Treaties of the European Union - wikipedia Treaties of the European Union Treaties of the European Union Front page of an EU document containing the consolidated treaties and documents which comprise the legal basis of the EU Location Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Purpose Establishing the laws and principles under which the European Union is governed The Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union ( EU ) member states which sets out the EU 's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures and objectives. The EU can only act within the competences granted to it through these treaties and amendment to the treaties requires the agreement and ratification ( according to their national procedures ) of every single signatory. Two core functional treaties, the Treaty on European Union ( originally signed in Maastricht in 1992 ) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( originally signed in Rome in 1957 as the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ), lay out how the EU operates, and there are a number of satellite treaties which are interconnected with them. The treaties have been repeatedly amended by other treaties over the 65 years since they were first signed. The consolidated version of the two core treaties is regularly published by the European Commission. Contents 1 Content 1.1 Treaty on European Union 1.2 Treaty on the functioning of the European Union 1.3 Protocols, annexes and declarations 1.4 Euratom 2 Amendment and ratification 2.1 Minor amendments not requiring ratification 3 Ratified treaties 4 Related treaties 5 Signed treaties 5.1 Unified Patent Court 6 Abandoned treaties 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Bibliography 9 External links Content The two principal treaties on which the EU is based are the Treaty on European Union ( TEU ; Maastricht Treaty, effective since 1993 ) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ; Treaty of Rome, effective since 1958 ). These main treaties ( plus their attached protocols and declarations ) have been altered by amending treaties at least once a decade since they each came into force, the latest being the Treaty of Lisbon which came into force in 2009. Lisbon also made the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding, though that is not a treaty per se. The troubled ratification of Lisbon has meant there is little prospect of further reform in the next few years beyond accession treaties, which merely allow a new state to join. Treaty on European Union Main article : Treaty on European Union Wikisource has original text related to this article : Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union Following the preamble the treaty text is divided into six parts. Title 1, Common Provisions The first deals with common provisions. Article 1 establishes the European Union on the basis of the European Community and lays out the legal value of the treaties. The second article states that the EU is `` founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities ''. The member states share a `` society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail ''. Article 3 then states the aims of the EU in six points. The first is simply to promote peace, European values and its citizens ' well - being. The second relates to free movement with external border controls are in place. Point 3 deals with the internal market. Point 4 establishes the euro. Point 5 states the EU shall promote its values, contribute to eradicating poverty, observe human rights and respect the charter of the United Nations. The final sixth point states that the EU shall pursue these objectives by `` appropriate means '' according with its competences given in the treaties. Wikisource has original text related to this article : Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union Article 4 relates to member states ' sovereignty and obligations. Article 5 sets out the principles of conferral, subsidiarity and proportionality with respect to the limits of its powers. Article 6 binds the EU to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 7 deals with the suspension of a member state and article 8 deals with establishing close relations with neighbouring states. Title 2, Provisions on democratic principles Article 9 establishes the equality of national citizens and citizenship of the European Union. Article 10 declares that the EU is founded in representative democracy and that decisions must be taken as closely as possible to citizens. It makes reference to European political parties and how citizens are represented : directly in the Parliament and by their governments in the Council and European Council -- accountable to national parliaments. Article 11 establishes government transparency, declares that broad consultations must be made and introduces provision for a petition where at least 1 million citizens may petition the Commission to legislate on a matter. Article 12 gives national parliaments limited involvement in the legislative process. Title 3, Provisions on the institutions Article 13 establishes the institutions in the following order and under the following names : the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors. It obliges co-operation between these and limits their competencies to the powers within the treaties. Article 14 deals with the workings of Parliament and its election, article 15 with the European Council and its president, article 16 with the Council and its configurations and article 17 with the Commission and its appointment. Article 18 establishes the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and article 19 establishes the Court of Justice. Title 4, Provisions on enhanced cooperations Title 4 has only one article which allows a limited number of member states to co-operate within the EU if others are blocking