Maastricht Negotiations

Legally known as the Treaty on European Union, the Maastricht Treaty entered into force on 1 November 1993. It is viewed as a key landmark in the development of European integration, bringing about the most significant institutional and policy changes since the Treaties of Rome were signed on 25 March 1957. The Maastricht Treaty was the product of twin-track intergovernmental conference (IGC) negotiations that focused on monetary union and political union and which took place at a time of momentous change in Europe. This included the end of the Cold War, the unification of Germany and dissolution of Yugoslavia. These developments created a heady climate where there was a tension between those countries that wished to pursue deeper European integration and those who wanted to retain more national control. And while the eventual Maastricht Treaty reflected these demands in a series of compromises, there was considerable public disquiet at the outcome. This led to a Treaty ratification crisis that highlighted for the first time significant public concerns regarding the future direction of European integration in the form of Euroscepticism.