European Union treaties

European Union treaties
Name	European Union treaties
Long name	The primary constitutional basis of the European Union
Caption	The Flag of Europe symbolises the Union founded by its treaties.
Type	Constitutional treaties
Date drafted	Ongoing
Date signed	1951 onwards
Location signed	Various European cities
Date effective	Upon ratification by all signatory states
Condition effective	Ratification by all member states
Parties	European Union member states
Depositor	Government of Italy
Languages	24 official languages

European Union treaties. They form the primary constitutional basis for the European Union, establishing its institutions, defining their powers, and outlining the fundamental objectives and principles of the integration project. These legally binding agreements, ratified by all member states, are the supreme source of European Union law, overriding national laws in areas where the Union has competence. The evolution of these treaties charts the political and economic development of the Union from its post-war origins to the present day.

Overview and legal nature

The foundational agreements are considered the constitutional framework for the European Union, possessing a unique supranational legal character that distinguishes them from traditional international law instruments. According to the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, particularly in landmark cases like Van Gend en Loos, they have established a "new legal order" that confers rights and obligations directly on EU citizens and member states. This principle of direct effect, alongside that of primacy over national law, forms the cornerstone of the Union's legal system. The treaties delineate the competences transferred from national governments to Union institutions like the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Founding and amending treaties

The integration process began with the Treaty of Paris, which established the European Coal and Steel Community among six nations: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. This was followed by the Treaties of Rome, creating the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. Major reforms were introduced by the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty which founded the European Union itself, and the Treaties of Amsterdam, Nice, and Lisbon. The Lisbon Treaty, in force since 2009, is the currently operative core constitutional text, consolidating previous agreements and refining the Union's structure and decision-making.

Accession treaties

The expansion of the Union from its original six members to twenty-seven has been governed by a series of specific accession agreements. Each treaty is negotiated between the existing member states and the applying country, outlining the terms of entry and any transitional arrangements. Historic enlargements included the accession of the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland in 1973, the reunification of Germany in 1990, and the major eastern enlargement in 2004 which brought in states like Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Subsequent accessions included Romania, Bulgaria, and most recently Croatia.

Other major treaties and agreements

Beyond the core constitutional texts, several other pivotal agreements shape EU policy and cooperation. The Schengen Agreement, initially separate, was incorporated into the EU framework to abolish internal border controls. The Stability and Growth Pact is a key set of rules underpinning the Economic and Monetary Union. Furthermore, the European Union–United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement governed the terms of Brexit. The Union also concludes numerous international agreements with third countries and organizations, such as the European Economic Area agreement with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Amendment and ratification procedures

The process for revising the treaties is set out in Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union, which provides for both ordinary and simplified revision procedures. The ordinary procedure typically begins with a proposal from a member state government, the European Parliament, or the European Commission, leading to a convention of representatives and an intergovernmental conference of national governments. Any amendment, including those in accession treaties, requires the unanimous agreement of all member states' governments in the European Council and subsequent ratification according to each state's own constitutional requirements, which may involve national referendums, as seen during the ratification of the European Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty.

Role in EU law and governance

These agreements are the highest authority in the EU legal order, forming the "primary law" from which all "secondary legislation" like regulations, directives, and decisions derive. They establish the core institutions of the European Union, including the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Court of Justice, defining their powers and inter-institutional balance. The treaties also enshrine fundamental principles such as subsidiarity, proportionality, and the protection of fundamental rights, which guide all Union action and are enforced by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Category:European Union treaties Category:European Union law Category:Treaties of the European Union