integration in that field. Title 5, General provisions on the Union 's external action and specific provisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy Chapter 1 of this title includes articles 21 and 22. Article 21 deals with the principles that outline EU foreign policy ; including compliance with the UN charter, promoting global trade, humanitarian support and global governance. Article 22 gives the European Council, acting unanimously, control over defining the EU 's foreign policy. Chapter 2 is further divided into sections. The first, common provisions, details the guidelines and functioning of the EU 's foreign policy, including establishment of the European External Action Service and member state 's responsibilities. Section 2, articles 42 to 46, deal with military cooperation ( including Permanent Structured Cooperation and mutual defence ). Title 6, Final provisions Article 47 establishes a legal personality for the EU. Article 48 deals with the method of treaty amendment ; specifically the ordinary and simplified revision procedures. Article 49 deals with applications to join the EU and article 50 with withdrawal. Article 51 deals with the protocols attached to the treaties and article 52 with the geographic application of the treaty. Article 53 states the treaty is in force for an unlimited period, article 54 deals with ratification and 55 with the different language versions of the treaties. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Main article : Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Wikisource has original text related to this article : Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union The Treaty on the functioning of the European Union goes into deeper detail on the role, policies and operation of the EU. It is split into seven parts. Part 1, Principles In principles, article 1 establishes the basis of the treaty and its legal value. Articles 2 to 6 outline the competencies of the EU according to the level of powers accorded in each area. Articles 7 to 14 set out social principles, articles 15 and 16 set out public access to documents and meetings and article 17 states that the EU shall respect the status of religious, philosophical and non-confessional organisations under national law. Part 2, Non-discrimination and citizenship of the Union The second part begins with article 18 which outlaws, within the limitations of the treaties, discrimination on the basis of nationality. Article 19 states the EU will `` combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation ''. Articles 20 to 24 establishes EU citizenship and accords rights to it ; to free movement, consular protection from other states, vote and stand in local and European elections, right to petition Parliament and the European Ombudsman and to contact and receive a reply from EU institutions in their own language. Article 25 requires the Commission to report on the implementation of these rights every three years. Part 3, Union policies and internal actions Part 3 on policies and actions is divided by area into the following titles : the internal market ; the free movement of goods, including the customs union ; agriculture and fisheries ; free movement of people, services and capital ; the area of freedom, justice and security, including police and justice co-operation ; transport policy ; competition, taxation and harmonisation of regulations ( note Article 101 and Article 102 ) ; economic and monetary policy, including articles on the euro ; employment policy ; the European Social Fund ; education, vocational training, youth and sport policies ; cultural policy ; public health ; consumer protection ; Trans - European Networks ; industrial policy ; economic, social and territorial cohesion ( reducing disparities in development ) ; research and development and space policy ; environmental policy ; energy policy ; tourism ; civil protection ; and administrative co-operation. Part 4, Association of the overseas countries and territories Part 4 deals with association of overseas territories. Article 198 sets the objective of association as promoting the economic and social development of those associated territories as listed in annex 2. The following articles elaborate on the form of association such as customs duties. Part 5, External action by the Union Part 5 deals with EU foreign policy. Article 205 states that external actions must be in accordance with the principles laid out in Chapter 1 Title 5 of the Treaty on European Union. Article 206 and 207 establish the common commercial ( external trade ) policy of the EU. Articles 208 to 214 deal with cooperation on development and humanitarian aid for third countries. Article 215 deals with sanctions while articles 216 to 219 deal with procedures for establishing international treaties with third countries. Article 220 instructs the High Representative and Commission to engage in appropriate cooperation with other international organisations and article 221 establishes the EU delegations. Article 222, the Solidarity clause states that members shall come to the aid of a fellow member who is subject to a terrorist attack, natural disaster or man - made disaster. This includes the use of military force. Part 6, Institutional and financial provisions Part 6 elaborates on the institutional provisions in the Treaty on European Union. As well as elaborating on the structures, articles 288 to 299 outline the forms of legislative acts and procedures of the EU. Articles 300 to 309 establish the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank. Articles 310 to 325 outline the EU budget. Finally, articles 326 to 334 establishes provision for enhanced co-operation. Part 7, General and final provisions Part 7 deals with final legal points, such as territorial and temporal application, the seat of institutions ( to be decided