Definition of Community 'bridge' (title vi of the eu treaty)

Community 'bridge' (Title VI of the EU Treaty)
The Treaty of Maastricht introduced the possibility of bringing some areas covered by Title VI of the EU Treaty under the Community framework (qualified majority voting, as provided for in the former Article 100c). This procedure, known as the "bridge", required unanimity in the Council and ratification by each Member State in accordance with its national constitutional requirements.

With the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, any areas falling under the new Article 29 in Title VI may be transferred to the new Title IV of the EC Treaty. As in the past, any decision to bring such matters within the Community framework will have to be taken by the Council unanimously and ratified by each Member State.

See:

•Area of freedom, security and justice
•Communitisation
•Justice and home affairs (JHA)