ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - After the 15 EU member states completed ratification procedures on March 30, the Amsterdam Treaty will enter into force as of May 1, 1999, the Office of the European Commission's Special Envoy to Croatia said
in a statement issued in Zagreb on Friday. The Amsterdam Treaty makes substantial changes to the Maastricht Treaty on European Union signed on 7 February, 1992, regarding four key chapters: citizenship and fundamental rights, the establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and the reform of the institutions. The new Treaty opens the way for dialogue between the EU and its citizens by safeguarding fundamental rights (for the first time Member States failing to respect such rights may face penalties), tackling discrimination of all kinds, providing for equal opportunities for men and women, focusing on soci
ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - After the 15 EU member states completed
ratification procedures on March 30, the Amsterdam Treaty will
enter into force as of May 1, 1999, the Office of the European
Commission's Special Envoy to Croatia said in a statement issued in
Zagreb on Friday.
The Amsterdam Treaty makes substantial changes to the Maastricht
Treaty on European Union signed on 7 February, 1992, regarding four
key chapters: citizenship and fundamental rights, the
establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, the
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and the reform of the
institutions.
The new Treaty opens the way for dialogue between the EU and its
citizens by safeguarding fundamental rights (for the first time
Member States failing to respect such rights may face penalties),
tackling discrimination of all kinds, providing for equal
opportunities for men and women, focusing on social issues,
property rights, religious freedoms, freedom of the press etc.
According to the EC statement, the Treaty deals with the most
pressing concerns of ordinary Europeans, such as citizenship,
immigration and their legal and personal security. The EU will be
able to legislate on immigration, civil law or civil procedure, and
the freedom of movement within the EU.
The Treaty also lays down new principles and responsibilities in
the field of CFSP, with the emphasis on projecting the EU's values
and interests to the outside world.
As for the institutions, there are two major reforms which will make
the European Parliament and the president of the European
Commission more politically accountable, the statement said.
(hina) rml