by member states, but this is enacted by a protocol attached to the treaties ), immunities and the effect on treaties signed before 1958 or the date of accession. Protocols, annexes and declarations Wikisource has original text related to this article : Consolidated protocols, annexes and declarations attached to the treaties of the European Union There are 37 protocols, 2 annexes and 65 declarations that are attached to the treaties to elaborate details, often in connection with a single country, without being in the full legal text. Protocols ; 1 : on the role of National Parliaments in the European Union 2 : on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality 3 : on the statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union 4 : on the statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank 5 : on the statute of the European Investment Bank 6 : on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies, offices, agencies and departments of the European Union 7 : on the privileges and immunities of the European Union 8 : relating to Article 6 ( 2 ) of the Treaty on European Union on the accession of the Union to the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 9 : on the decision of the Council relating to the implementation of Article 16 ( 4 ) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 238 ( 2 ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union between 1 November 2014 and 31 March 2017 on the one hand, and as from 1 April 2017 on the other 10 : on permanent structured cooperation established by Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union 11 : on Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union 12 : on the excessive deficit procedure 13 : on the convergence criteria 14 : on the Euro Group 15 : on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 16 : on certain provisions relating to Denmark 17 : on Denmark 18 : on France 19 : on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union 20 : on the application of certain aspects of Article 26 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to the United Kingdom and to Ireland 21 : on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice 22 : on the position of Denmark 23 : on external relations of the Member States with regard to the crossing of external borders 24 : on asylum for nationals of Member States of the European Union 25 : on the exercise of shared competence 26 : on services of general interest 27 : on the internal market and competition 28 : on economic, social and territorial cohesion 29 : on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States 30 : on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to Poland and to the United Kingdom 31 : concerning imports into the European Union of petroleum products refined in the Netherlands Antilles 32 : on the acquisition of property in Denmark 33 : concerning Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 34 : on special arrangements for Greenland 35 : on Article 40.3. 3 of the Constitution of Ireland Wikisource has original text related to this article : Protocol Amending the Protocol on Transitional Provisions 36 : on transitional provisions 37 : on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC treaty and on the Research fund for Coal and Steel Annexes Annex I lists agricultural and marine produce covered by the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy. Annex II lists the overseas countries and territories associated with the EU. Declarations There are 65 declarations attached to the EU treaties. As examples, these include the following. Declaration 1 affirms that the charter, gaining legal force, reaffirms rights under the European Convention and does not allow the EU to act beyond its conferred competencies. Declaration 4 allocates an extra MEP to Italy. Declaration 7 outlines Council voting procedures to become active after 2014. Declaration 17 asserts the primacy of EU law. Declaration 27 reasserts that holding a legal personality does not entitle the EU to act beyond its competencies. Declaration 43 allows Mayotte to change to the status of outermost region. Euratom Wikisource has original text related to this article : Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community As well as the two main treaties, their protocols and the Charter of Fundamental Rights ; the Treaty Establishing a European Atomic Energy Community ( Euratom ) is still in force as a separate treaty. Title one outlines the tasks of Euratom. Title two contains the core of the treaty on how cooperation in the field is to take place. Title three outlines institutional provisions and has largely been subsumed by the European Union treaties. Title four is on financial provisions and title five on the general and title six is on final provisions. Amendment and ratification European Union This article is part of a series on the politics and government of European Union Executive Juncker Commission President Juncker ( EPP ) Vice Presidents College Civil Service Secretary - General Italianer Legislature President Tajani ( EPP ) Largest groups EPP ( Manfred Weber ) S&D ( Gianni Pittella ) 8th session ( 2014 -- 19 ) 751 MEPs Bureau Vice Presidents Quaestor Conference Legislative procedure Council of the EU Presidency Configurations General Foreign Justice and Home Economic Euro Legislative procedure Voting Secretariat Secretary - General Uwe Corsepius Directorates - general COREPER Judiciary Court of Justice Members Rulings General Court Central Bank President Draghi ESCB Euro EMU Eurozone Court of Auditors Budget OLAF Other bodies Agencies Investment Bank CoR EESC Ombudsman National parliaments Policies and issues Foreign relations High Representative Federica Mogherini Ext. Action Service Foreign Policy Defence Policy Customs Union Enlargement Budget Four Freedoms Economic Area Area of FS&J Schengen