Editing Romano Prodi (section)

===Amsterdam Treaty===
It was during Prodi's presidency, in 2002, that 11 EU member states ditched their national currencies and adopted the euro as their common currency. This commission (the 10th) saw an increase in power and influence following the [[Amsterdam Treaty]].

The treaty was the result of long negotiations which began in [[Messina, Sicily]], on 2 June 1995, nearly forty years after the signing of the [[Treaty of Rome]], and reached completion in [[Amsterdam]] on 18 June 1997. Following the formal signing of the Treaty on 2 October 1997, the member states engaged in an equally long and complex ratification process. The European Parliament endorsed the treaty on 19 November 1997, and after two referendums and 13 decisions by parliaments, the member states finally concluded the procedure. Under this treaty the member states agreed to devolve certain powers from national governments to the [[European Parliament]] across diverse areas, including legislating on immigration, adopting civil and criminal laws, and enacting [[Common Foreign and Security Policy|foreign and security policy]] (CFSP), as well as implementing institutional changes for expansion as new member nations join the EU.

Due to this increased power of the Commission President, some media described President Prodi as being the first "Prime Minister of the European Union".<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/04/16/eu.2.t_0.php Prodi to Have Wide, New Powers as Head of the European Commission] iht.com 16 April 1999</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010406003725/http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_39/b3648256.htm Commentary: Romano Prodi: Europe's First Prime Minister? (int'l edition)] Businessweek.com 1999</ref>