The Treaty of the European Union [Maastricht] | Page 4

for Foreign Affairs; Peirre BEREGOVY, Minister for
Economic and Financial Affairs and the Budget;
THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND: Gerard COLLINS, Minister for
Foreign Affairs; Berite AHERN, Minister for Finance;
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, Gianni DE
MICHELIS, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Guido CARLI, Minister for
the Treasury;
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG:
Jaques F. POOS, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs;
Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Minister for FINANCE;
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS: Hans van

den BROEK, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Willem KOK, Minister for
Finance;
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC: Joao de
DEUS PINHERO, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Jorge BRAG de
MACEDO, Minister for Finance;
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF
GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: The Rt. Hon.
Douglas HURD, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs; The Hon. Francis MAUDE, Financial Secretary to the Treasury;
WHO, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form,
have agreed as follows:
TITLE1 COMMON PROVISIONS
ARTICLE A By this Treaty, the High Contracting Parties establish
among themselves a European Union, hereinafter called "the Union".
This Treaty marks a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer
union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as
closely as possible to the citizen. The Union shall be founded on the
European Communities, supplemented by the policies and forms of
cooperation established by this Treaty. Its task shall be to organize, in a
manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the
Member States and between their peoples.
ARTICLE B The Union shall set itself the following objectives: - to
promote economic and social progress which is balanced and
sustainable, in particular through the creation of an area without
internal frontiers, through the strengthening of economic and social
cohesion and through the establishment of economic and monetary
union, ultimately including a single currency in accordance with the
provisions of this Treaty; - to assert its identity on the international
scene, in particular through the implementation of a common foreign
and security policy including the eventual framing of a common
defence policy, which might in time lead to a common defence; - to
strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of the nationals of
its Member States through the introduction of a citizenship of the
Union; - to develop close cooperation on justice and home affairs; - to
maintain in full the "acquis communautaire" and build on it with a view
to considering, through the procedure referred to in Article N(2), to
what extent the policies and forms of cooperation introduced by this

Treaty may need to be revised with the aim of ensuring the
effectiveness of the mechanisms and the institutions of the Community.
The objectives of the Union shall be achieved as provided in this Treaty
and in accordance with the condition and the timetable set out therein
while respecting the principle of subsidiarity as defined in Article 3b of
the Treaty establishing the European Community.
ARTICLE C The Union shall be served by a single institutional
framework which shall ensure the consistency and the continuity of the
activities carried out in order to attain its objectives while respecting
and building upon the "acquis communautaire". The Union shall in
particular ensure the consistency of its external activities as a whole in
the context of its external relations, security, economic and
development policies. The Council and the Commission shall be
responsible for ensuring such consistency. They shall ensure the
implementation of these policies, each in accordance with its respective
powers.
ARTICLE D The European Council shall provide the Union with the
necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general
political guidelines thereof. The European Council shall bring together
the Heads of State or of Government of the Member States and the
President of the Commission. They shall be assisted by the Ministers
for Foreign Affairs of the Member States and by a Member of the
Commission. The European Council shall meet at least twice a year,
under the chairmanship of the Head of State or of Government of the
Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council. The
European Council shall submit to the European Parliament a report
after each of its meetings and a yearly written report on the progress
achieved by the Union.
ARTICLE E The European Parliament, the Council, the Commission
and the Court of Justice shall exercise their powers under the
conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the
provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and
of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them
and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of this Treaty.
ARTICLE F 1. The Union shall respect the national identities of its
Member States, whose systems