EUROPA

Summaries of EU legislation

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The Amsterdam treaty: a comprehensive guide

The factsheets here summarise the main changes brought about by the Treaty of Amsterdam. We have tried to present them as straightforwardly as possible.

Please note, however, that the factsheets are intended solely for your information. The European Commission accepts no legal responsibility. The factsheets make no claim to be exhaustive and cannot be regarded as an official interpretation of the Treaty text.

• Freedom, security and justice
  • Fundamental rights and non-discrimination.
  • The gradual establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice
• The Union and the citizen
  • Citizenship of the European Union
  • Employment
  • Social policy
  • Environment
  • Public health
  • Consumer protection
  • Transparency, simplification of the Treaties and quality of Community legislation
• Effective and coherent external policy
  • Common Foreign and Security Policy
  • Common commercial policy
• Institutional questions
  • The European Parliament
  • The Council of the European Union
  • European Commission
  • The Court of Justice
  • The Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
  • National parliaments
  • Subsidiarity
  • Closer cooperation
  • Decision-making procedures