You’re listening to Today in History, a closer look at an event from the past.

Welcome to Slow English FM. This is World Discovery, where we explore a subject through clear, simple English. Today we look at a treaty that changed how European countries work together.

EmmaOn November 1, 1993, the Treaty on European Union entered into force. It is usually called the Maastricht Treaty, after the Dutch city where it was signed. The treaty formally established the European Union, or EU. Representatives of 12 countries had signed it in February 1992. It took effect after national ratifications, meaning each country completed its formal approval process.

What did the treaty change? Before Maastricht, European cooperation had focused mainly on economic ties. The new agreement aimed to prepare countries for a shared currency. It also added political cooperation, including work on foreign and security policy, justice, and home affairs.

EmmaThe treaty arranged this work in three areas called “pillars.” One was the existing European Communities. The other two covered common foreign and security policy, and justice and home affairs. This structure was a compromise. The first area used shared institutions and allowed more decisions by qualified majority. That means a decision could pass when enough member countries agreed, without every country needing to say yes. The other areas relied more on agreement among national governments.

The treaty also introduced European citizenship for people who were nationals of member states. It included rights to move and live in other member states. And it gave the European Parliament, the EU’s elected assembly, a greater role in making laws through a process called co-decision. Parliament took part alongside the governments of member states.

EmmaMaastricht also set out a staged path toward economic and monetary union. It created a framework for the European Central Bank and a future shared monetary policy. It set convergence criteria, or conditions for countries planning to adopt the euro. These covered inflation, public debt and deficits, interest rates, and exchange-rate stability. The euro began for financial and commercial transactions in 1999. Euro notes and coins came later.

The treaty’s effects reached beyond money. It gave European cooperation a political dimension, while some economic and fiscal policies stayed under national control. Later treaties changed its structures and arrangements. Maastricht marked a major step toward the European Union people know today. Thank you for listening to World Discovery on Slow English FM.