Hard-won ratification
Hard-won ratification
Ratification of the Maastricht Treaty
Communiqué de presse du Mouvement européen (Bruxelles, 7 février 1992)
TextLe 7 février 1992, le Mouvement européen international appelle l'ensemble des douze parlements nationaux à ratifier le traité de Maastricht et invite le Parlement européen à oeuvrer pour la mise en place d'une véritable Union européenne.
'Twelve Stingy Ladies' from Crocodile (February 1992)
TextIn its February–March 1992 edition, the monthly journal Crocodile publishes a letter to Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, calling on him to mobilise public opinion so that the Treaty of Maastricht may be regarded as a solemn commitment to union.
Statement by Jacques Santer on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty (Luxembourg, 22 April 1992)
TextOn 22 April 1992, Jacques Santer, Luxembourg Prime Minister and Minister of State, calls on the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.
"Maastricht, le glas du Luxembourg ?" dans d'Letzeburger Land (24 avril 1992)
TextLe 24 avril 1992, Guy de Muyser, diplomate luxembourgeois, publie un article dans l'hebdomadaire d'Letzeburger Land, dans lequel il s'interroge sur les répercussions du traité de Maastricht pour le Luxembourg.
'Ratifying Maastricht' from El País (18 May 1992)
TextOn 18 May 1992, the Spanish daily newspaper El País summarises the European situation of the Twelve after the signature of the Treaty on European Union on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht.
‘Danish “no” and referendum in France’ from L’Europe en formation
TextIn spring 1992, the federalist journal L’Europe en formation analyses the situation in Europe after the refusal by the Danish people to ratify the Treaty on European Union and speculates on whether this Danish ‘no’ vote will have an impact on the referendum in France.
Intervention de Jacques Santer sur la ratification du traité de Maastricht (Luxembourg, 1er juillet 1992)
TextLe 1er juillet 1992, le Premier ministre luxembourgeois, Jacques Santer prend la parole à la Chambre des Députés pour rappeler les enjeux de la ratification par le Luxembourg du traité de Maastricht.
Speech given by Jacques F. Poos to the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg, 2 July 1992)
TextOn 2 July 1992, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopts the Maastricht Treaty. In his speech, Jacques Poos, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, emphasises the importance of the decisions taken by the Twelve in Maastricht and their implications for Luxembourg.
Denmark
Referendum on the Maastricht Treaty in Denmark (2 June 1992)
ImageOn 2 June 1992, the Danes reject the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum, with 50.7 % of the record turnout of 83 % voting against the Treaty.
Referendum on the Maastricht Treaty in Denmark (2 June 1992)
ImageOn 2 June 1992, the Danes reject the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum; 50.7 % vote against it, despite the large-scale campaign led by the principal political parties, the trade unions and the major newspapers for a ‘yes’ vote.
Déclaration de la Commission européenne (Bruxelles, 3 juin 1992)
TextLe 3 juin 1992, Jacques Delors, président de la Commission européenne, commente les résultats du référendum au Danemark, qui s'est conclu par le refus du peuple danois de ratifier le traité de Maastricht.
'Denmark rejects the Maastricht Treaty and disrupts the process of European unity' from El País (3 June 1992)
TextOn 3 June 1992, the Spanish daily newspaper El País speculates as to why the Danes refused to ratify the Treaty of Maastricht.
‘Danish defection’ from the Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant-Handelsblad (3 June 1992)
TextOn 3 June 1992, the Netherlands daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant-Handelsblad analyses the reasons for Denmark’s refusal to ratify the Treaty on European Union.
Cartoon by Steve Bell on the Danish referendum for the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty (4 June 1992)
ImageOn 4 June 1992, British cartoonist Steve Bell illustrates how the Danish people’s refusal to ratify the Maastricht Treaty threatens to throw a spanner in the highly complex European machinery.
'Earthquake rocks the Euro-bridge' from The Guardian (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, commenting on the Danish people’s refusal to ratify the Maastricht Treaty, the British left-wing daily newspaper The Guardian speculates on the future of the European integration process.
