The end of the European division and the Treaty on European Union (1986-1992)

Abstract

The historical period analysed in this lesson runs from 1986 to 1992. It was an important turning point in the history of the European integration process for two reasons: the fall of the "Berlin Wall" and the approval of the Treaty of Maastricht. With specific regard to Spain, it should be stressed that Spanish State began to join the European Communities together with Portugal on 1 January 1986. A very significant historical event took place in 1989: the fall of the "Berlin Wall" and, consequently, the fall of the "Iron Curtain" which had divided the European continent into two zones until then. This event led to the reunification of Germany and the division of Czechoslovakia and also to the enlargement of the European Union. That EU enlargement aimed to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which had hitherto been under the control of the former Soviet Union. The adoption in 1992 of the Treaty on European Union - also known as the Treaty of Maastricht (or Maastricht, the Dutch city in which it was signed) - had a significant political nature. The neo-functionalist theses support that political union could only be achieved on the previous basis of a solid economic union. This Treaty forced some constitutional arrangements of the Member States due to the importance of the changes and transformations taking place in the European integration process.