Treaty of Amsterdam 

Group photo.
Signing of the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty 2 October 1997
 

An Intergovernmental Conference was launched in Turin, Italy, in March 1996 to revise the Treaty on European Union. The subsequent Treaty of Amsterdam amending the EU Treaty, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, was signed in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, José María Gil-Robles.

Major changes for the European Parliament

With its entry into force in May 1999, the co-decision procedure was simplified and broadened in scope. Parliament now had the right to approve the Commission President.

  • Signed in: Amsterdam (the Netherlands) 2 October 1997
  • Entry into force: 1 May 1999