Conclusions de la réunion extraordinaire des ministres des Affaires étrangères des Douze (Oslo, 4 juin 1992)
TextLe 4 juin 1992, les ministres des Affaires étrangères des Douze, réunis à Oslo, regrettent la décison du Danemark de ne pas ratifier le traité de Maastricht et excluent toute renégociation du traité européen.
Interview accordée par Roland Dumas à Europe 1 (4 juin 1992)
TextLe 4 juin 1992, répondant aux questions des journalistes de radio, le ministre français des Affaires étrangères, Roland Dumas commente le refus danois de ratifier le traité de Maastricht et s'explique sur la poursuite du processus d'intégration européenne.
Joint press conference held by Roland Dumas and Élisabeth Guigou (Oslo, 4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Twelve in Oslo, Roland Dumas, French Foreign Minister, and Élisabeth Guigou, French Minister for European Affairs, describe the state of the European integration process after Denmark’s refusal to ratify the Treaty of Maastricht.
Appeal from the Federalist magazine Crocodile (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, the Federalist magazine Crocodile strongly criticises the decision taken by the Danish people not to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.
'Mistakes and misgivings' from Le Monde (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, the French newspaper Le Monde comments on the Danish ‘no' vote recorded at the popular referendum on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty. The article outlines relations between Denmark and the Europe of the Twelve by detailing the blunders that occurred during the Danish information campaign on the Maastricht Treaty.
"Good bye, Danemark ? (1)" dans Europe (4 juin 1992)
TextDans son éditorial du 4 juin 1992, Emanuele Gazzo, rédacteur en chef de l'Agence Europe, commente les différents scénarios possibles après le refus du peuple danois de ratifier le traité de Maastricht.
"Good bye, Danemark ? (2)" dans Europe (5 juin 1992)
TextDans son éditorial du 5 juin 1992, Emanuele Gazzo, rédacteur en chef de l'Agence Europe, évoque les raisons du refus exprimé par les Danois de voir leur pays ratifier le traité de Maastricht.
‘Thank you, Denmark’ from Libération (4 June 1992)
TextFor Serge July, director of the French daily newspaper Libération, the Danish refusal to ratify the Treaty of Maastricht reopens the debates on European political integration.
Denmark
'A multi-speed Europe' from Le Monde (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, following the Danish refusal to ratify the Maastricht Treaty, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the impact that this decision will have on future enlargement of the European Communities.
‘Copenhagen: no to a certain type of Europe’ from Le Figaro (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro comments on the refusal by the Danish people to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.
‘Europe misunderstood' from Le Soir (4 June 1992)
TextOn 4 June 1992, in a report on the Danish rejection of the Treaty of Maastricht in a referendum, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir speculates as to why the Danes said ‘No’ and advocates further attempts to achieve European integration.
Déclaration de Lydie Würth-Polfer (Luxembourg, 5 juin 1992)
TextLe 5 juin 1992, après le refus des Danois de ratifier le traité de Maastricht, Lydie Würth-Polfer, député au Parlement européen et bourgmestre de la ville de Luxembourg, appelle à la poursuite du processus d'unification européenne.
‘The EC countries hold firmly to the Maastricht Treaty’ from De Volkskrant (5 June 1992)
TextOn 5 June 1992, the Netherlands daily newspaper De Volkskrant analyses the various reactions to the Danish refusal to ratify the Maastricht Treaty and considers the possible ways in which the crisis might be resolved.
'Little motivation to press ahead' from the Corriere della Sera (5 June 1992)
TextOn 5 June 1992, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera leads with the efforts of the Member States of the European Communities to find a political solution following Denmark’s refusal to ratify the Treaty on European Union.
Intervention de Roland Dumas au Sénat (9 juin 1992)
TextLe 9 juin 1992, après le refus danois de ratifier le traité de Maastricht, Roland Dumas, ministre français des Affaires étrangères, prononce un discours au Sénat, dans lequel il réaffirme la volonté de la France de poursuivre la révision contitutionnelle et de s'engager dans la voie du référendum.
‘The Eleven haunted by the threat of failure' from L'Express (11 June 1992)
TextOn 11 June 1992, the French weekly magazine L’Express considers the concern felt by the Member States of the European Communities following Denmark’s refusal to ratify the Maastricht Treaty whilst emphasising their determination to continue their efforts towards achieving Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
'All or nothing' from Die Zeit (12 June 1992)
TextOn 12 June 1992, ten days after the referendum in Denmark on the Maastricht Treaty, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit speculates on the Treaty’s validity, considering Denmark’s refusal to ratify.
