The Treaty of the European Union, Maastricht Treaty, 7th February, 1992

"The Treaty of the European Union, Maastricht Treaty, 7th February, 1992" is a foundational legal document establishing the framework of the European Union, created during the late 20th century. The treaty addresses matters related to European integration, including economic, political, and social cooperation among European nations, emphasizing principles such as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. The opening of the treaty outlines its historical context, emphasizing the importance of unification among European nations following the end of political divisions on the continent. It details the signatories’ commitments to creating a more integrated community through various provisions aimed at promoting economic stability, social progress, and a common foreign policy. The text introduces the establishment of the Union, elaborating on its objectives, such as ensuring the free movement of people and establishing a citizenship common to the nationals of member states, indicating the treaty's intent to strengthen cooperation across Europe. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The Union has a total area of 4,233,255 km2 (1,634,469 sq mi) and an estimated total population of over 449 million. The EU has often been described as a sui generis political entity combining the characteristics of both a federation and a confederation.