European Monetary Union: the history of development (part 4)
Contrary to initial expectations, the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty and the plans for monetary union as soon suffered a serious test for durability. First, in 1992-1993. European Monetary System has experienced a severe crisis, resulting in national currencies of Spain, Portugal and Ireland have been greatly devalued, and the United Kingdom and Italy in general, resigned from the EMU. To rescue the EMU in August 1993, it has been decided to increase the allowable limits currency fluctuations to plus or minus 15%. The impact of the crisis been overcome only by the end of 90's. (now the European Monetary System includes all EU countries except Britain and Sweden). Secondly, quite unexpectedly for Brussels and national governments have a problem with the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty. In the 1992-1994 biennium. the public a number of countries opposed the creation of the European Union: the United Kingdom refused to participate in the EMU, in Denmark, after two referendums, the Maastricht Treaty was not ratified as part of a monetary union, the French supporters of the treaty was overweight minimal, Norway, after the referendum in general, refused to join the EU. Complications of ratification of the Maastricht Treaty has led to an agreement on a new full meeting of the Heads of State and Government in five years to review and amend the original contract. Nevertheless, in January 1994 in accordance with the Maastricht Treaty of Frankfurt was set up the European Monetary Institute, which was subsequently transformed into the European Central Bank. Important events to create a monetary union took place in 1995: in January, the EU includes Austria, Sweden and Finland, in December at a meeting of the European Council in Madrid program was the introduction of the euro, which was developed and specified in the meeting of the Board in Dublin in December 1996. In accordance with the agreements between EU countries, the process of moving towards monetary union EU split into three stages: Preparation - until January 1, 1996, during which member countries lifted restrictions on the movement of mutual payments and capital and began to stabilize its public finances under the criteria set by the EU as a "check" for membership of monetary union.
Continued