
The Maastricht Treaty: The Birth of the European Union and a New Era of European Integration
On February 7, 1992, the Maastricht Treaty was signed in Maastricht, Netherlands, marking a landmark moment in European history. This pivotal treaty officially came into effect on November 1, 1993, setting into motion a series of transformative changes. It laid the foundation for the European Union (EU) and significantly advanced the process of European integration by uniting various nations under a common framework for political, economic, and social cooperation.