Area Policies Agricultural Energy Fisheries Regional Citizenship Identity Pro-Europeanism Euroscepticism Integration Supranationalism Federalism United States of Europe Multi-speed Opt - outs Enhanced co-op Withdrawal Elections 1979, 1984, 1989 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 2014 ( last election ) Political parties Constituencies Referendums Law Treaty on European Union Acquis Primacy Subsidiarity Treaties Rome Single European Act Maastricht Amsterdam Nice Lisbon Article 50 Fundamental Rights Membership Treaties of Accession 1972, 1979, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2011 European Council President Tusk ( EPP ) Parties List of meetings Other countries Atlas The treaties can be changed in three different ways. The ordinary revision procedure is essentially the traditional method by which the treaties have been amended and involves holding a full inter-governmental conference. The simplified revision procedure was established by the Treaty of Lisbon and only allows for changes which do not increase the power of the EU. While using the passerelle clause does involve amending the treaties, as such, it does allow for a change of legislative procedure in certain circumstances. The ordinary revision procedure for amending treaties requires proposals from an institution to be lodged with the European Council. The President of the European Council can then either call a European Convention ( composed of national governments, national parliamentarians, MEPs and representatives from the Commission ) to draft the changes or draft the proposals in the European Council itself if the change is minor. They then proceed with an Intergovernmental Conference ( IGC ) which agrees the treaty which is then signed by all the national leaders and ratified by each state. While this is the procedure that has been use for all treaties prior to the Lisbon Treaty, an actual European Convention ( essentially, a constitutional convention ) has only been called twice. First in the drafting of the Charter of Fundamental Rights with the European Convention of 1999 -- 2000. Second with the Convention on the Future of Europe which drafted the Constitutional Treaty ( which then formed the basis of the Lisbon Treaty ). Previously, treaties had been drafted by civil servants. The simplified revision procedure, which applies only to part three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and can not increase the powers of the EU, sees changes simply agreed in the European Council by a decision before being ratified by each state. The amendment to article 136 TFEU makes use of the simplified revision procedure due to the small scope of its change. Any reform to the legal basis of the EU must be ratified according to the procedures in each member state. All states are required to ratify it and lodge the instruments of ratification with the Government of Italy before the treaty can come into force in any respect. In some states, such as Ireland, this is usually a referendum as any change to that state 's constitution requires one. In others, such as Germany, referendums are constitutionally banned and the ratification must take place in its national parliament. On some occasions, a state has failed to get a treaty passed by its public in a referendum. In the cases of Ireland and Denmark a second referendum was held after a number of concessions were granted. However, in the case of France and the Netherlands, the treaty was abandoned in favour of a treaty that would not prompt a referendum. In the case of Norway, where the treaty was their accession treaty ( hence, their membership ), the treaty was also abandoned. Treaties are also put before the European Parliament and while its vote is not binding, it is important ; both the Belgian and Italian Parliaments said they would veto the Nice Treaty if the European Parliament did not approve it. Minor amendments not requiring ratification Main article : Passerelle Clause The treaties contain a passerelle clause which allows the European Council to unanimously agree to change the applicable voting procedure in the Council of Ministers to QMV and to change legislation adoption procedure from a special to the ordinary legislative procedure, provided that no national parliament objects. This procedure can not be used for areas which have defence implications. The fourth amendment procedure is for changing status of some of the special member state territories. The status of a French, Dutch and Danish overseas territories can be changed more easily, by no longer requiring a full treaty revision. Instead, the European Council may, on the initiative of the member state concerned, change the status of an overseas country or territory ( OCT ) to an outermost region ( OMR ) or vice versa. This provision does n't apply to special territories of the other member states. Legend for below table : ( Amending ) -- ( Membership ) European Council decision type Established / Amended Agreed in Agreed on Effective from Ceased Changing status of French territory Withdrawal of Saint - Barthélemy ( OMR to OCT ) Brussels, BE 000000002010 - 10 - 29 - 0000 29 October 2010 000000002012 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 2012 in force Changing status of French territory Enlarged to Mayotte ( OCT to OMR ) Brussels, BE 000000002012 - 07 - 11 - 0000 11 July 2012 000000002014 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 2014 in force Ratified treaties Signed : In force : Document : 1948 1948 Brussels Treaty 1951 1952 Paris Treaty 1954 1955 Modified Brussels Treaty 1957 1958 Rome Treaty & EURATOM 1965 1967 Merger Treaty 1976 Council Agreement on TREVI 1986 Single European Act 1985 + 90 1995 Schengen Treaty & Convention Maastricht Treaty ( TEU ) 1999 Amsterdam Treaty 2003 Nice Treaty 2007 2009 Lisbon Treaty Content : ( founded WUDO ) ( founded