Fifteen years ago this month a milestone treaty was signed in the Dutch city of Maastricht that sowed the seeds of what has become a major part of everyday life for 316m people across the EU: a common currency, the euro. The treaty defined the three stages of EMU which eventually led to the single currency, and put forth the convergence criteria that member states have to pass. Maastricht is also known as the Treaty of the European Union and with it the EU came into existence for the first time.

For the full text fo the treaty please click here.