• The Maastricht Treaty laid the foundation for the European Union.
  • The treaty was signed by 12 countries in the Dutch city of Maastricht in 1992 and entered into force in 1993.
  • The agreement has established closer cooperation between member states through economic, social and legal channels.
  • The Maastricht Treaty established the common currency system of the European Union for the euro.
  • The treaty was amended several times between 1997 and 2009.