'By this Treaty, the High Contracting Parties establish among themselves a European Union.'
'This Treaty marks a new stage in the process creating an ever closer Union among the peoples of Europe, where decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizens'. The phrase 'ever closer union' replaces the words 'Union with a federal goal' which were in the last draft of the treaty by the Dutch presidency.
'The Union shall be founded on the European Communities, supplemented by the policies and cooperation established by this Treaty.
'Its task shall be to organize, in a manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the member States and their peoples.'
OBJECTIVES- 'The Community shall have as its task, by establishing a common market, an economic and monetary union and by implementing the common policies or activities referred to…the promotion, throughout the Community, of a harmonious and balanced development of economic activities, sustainable and non-inflationary growth respecting the environment, a high degree of convergence of economic performance, a high level of employment and of social protection, the raising of the standard and quality of living, and economic and social cohesion and solidarity between Member States.' This 'task' replaces that declared by the Treaty of Rome, namely 'to promote…a harmonious and balanced expansion (of economic activities), an increase in stability, an accelerated standard of living and closer relations between the States belonging to it.'
- Five specific objectives are set out:
- '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 the establishment of economic and monetary union including, finally, a single currency'.
- 'To assert its identity on the international scene, in particular through the implementation of a common foreign and security policy, which shall include the eventual framing of a common defence policy'.
- '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 a close co-operation on home affairs and in the judicial field.'
- 'To maintain in full the 'acquis communautaire' and build on it'.
PRINCIPLES- 'The Union shall provide itself with the resources necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies', but with two specific limitations:'The Union shall have due regard to the national identity of its Member States, whose systems of government are founded on the principles of democracy'.
- 'The Union shall respect the rights and freedoms as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States as general principles of Community law'.
- 'In the areas which do not fall within its exclusive jurisdiction, the Community shall take action, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity'. Defining subsidiarity for the first time, article 3b states that, in such cases, 'the Community shall take action . . .only if and insofar as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community.
- 'Any action by the Community shall not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaty.'
- The 'activities of the Community' referred to are those set out in the Treaty of Rome, as amended by the Single European Act, with the following significant additions and changes:
'Measures concerning the entry and movement of persons in the internal market'.
'The strengthening of economic and social cohesion'.
- 'A policy in the sphere of the environment'.
- 'The promotion of research and technological development'.
- 'Measures in the spheres of energy, consumer protection, civil protection and tourism'.
- 'Encouragement for the establishment and development of trans-European networks'.
- 'Contribution to the attainment of a high level of health protection'.
- 'Contribution to education and training of high quality, and to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States'.
CITIZENSHIP'Citizenship of the Union is hereby established. Every person holding the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union.
'Every Union citizen shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States', and to receive consular support.
Union citizens resident in Member States of which they are not nationals will have the right to to vote and stand as a candidates at municipal and European elections.
Detailed arrangements for the exercise of these rights are to be adopted by the Council, acting unanimously, before the end of 1994.
Union citizens will be able to petition the European Parliament, and apply to the new Community ombudsman.
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