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By: HISTORY.com Editors

1993

European Union officially established

HISTORY.com Editors

Published: February 09, 2010Last Updated: May 27, 2025

The Maastricht Treaty comes into effect on November 1, 1993, formally establishing the European Union (EU). The treaty was drafted in 1991 by delegates from the European Community meeting at Maastricht in the Netherlands and signed in 1992. The agreement called for a strengthened European parliament, the creation of a central European bank, and common foreign and security policies. The treaty also laid the groundwork for the establishment of a single European currency, to be known as the “euro.”

By 1993, 12 nations had ratified the Maastricht Treaty on European Union: Great Britain, France, Germany, the Irish Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Austria, Finland, and Sweden became members of the EU in 1995. After suffering through centuries of bloody conflict, the nations of Western Europe were finally united in the spirit of economic cooperation.

In 2016, in what became known as "Brexit," the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.

How Did Brexit Happen?

In 2016, England voted to leave the European Union. The news shocked the world, but the split was actually a long time coming. Here's why.

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Citation Information

Article Title: European Union officially established
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-1/european-union-goes-into-effect

Date Accessed: October 21, 2026
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: February 09, 2010