"Ce référendum qui a lézardé le vernis communautaire" dans Le Monde diplomatique (Juillet 1992)
TextEn juillet 1992, le mensuel Le Monde diplomatique s'interroge sur les causes et sur les conséquences du résultat négatif à l'issue du référendum populaire sur le traité de Maastricht organisé le 2 juin 1992 au Danemark.
Statements at the European Council on Denmark (Edinburgh, 11 and 12 December 1992)
TextFollowing the Edinburgh European Council held on 11 and 12 December 1992, the Heads of State and Government of the Twelve adopt a number of decisions relating to the problems raised by Denmark regarding the Treaty on European Union.
Group photo of the Edinburgh European Council (Edinburgh, 11 and 12 December 1992)
ImageThe Edinburgh European Council, meeting on 11 and 12 December 1992, grants Denmark a special status in the European Union whereby that country does not have to participate in European monetary and defence policies.
Conférence de presse de François Mitterrand à l'issue du Conseil européen d'Edimbourg (12 décembre 1992)
TextLe 12 décembre 1992, lors d'une conférence de presse à l'issue du Conseil européen d'Edimbourg, le président français François Mitterrand réaffirme la poursuite de la construction européenne sur la base du traité de Maastricht.
‘Last chance for Maastricht' from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (14 December 1992)
TextOn 14 December 1992, commenting on the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council, the German daily newspaper the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describes the efforts undertaken by the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the French President François Mitterrand to avoid a breakdown in the Maastricht Treaty.
France
‘Will France ratify the Maastricht agreements?’ in L’Europe en formation
TextIn its winter 1991–1992 edition, the federalist journal L’Europe en formation analyses the political situation in France and wonders whether there might be doubts surrounding France’s ratification of the Treaty on European Union.
Cartoon by Hanel on the ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht (September 1992)
ImageIn September 1992, commenting on the referendum held in France on the ratification of the Treaty on European Union, German cartoonist Walter Hanel portrays the risks posed to Europe of the Twelve in the event of a victory for the ‘no’ vote. In the background, the main European leaders are looking haggard and concerned at the future of Europe. From left to right: French President François Mitterrand, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, European Commission President Jacques Delors and British Prime Minister John Major.
Cartoon by Pinatel on France’s fears regarding the Treaty of Maastricht (1992)
Image‘Red Riding Hood’. In 1992, as debates are held on the ratification of the Treaty on European Union, French cartoonist Pinatel uses the tale of Little Red Riding Hood to illustrate the fears of the French people regarding the future European treaty, here symbolised by the ‘Maastricht’ wolf.
Television interview with François Mitterrand (12 April 1992)
TextOn 12 April 1992, in response to questions from radio and television journalists, the French President, François Mitterrand, highlights the implications of the ratification of the Maastricht Agreements and explains the constitutional procedure that must accompany this ratification in France.
Intervention de Ernest Cartigny (Paris, 15 avril 1992)
TextLe 15 avril 1992, Ernest Cartigny, membre du Groupe du Rassemblement démocratique et européen, prend la parole au Sénat français sur la question de la ratification du traité de Maastricht.
"La France et la ratification de Maastricht" dans Europe (17 avril 1992)
TextLe 17 avril 1992, dans son éditorial, Emanuele Gazzo, rédacteur en chef de l'Agence Europe, confirme l'engagement total du président français François Mitterrand dans la construction de l'Europe unie et la ratification du traité de Maastricht.
Discours de Pierre Bérégovoy (Paris, 5 mai 1992)
TextLe 5 mai 1992, Pierre Bérégovoy, Premier ministre français, rappelle à la tribune de l'Assemblée nationale, les enjeux de la ratification du traité de Maastricht.
Discours de Philippe Séguin (Paris, 5 mai 1992)
TextLe 5 mai 1992, Philippe Séguin, qui fait campagne pour le "non" au référendum sur le traité de Maastricht prononce un discours à l'Assemblée nationale française, dans lequel il met en garde contre les dangers d'une ratification du nouveau traité européen.
