The Spinelli Agreement is a term that refers to the agreement reached by the European Parliament in 1984 on the institutional reform of the European Union (EU). The agreement was named after its drafter, Altiero Spinelli, an Italian politician and one of the founding fathers of the EU.
The Spinelli Agreement was significant in that it proposed a federalist approach to the EU`s institutional reform. The agreement argued that the EU needed to have a more democratic and efficient decision-making process, which could only be achieved through the adoption of a federalist system.
The agreement proposed the creation of a European federation, with a directly elected European Parliament and a government accountable to it. It also called for the establishment of a European citizenship, with equal rights and obligations for all EU citizens.
The Spinelli Agreement was a response to the challenges facing the EU at the time, including a lack of transparency, accountability, and democratic legitimacy. The agreement sought to address these issues by proposing a more cohesive and unified Europe, with a common vision and shared values.
Importantly, the Spinelli Agreement also paved the way for the drafting of the Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union in its current form. The Maastricht Treaty incorporated many of the proposals set out in the Spinelli Agreement, including the creation of a common currency (the euro) and the establishment of the European Union as a political entity.
In conclusion, the Spinelli Agreement was a crucial moment in the history of the European Union, marking a significant step towards a more unified and democratic Europe. Its legacy can still be felt today, with the EU continuing to evolve and adapt to the changing political and economic landscape of the 21st century.