Maastricht from A to Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: The Danes have said yes. So what does the new Europe mean to you? Andrew Marshall in Brussels explains

SOME TIME in the next few months, you will wake up a citizen of Europe; not just in theory, but in practice. The Maastricht treaty, once it is ratified by all 12 states, creates a new idea: citizenship of the European Union.

This is unlikely to make a great difference to your life. As even the treaty's most ardent supporters admit, it is a Herculean task to find sections that will have real impact for the man on the Clapham omnibus, or the woman on the Brussels tram. The Single European Act, and the legislation that followed, removed most of the barriers to free movement of goods, people, money and services. Maastricht is much more to do with institutions, and much less to do with real life.

The debate in Britain has centred mainly on parliamentary sovereignty, and on legal questions. That is partly because Britain has opt-outs from the two areas that will make most difference: social policy and the single currency.

But the treaty will make a difference in three main fields. First, there is European citizenship, a rather hazy idea as yet. Then comes a raft of new policy areas. And, last, there are various changes in the ways the institution works. Here is a summary:

A is for Aims: the objectives of the Maastricht treaty include economic and social progress and protection of the rights and interests of citizens.

B is for Banks and Business: at least a quarter of the treaty is taken up with the details of the single currency and rules for the new European Central Bank. Fascinating stuff for financiers, but not much to do with daily life.

C is for Consumers: the treaty says the EC will protect consumers' health, safety and economic interest, but consumer bodies are scathing about the EC's attitude.

D is for Diplomats: EC citizens receive consular protection outside Europe from diplomats of any EC state. So if your cycling holiday in Rwanda goes wrong, the Belgians will look after you.

E is for Education: a new area of policy for the EC, even though it has for some time promoted university exchanges through the Erasmus programme. More than 100,000 students will be eligible this year alone, a fifth of them from Britain. Exchange programmes, the recognition of teaching qualifications and an increased European dimension in education are planned.

F is for Freedom of Movement: as a European citizen, you will have the right to move and reside freely within the EC, subject to restrictions on public order and local laws on social security. The Single Act, in theory, removed border controls, but the EC has hit a number of snags, and you'll still need your passport.

G is for Growth: one of the top EC priorities, but Maastricht does not have any magic answers to the recession in Europe - though it may help EC states to co-ordinate their policies better.

H is for Health: another new policy area introduced by Maastricht, but again the treaty does not do much. Action will be targeted at disease prevention, research, education and information.

I is for Immigration: a common policy on immigration, asylum, and external borders is a cause of great concern to representatives of immigrants and asylum seekers, since the EC seems to be taking a very tough stance, and does most of its work in secret. European citizenship does not apply to those who are legally resident, but not citizens of, a member state.

J is for Justice: the EC's court in Luxembourg receives new powers, including the right to fine countries that do not fulfil their obligations. According to a recent court case, individuals can also sue member governments that fail to implement directives properly.

K is for Knowledge: EC citizens know very little about the Maastricht treaty. In most surveys, less than half have even heard of it.

L is for Labour Relations: the treaty provides for new rules on social policy, in which unions and management will play an important role. Britain has opted out and is excluded from most of this.

M is for Money: of which there will be lots sloshing about over the next few years in the form of grants and loans for regional and social development. If you live in Northern Ireland, Merseyside or the Highlands and Islands, there will be quite a bit more EC cash.

N is for Networks: EC jargon for railways, pipelines, telephone lines, electricity transmission grids and all those mechanisms that promote coherence of the Community. Large amounts of cash are allocated for this, though green groups complain that more attention should be paid to the effect on the environment.

O is for Ombudsman: to whom, as a citizen, you can complain if you have a problem with EC maladministration. You can also petition the European Parliament.

P is for Police: Europol is one of the concrete expressions of co-operation over home affairs. This will introduce a new meaning to the term 'community policing'.

Q is for Questions: the treaty says citizens have duties, as well as rights. What are they? It doesn't really explain either in any detail.

R is for Regions: which obtain a bigger say in the way that some Community policies are run, through the new Committee of the Regions.

S is for the Single Currency: one day you will be able to travel around Europe with just one set of coins in your pocket. It may happen in 1997, but 1999 is more likely. Britain has an opt-out from a single currency, and may not be included.

T is for Trains: they will not run on time just because of Maastricht, but part of the new transport policy is to ensure that lines, voltages and so on are standardised, making train travel across the continent easier.

U is for Unemployment: currently the main problem for most EC governments. The Social Protocol has the promotion of employment as its prime objective. Britain is excluded. In any case, it is hard to see what the Community can do to create new jobs at a time of recession.

V is for Vote: Maastricht gives you the right to vote and stand as a candidate in local and European Parliament elections, wherever you live. So, for instance, Peter Mayle could represent his neighbours from Provence. It also gives more power to the European Parliament, to which elections will be held next year.

W is for War: there will be new policies in the field of defence, and new organisations, but no Euro-army. Britain, and any member state, can still block military activities, so you won't suddenly be drafted to fight for Jacques Delors in Bosnia.

X is for Xenophobia: there was a declaration on xenophobia and racism at Maastricht, but precious little has been done about it, beyond sending out a questionnaire.

Y is for Youth: one of the new policy areas added at Maastricht - another attempt to get in touch with the citizen. But the EC has a miserable record on its youth initiatives, and only last week it was lambasted by the Youth Forum for failing to advertise the closing date set for its Youth Action programme.

Z is for ZZZZZZ: 'Citizen's Europe' has long been one of the areas where the EC knew it was failing. Despite the new category of citizenship, Maastricht is another defeat. It contains little in the way of new initiatives with any content; and the treaty itself is horrendously dull.

THE HURDLES

Britain: the Maastricht Bill was passed by the House of Commons last Thursday. It now goes to the House of Lords, and will face opposition from peers such as Lady Thatcher. But the Government expects full ratification by August, when the Queen would sign the Bill. Maastricht could then face a legal challenge from Eurosceptics.

Denmark: there may be a legal challenge, from the defeated no campaign, after last week's referendum.

Germany: both houses of parliament have passed the Bill, but President Weizsacker has yet to sign it. He is awaiting the outcome of complaints to the Constitutional Court. A ruling may not come before August.

The treaty is ratified when all 12 governments deposit the instruments of ratification with the Italian government. It comes into force on the first day of the next month.

Opinions, page 22

(Photograph omitted)