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Exactly 30 years ago, on September 20, 1992, the French voted 51% in favor of the Maastricht Treaty. The referendum had been the occasion for lively debate around a text which was to accelerate European construction and lead to a single currency.
On September 20, 1992, it was not only the fate of the Maastricht Treaty who was deciding, but above all the future of France. Was it going to adopt the euro, and common budgetary rules with its European partners? François Mitterrand, president at the time, was also playing the last part of his mandate. Eventually, the French agreed to 51% the text.
Signed by twelve countries in Maastricht (Netherlands)on February 7, 1992, the 163-page treaty established the European political and monetary union. From that date, the very name of Maastricht became synonymous with the debate, or rather the battle over the future of Europe. Before the vote of the French, a debate on the question had opposed François Mitterrand to Philippe Séguin. François Mitterrand, then very ill, had been treated on the spot during the broadcast. Philippe Séguin knew it, and had held back his blows. 17 days later, the “yes”“had won on the wire.