ECSC ) ( protocol amending WUDO to become WEU ) ( founded EEC and EURATOM ) ( merging the legislative & administrative bodies of the 3 European communities ) ( founded TREVI ) ( amended : EURATOM, ECSC, EEC ) + ( founded EPC ) ( founded Schengen ) ( implemented Schengen ) ( amended : EURATOM, ECSC, and EEC to transform it into EC ) + ( founded : JHA + CFSP ) ( amended : EURATOM, ECSC, EC to also contain Schengen, and TEU where PJCC replaced JHA ) ( amended with focus on institutional changes : EURATOM, ECSC, EC and TEU ) ( abolished the 3 pillars and WEU by amending : EURATOM, EC = > TFEU, and TEU ) ( founded EU as an overall legal unit with Charter of Fundamental Rights, and reformed governance structures & decision procedures ) Three pillars of the European Union : European Communities ( with a single Commission & Council ) European Atomic Energy Community ( EURATOM ) European Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC ) Treaty expired in 2002 European Union ( EU ) European Economic Community ( EEC ) European Community ( EC ) Schengen Rules Terrorism, Radicalism, Extremism and Violence Internationally ( TREVI ) Justice and Home Affairs ( JHA ) Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters ( PJCC ) European Political Cooperation ( EPC ) Common Foreign and Security Policy ( CFSP ) Western Union Defence Organization ( WUDO ) Western European Union ( WEU ) Treaty terminated in 2011 Legend for below table : ( Founding ) -- ( Amending ) -- ( Membership ) Treaty Established / Amended Signed in Signed on Effective from Ceased ECSC Treaty European Coal and Steel Community Paris, FR 000000001951 - 04 - 18 - 0000 18 April 1951 000000001952 - 07 - 23 - 0000 23 July 1952 000000002002 - 07 - 23 - 0000 23 July 2002 EEC Treaty ( Treaty of Rome ) European Economic Community Rome, IT 000000001957 - 03 - 25 - 0000 25 March 1957 000000001958 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1958 in force Euratom Treaty European Atomic Energy Community Rome, IT 000000001957 - 03 - 25 - 0000 25 March 1957 000000001958 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1958 in force Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities Amended Previous Established a common Assembly, a common Court of Justice and a common Economic and Social Committee Rome, IT 000000001957 - 03 - 25 - 0000 25 March 1957 000000001958 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1958 000000001999 - 05 - 01 - 0000 1 May 1999 Netherlands Antilles Convention OCT status for the Netherlands Antilles Brussels, BE 000000001962 - 11 - 13 - 0000 13 November 1962 000000001964 - 10 - 01 - 0000 1 October 1964 in force Merger Treaty Amended Previous Executives of ECSC and EAEC combined with those of the EEC. Brussels, BE 000000001965 - 04 - 08 - 0000 8 April 1965 000000001967 - 07 - 01 - 0000 1 July 1967 000000001999 - 05 - 01 - 0000 1 May 1999 First Budgetary Treaty Amended Previous Partial budgetary powers to Parliament Luxembourg, LU 000000001970 - 04 - 22 - 0000 22 April 1970 000000001971 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1971 in force Treaty of Accession 1972 Enlarged to Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom Brussels, BE 000000001972 - 01 - 22 - 0000 22 January 1972 000000001973 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1973 in force Second Budgetary Treaty Amended Previous Greater budgetary powers to Parliament Established the Court of Auditors ( see article for all changes ). Brussels, BE 000000001975 - 07 - 22 - 0000 22 July 1975 000000001977 - 06 - 01 - 0000 1 June 1977 in force Treaty of Accession 1979 Enlarged to Greece Athens, GR 000000001979 - 05 - 28 - 0000 28 May 1979 000000001981 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1981 in force Greenland Treaty Withdrawal of Greenland Brussels, BE 000000001984 - 03 - 13 - 0000 13 March 1984 000000001985 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1985 in force Treaty of Accession 1985 Enlarged to Spain and Portugal Madrid, ES Lisbon, PT 000000001985 - 06 - 12 - 0000 12 June 1985 000000001986 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1986 in force Schengen Agreement Established open borders Schengen, LU 000000001985 - 06 - 14 - 0000 14 June 1985 000000001995 - 03 - 26 - 0000 26 March 1995 in force Single European Act Amended Previous Introduced the Single Market and European Political Cooperation Luxembourg, LU The Hague, NL 000000001986 - 02 - 17 - 0000 17 February 1986 000000001986 - 02 - 28 - 0000 28 February 1986 000000001987 - 07 - 01 - 0000 1 July 1987 in force Schengen Convention Implemented the Schengen Agreement Schengen, LU 000000001990 - 06 - 19 - 0000 19 June 1990 000000001993 - 09 - 01 - 0000 1 September 1993 in force Treaty of Maastricht ( Treaty on European Union ) European Union Amended Previous EEC became European Community pillar of EU. Intergovernmental pillars of CFSP and JHA established. Maastricht, NL 000000001992 - 02 - 07 - 0000 7 February 1992 000000001993 - 11 - 01 - 0000 1 November 1993 in force Treaty of Accession 1994 Enlarged to Austria, Finland and Sweden Corfu, GR 000000001994 - 06 - 24 - 0000 24 June 1994 000000001995 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 1995 in force Treaty of Amsterdam Amended Previous Introduced the High Representative, transferred powers from JHA pillar to EC and integrated the Schengen Agreement ( see article for all changes ). Amsterdam, NL 000000001997 - 10 - 02 - 0000 2 October 1997 000000001999 - 05 - 01 - 0000 1 May 1999 in force Treaty of Nice Amended Previous Prepared the EU to cope with enlargement ( see article for all changes ). Nice, FR 000000002001 - 02 - 26 - 0000 26 February 2001 000000002003 - 02 - 01 - 0000 1 February 2003 in force Treaty of Accession 2003 Enlarged to Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia Athens, GR 000000002003 - 04 - 16 - 0000 16 April 2003 000000002004 - 05 - 01 - 0000 1 May 2004 in force Treaty of Accession 2005 Enlarged to Bulgaria and Romania Luxembourg, LU 000000002005 - 04 - 25 - 0000 25 April 2005 000000002007 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 2007 in force Treaty of Lisbon Amended Previous Created European Council President, enhanced foreign policy, abolished pillar system, expanded Parliament 's powers and QMV, made Rights charter binding. Lisbon, Portugal 000000002007 - 12 - 13 - 0000 13 December 2007 000000002009 - 12 - 01 - 0000 1 December 2009 in force Protocol on European Parliament seats Amended Protocol 36 Appointed 18 new members of the EP until the 2014 election, who would have been elected in 2009 if the Treaty of Lisbon had been in force. No seats were abolished, so the number of the MEPs temporarily increased to 754. Brussels, BE 000000002010 - 06 - 23 - 0000 23 June 2010 000000002011 - 12 - 01 - 0000 1 December 2011 in force TFEU ESM amendment Amended TFEU Article 136 Authorised the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism. Brussels, BE 000000002011 - 03 - 25 - 0000 25 March 2011 000000002013 - 05 - 01 - 0000 1 May 2013 in force Treaty of Accession 2011 Enlarged to Croatia Brussels, BE 000000002011 - 12 - 09 - 0000 9 December 2011 000000002013 - 07 - 01 - 0000 1 July 2013 in force Irish protocol on the Lisbon Treaty Formalising the Irish guarantees Brussels, BE 000000002012 - 05 - 16 - 0000 16 May 2012 -- 13 June 2012 000000002014 - 12 - 01 - 0000 1 December 2014 in force Related treaties Although not formally part of European Union law, several closely related treaties have been signed outside the framework of the EU and its predecessors between the member states because the EU lacked authority to act in the field. After the EU obtained such autonomy, many of these conventions were gradually replaced by EU instruments. Examples are the Treaty instituting the European Defence Community of 1952 ( on a common European defence force, never entered into force as it was not ratified by France and Italy ) Naples Convention of 1967 ( on customs cooperation, replaced by a new Convention in 1997 which has been ratified by all member states ), Brussels Convention of 1968 ( on jurisdiction in civil matters, replaced by the Brussels I Regulation in 2001 ), the Rome Convention on Contractual Obligations of 1980 ( on choice of law in contractual matters, replaced by the Rome I Regulation in 2008 except in Denmark ), and the Dublin Convention of 1990 ( on asylum seekers, replaced by the Dublin II Regulation in 2003 ). Additionally, the Convention on the Mutual Recognition of Companies and Bodies Corporate was signed in 1968, but while 5 of the 6 then member states ratified it, it never entered into force due to the Netherlands ' refusal to ratify the treaty. Likewise, the Convention for the European patent for the common market of 1975, and the Agreement relating to Community patents of 1989, which amended the 1975 Convention, were signed by all member states but never entered into force due to lack of ratification by all states. Furthermore, Article K. 3 of the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force in 1993, authorized the European Communities to `` draw up conventions which it shall recommend to the Member States for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements '' under the newly created Justice and Home Affairs pillar, which was organised on an intergovernmental basis. The JHA was integrated into the EC structures as the area of freedom, security and justice with the Lisbon Treaty 's entry into force in 2009. Concluded under these provisions were conventions on extradition procedures ( never formally entered into force ), customs procedures ( replaced by a Council Decision in 2009 ), financial matters of the European Union ( ratified by all member states ), the Europol Convention of 1995 ( came under the EU 's competence with the Lisbon Treaty and replaced by a Council Decision in 2009 ), extradition ( never formally entered into force ), documentation in legal proceedings ( never entered into force ), corruption ( ratified by all member states except Malta ), matrimonial matters ( never entered into force ), driving ( never formally entered into force ) and cooperation on criminal matters ( ratified by all member states except Greece, Ireland and Croatia ; Iceland and Norway also apply some provisions ) as well as a number of protocols to these agreements. During this time period, a convention on double taxation was also ratified by all member states. Finally, several treaties have been concluded between a subset of EU member states due to a lack of unanimity. The Schengen Treaty and Convention were agreed to in 1985 and 1990 respectively in this manner, but were subsequently incorporated into EU law by the Amsterdam Treaty, with the remaining EU member states that had not signed the treaty being given an opt - out from implementing it. More recently, the Prüm Convention, European Fiscal Compact and Single Resolution Fund Agreement were signed as intergovernmental treaties. However, all three state that the intention of the signatories is to incorporate the treaty 's provisions into EU structures and that EU law should take precedence over the treaty. As well, the agreements are open to accession by any EU member state. The Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism was also signed and entered into force outside of the EU framework. However, a TFEU amendment was ratified which gives the ESM a legal basis in the EU treaties. An updated EMU reform plan issued in June 2015 by the five presidents of the Council, European Commission, ECB, Eurogroup and European Parliament outlined a roadmap for integrating the Fiscal Compact and Single Resolution Fund agreement into the framework of EU law by June 2017, and the intergovernmental European Stability Mechanism by 