A Contemplative View on the First Pillar of the New European Union

[From the Introduction]. The Amsterdam Summit of the European Council on 16 and 17 June this year was awaited with great anticipation. With the prospect of enlargement in sight, the institutions and the decision-making procedures of the European Union needed to be revised whilst maintaining a careful balance between flexible integration on the one hand and social and political legitimacy on the other hand. For this reason, the Member States submerged themselves in a long bargaining process, which has resulted in a text larded with political compromises.... Below, you will find a first analysis of parts of the draft Treaty by three EIPA Faculty members who also presented their views during the IGC-afternoon. Due to the publication date of this EIPASCOPE issue, their comments naturally concern the draft in circulation prior to the date of signing due to take place in Amsterdam in October 1997