ABSTRACT
From the Treaty of Rome in 1957 to the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 the European Union (EU) has, in little more than thirty years, laid the foundations of its sovereignty. What was at first a diplomatic negotiation between independent states has now taken the form of a particular type of government with its own legitimacy, recognized jurisdiction, and au tonomous policymaking capacity. However, this construction has been carried out under the watchful eye of the member states who formally decide upon every transfer of power and continue to monitor the growth of European sovereignty, even though it is developing at their expense.