2025. Proposals by the European Commission to incorporate the substance of the Fiscal Compact into EU law and create a European Monetary Fund to replace the ESM were published in December 2017. Treaty Establishing / Amending Signed in Signed on Parties Effective from Ceased Prüm Convention Stepped up cross-border cooperation Prüm, Germany 000000002005 - 05 - 27 - 0000 27 May 2005 14 EU states 000000002006 - 11 - 01 - 0000 1 November 2006 in force Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism European Stability Mechanism Brussels, BE 000000002012 - 02 - 02 - 0000 2 February 2012 All 19 eurozone states 000000002012 - 09 - 27 - 0000 27 September 2012 in force European Fiscal Compact Implemented fiscal rules in the eurozone Brussels, BE 000000002012 - 03 - 02 - 0000 2 March 2012 25 EU states EU non-parties : HR, CZ, UK 000000002013 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 2013 in force Single Resolution Fund Agreement The transfer of funds to the Single Resolution Fund Brussels, BE 21 May 2014 21 EU states ( all 19 eurozone states ) 000000002016 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1 January 2016 in force Signed treaties The Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, although formally not part of the European Union treaties, was signed by 25 of the then 27 ( Croatia has since acceded to the EU ) member states of the Union respectively and is undergoing ratification. Treaties undergoing ratification Treaty Establishing / Amending Signed in Signed on Ratification Planned Agreement on a Unified Patent Court Establishing the Unified Patent Court Brussels, BE 19 February 2013 15 / 25 1 January 2014 Unified patent Court Wikisource has original text related to this article : Agreement on a Unified Patent Court Main article : Agreement on a Unified Patent Court After two regulations creating a European Union patent with unitary effect utilizing enhanced cooperation were approved for 25 participating states ( all but Italy and Spain ) by the European Parliament on 11 December 2012 the documents were formally adopted as regulation E.U. 1257 and 1260 of 2012 on 17 December 2012, and entered into force in January 2013. However, the provisions will only apply once the related Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, which would create a common patent court for its members, enters into force. Due to a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union that the proposed Unified Patent Court ( UPC ) was not compatible with European Union law, the agreement calls for the court to be established by an intergovernmental treaty between the participating states outside the framework of the EU. The draft Agreement was published by the Council of the European Union on 11 January 2013, and was signed on 19 February 2013 by 24 EU member states, including all states participating in the enhanced cooperation measures except Bulgaria and Poland, while Italy, which did not join the enhanced cooperation measures, did sign the UPC agreement. The treaty is open for accession to all remaining EU member states, and Bulgaria subsequently signed the agreement on 5 March after finalizing their internal procedures. Meanwhile, Poland decided to wait to see how the new patent system works before joining due to concerns that it would harm their economy. While Italy is not participating in the unitary patent regulations, signing the UPC agreement will allow the new court to handle traditional European patents issued in the country. Entry into force for the UPC will take place after 13 states ( including Germany, France and the United Kingdom as the three states with the most patents in force ) have ratified the Patent Court agreement, but not before 1 January 2014. Abandoned treaties The European Constitution failed due to negative votes in two member states Treaty instituting a European Defence Community. Following on from the success of the Treaty of Paris, efforts were made to allow West Germany to rearm within the framework of a European military structure in the form of a European Defence Community. The treaty was signed by the six members on 27 May 1952 and the Common Assembly began drafting a treaty for a European Political Community to ensure democratic accountability of the new army, but this treaty was abandoned when the Defence Community treaty was rejected by the French National Assembly on 30 August 1954. 1973 and 1995 Acts of Accession of Norway Norway applied to join the European Communities / Union on two occasions. Both times a national referendum rejected membership, leading Norway to abandon their ratification of the treaty of accession. The first treaty was signed in Brussels on 22 January 1972 and the second in Corfu on 24 June 1994. Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe ( the European Constitution ) Wikisource has original text related to this article : Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe The European Constitution was a treaty that would have repealed and consolidated all previous overlapping treaties ( except the Euratom treaty ) into a single document. It also made changes to voting systems, simplified the structure of the EU and advanced co-operation in foreign policy. The treaty was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 and was due to come into force on 1 November 2006 if it was ratified by all member states. However, this did not occur, with France rejecting the document in a national referendum on 29 May 2005 and then the Netherlands in their own referendum on 1 June 2005. Although it had been ratified by a number of member states, following a `` period of reflection '', the constitution in that form was scrapped and replaced by the Treaty of Lisbon. 