Treaty of Amsterdam/Preamble

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS,

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SPAIN,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

THE COMMISSION AUTHORISED BY ARTICLE 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND TO EXERCISE AND PERFORM THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG,

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SWEDEN,

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

HAVE RESOLVED to amend the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts,

and to this end have designated as their Plenipotentiaries:

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS:

Mr. Erik DERYCKE,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK:

Mr. Niels Helveg PETERSEN,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY:

Dr. Klaus KINKEL,

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Federal Chancellor;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC:

Mr. Theodoros PANGALOS,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SPAIN:

Mr. Juan Abel MATUTES,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC:

Mr. Hubert VÉDRINE,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE COMMISSION AUTHORISED BY ARTICLE 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND TO EXERCISE AND PERFORM THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND:

Mr. Raphael P. BURKE,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC:

Mr. Lamberto DINI,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG:

Mr. Jacques F. POOS,

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cooperation;

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS:

Mr. Hans VAN MIERLO,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA:

Mr. Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL,

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC:

Mr. Jaime GAMA,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND:

Ms. Tarja HALONEN,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SWEDEN:

Ms. Lena HJELM-WALLÉN,

Minister for Foreign Affairs;

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:

Mr. Douglas HENDERSON,

Minister of State,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office;

WHO, having exchanged their full powers found in good and due form,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: