Reforms to CFSP and JHA in Amsterdam treaty

Abstract

March 1996 saw the beginning of the debates which were to bring along the much needed reforms to the structure of the European Union. 15 months later, the IGC came to an end under the Dutch Presidency with the draft Amsterdam Treaty being adopted. In outline, simplification of the Treaty, bringing the EU closer to its citizens and introducing the concept of flexibility into many matters were the predominant points considered throughout the IGC. In view of the imminent enlargement towards the East, much importance was given to modernizing the second and third "pillars" which have been seen as one of the Union's largest handicaps. Set up by the Maastricht Treaty, these "pillars", namely the Common Foreign and Security Policy and that of Justice and Home Affairs, are meant to give the EU an all-round entity and not only one of an economic power. However, the fact that these two areas are run on an inter-governmental basis has meant that little progress has been made in developing them effectively. The rule of unanimity which exists in most of these two areas has also considerably hampered their evolution. Rather than lose their sovereignty on such delicate matters, the Member States have preferred to tackle the problems of the 21st_ century with archaic tools. It is impossible to confront international problems such as drug trafficking solely from a national scale, and one of the IGC's goals was to change this situation. The Amsterdam Draft Treaty seems to produce some considerable changes to these two "pillars", especially in that of Justice and Home Affairs. The field of Common Foreign and Security Policy did not undergo deep mutations yet here too there was appreciable progress. It is hoped that these changes have set the ball rolling in the right direction.