2011 European Stability Mechanism treaty Wikisource has original text related to this article : Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism ( 2011 ) After the negotiations to amend Article 136 succeeded in March 2011, the leaders of the EU came to an agreement on a permanent stability fund for the eurozone called the European Stability Mechanism on 11 July 2011. It was decided that the ESM would have a size of 500 billion euros, by replacing the non-permanent European Financial Stability Fund and the European Financial Stability Mechanism. However, as the European sovereign debt crisis worsened, the leaders decided not to ratify the treaty as they planned several changes in the ESM, thus scrapping the original concept. The subsequent version of the ESM treaty was signed on 2 February 2012. 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'' -- Treaty of Lisbon Article 2, point 293 Jump up ^ `` Decisions : European Council Decision : amending the status with regard to the European Union of the island of Saint - Barthélemy '' ( PDF ). Eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Decisions : European Council Decision : amending the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union '' ( PDF ). Eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 20. < Jump up ^ Expired due to 50 - year limit included in Treaty, absorbed by EU via Treaty of Nice. Jump up ^ `` Treaty establishing the EEC -- Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities ( Rome, 25 March 1957 ) - CVCE Website ''. Cvce.eu. 1957 - 03 - 25. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 20. ^ Jump up to : Replaced by Amsterdam Treaty ^ Jump up to : `` The Schengen area and cooperation ''. European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Romania targets new MEPs in expanding Schengen backlash ''. Euobserver.com. 2010 - 06 - 23. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 20. 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Jump up ^ `` Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters ''. European Union. 2004 - 03 - 23. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Convention drawn up on the basis of Article K. 3 of the Treaty on European Union on Driving Disqualifications ''. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Mutual assistance in criminal matters : accession of Croatia to the 2000 Convention and 2001 Protocol thereto ''. European Parliament. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Convention, established by the Council in accordance with Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union, on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union ''. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway on the application of certain provisions of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union and the 2001 Protocol thereto ''. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Protocol drawn up on the basis of Article K. 3 of the Treaty on European Union on the interpretation, by way of preliminary rulings, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities of the Convention on the protection of the European Communities ' financial interests ''. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Protocol, established by the Council in accordance with Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union, to the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union ''. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 21. 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Bibliography P Craig and G de Búrca, EU Law : Text, Cases and Materials ( 4th edn OUP 2008 ) External links Wikisource has original text related to this article : Portal : Treaties and declarations of the European Union Constitution of the European Union Summary of EU treaties -- Europa Full texts of EU treaties -- EUR - Lex ( Europa ) European Union articles History Timeline Pre-1945 1945 -- 57 1958 -- 72 1973 -- 93 1993 -- 2004 Since 2004 Predecessors Timeline Founders European Coal and Steel Community ( 1951 -- 2002 ) European Economic Community ( 1958 -- 1993 / 2009 ) Euratom ( 1958 -- present ) European Communities ( 1967 -- 1993 / 2009 ) Justice and Home Affairs ( 1993 -- 2009 ) Geography Extreme points Geographic centre Largest municipalities Urban areas Larger urban zones Member states Regions ( first - level NUTS ) Special territories Politics Institutions European Council European Commission European Parliament Council of the European Union Court of Justice of the European Union European Central Bank European Court of Auditors Agencies Banking Border and coast security ( Frontex ) Disease prevention and control Environment Foreign affairs ( External Action Service ) Judicial cooperation ( Eurojust ) Law enforcement cooperation ( Europol ) Maritime safety Reconstruction Law Acquis Charter of Fundamental Rights Competition law Copyright law Directive Citizens ' Rights Directive Enhanced cooperation Environmental policy Four freedoms labour mobility Government procurement Journal Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification Legislative procedure Citizens ' Initiative Regulation Rural Development Policy Schengen Area Treaties opt - 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9 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Treaties_of_the_European_Union&oldid=823176192 '' Categories : Treaties and declarations of the European Union Lists of treaties 1992 in the European Economic Community 1993 in the European Union Hidden categories : Subscription required using via Pages containing links to subscription - only content Use dmy dates from January 2013 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Català Čeština Dansk Español Français 한국어 Italiano Magyar Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 30 January 2018, at 18 : 27. 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Question: basis of european union began with the signing of
Answer: the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union