 2004 SHALL THE CONSTITUTION BE ADOPTED