"Maastricht: le faux débat" dans Le Figaro (6 mai 1992)
TextLe 6 mai 1992, le quotidien français Le Figaro publie une tribune libre de Jacques Calvet, président de PSA Peugeot, qui dresse une analyse critique du traité de Maastricht.
France
Décision du Conseil constitutionnel français sur le Traité sur l'Union européenne (2 septembre 1992)
TextLe 2 septembre 1992, le Conseil constitutionnel français reconnaît la conformité du traité de Maastricht sur l'Union européenne par rapport à la Constitution nationale.
Campaign in support of the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty (Paris, 10 September 1992)
ImageIn September 1992, the Socialist Group of the Ile-de-France Regional Council leads a campaign in support of the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum held in France on the ratification of the Treaty on European Union.
Jean-Marie Le Pen at a rally in support of the ‘No’ vote (Paris, 15 September 1992)
ImageOn 15 September 1992, Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the French National Front (FN), holds a rally in Paris as part of the campaign led by his extreme right-wing party in support of the ‘No’ vote in the referendum held in France on the ratification of the Treaty on European Union.
Cartoon by Behrendt on the French referendum for the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty (19 September 1992)
ImageOn 19 September 1992, Fritz Behrendt, a Dutch cartoonist originally from Berlin, takes an ironic look at France’s fears and hesitations with regard to the future ‘Maastricht’ European treaty, symbolised here by a young bride with a ‘Vive l’Europe’ scarf. The bride is cautiously waiting for a reply from her suitor, who, wearing a beret and holding a shopping basket filled with baguettes and wine bearing the words ‘Vive la France’, seems unsure of what reply he should give: ‘Should we accept this union, yes or no?’ The French referendum held on 20 September 1992 finally resulted in a narrow victory for the ‘yes’ campaign, which received 51.04 % of the votes cast.
‘Beware the victory' from Le Monde (22 September 1992)
TextOn 22 September 1992, two days after France has declared itself to be in favour of ratifying the Maastricht Treaty, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the reaction of the nation's political community to the close result of the referendum.
‘A real debate of substance, far from the media screens' from Le Monde diplomatique (September 1992)
TextIn September 1992, the French monthly magazine Le Monde diplomatique criticises the information policy pursued by the French Government and media with regard to the referendum on the Treaty of Maastricht to be held on 20 September.
"Le oui à Maastricht...et après ?" dans Revue du Marché commun et de l'Union européenne (Septembre 1992)
TextEn septembre 1992, le périodique Revue du Marché commun et de l'Union européenne réfléchit sur les conséquences des résultats serrés du référendum populaire français sur la ratification du traité de Maastricht et pose la question de la relance de l'intégration européenne.
Cartoon by Hanel on the French referendum on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty (September 1992)
ImageIn September 1992, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, illustrates the narrow victory of the ‘Yes’ vote (by 51.04 %) in the referendum held the same month in France on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty.
Interview with Élisabeth Guigou (Paris, 29 September 2008) — Excerpt: the referendum in France on the Treaty on European Union
VideoIn this interview, Élisabeth Guigou, French Minister for European Affairs from 1990 to 1993, describes the campaign for the referendum held in France in 1992 on the adoption of the Treaty on European Union.
Ireland
Sinn Féin, Democracy or Dependency (1992)
TextIn 1992, Sinn Féin, Irish nationalist republican party, warns the Irish people against the disastrous effects of the Treaty on European Union and calls for them to vote against the treaty in the referendum to be held on 18 June 1992.
‘A major role in saving Europe?' from Die Zeit (12 June 1992)
TextOn 12 June 1992, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses the economic and political situation in Ireland on the day after the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty.
‘New chance for the EC’ from De Volkskrant (20 June 1992)
TextOn 20 June 1992, after the victory of the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum in Ireland, the Netherlands daily newspaper De Volkskrant reports on the repercussions of the Irish vote for the future of the Maastricht Treaty.
‘Irish agreement’ from the Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant-Handelsblad (20 June 1992)
TextOn 20 June 1992, the Netherlands daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant-Handelsblad analyses the results of the Irish referendum on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty.