On 9 and 10 December 1991, the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve meet as the European Council in Maastricht in order to seek agreement on the Treaty on European Union.

Group photo of the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve meeting on 9 and 10 December 1991 as the European Council in Maastricht primarily with a view to reaching an agreement on the Treaty on European Union.

‘Maastricht open-air swimming pool: “Follow me! Let us know if there’s any water in the pool!”’ On 9 December 1991, on the eve of the Maastricht European Council, German cartoonist Horst Haitzinger takes an ironic look at the commitment (‘Follow me!’) of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and to the Treaty on European Union. French President François Mitterrand, second in line, seems more reluctant to take the plunge (‘Let us know if there’s any water in the pool!’), while British Prime Minister John Major seems to be about to climb down from the diving board.

On 10 December 1991, following the Maastricht European Council, Ruud Lubbers, Netherlands Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, holds a press conference during which he assures his colleagues that the European single currency will become a tangible reality before the end of the 20th century.

On 12 December 1991, commenting in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro on the outcome of the Maastricht European Council held on 9 and 10 December, Thierry de Montbrial, Director of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), emphasises the need to implement quickly the decisions adopted by the Twelve, in particular in the areas of monetary policy and defence.

On 12 December 1991, reporting on the outcome of the Maastricht European Council of 9 and 10 December, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlights the failure of the proposals for political union put forward by the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, and emphasises the key role played by France to end the deadlock between the Twelve.

‘The Euro-bicycle: no sooner sat on it than the cyclist notices that he is riding uphill …’ On 14 December 1991, the German cartoonist, Ernst Maria Lang, takes an ironic look at the efforts made by the German Government to establish Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In their enthusiasm, the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl (left), Theo Waigel, German Finance Minister (centre), and Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Minister for Foreign Affairs (right), seem not to have realised that the rear wheel (social policy and security) is too small compared with the front wheel of monetary union.

‘Major! Is it too much trouble to ask you smile?’ In December 1991, the French cartoonist, Plantu, illustrates the intransigence of the United Kingdom at the Maastricht European Council held on 9 and 10 December, with particular regard to monetary and social policy.