The EU combines three distinct forms of co-operation between states, known as "pillars", reflecting the different degrees of willingness to pool sovereignty on specific types of issues. These correspond to two types of decision-making: "Community" (see panel) and the sort used in traditional international organisations like the UN, "intergovernmental", in which each member state has a veto. Inevitably, however, as the Union grows there has been a fear that voting by unanimity will lead to decision-making gridlock, and Amsterdam was an attempt to reduce veto-voting ahead of enlargement.
The First Pillar is based very largely on the "Community method" of QMV and Commission initiatives, and covers decisions relating to issues like the single market, social policy, the environment, competition, trade . . .
The Second Pillar , substantially developed by the Maastricht Treaty, exclusively concerns foreign and security policy. Until now it has functioned entirely on a unanimity basis and is very much run by the member states through the Presidency system. Amsterdam introduces some very limited forms of majority voting and new powers.
The Third Pillar , Justice and Home Affairs, touches on the most sensitive areas of national sovereignty, internal order, the courts, and the police. It is also run on an intergovernmental basis althopugh Amsterdam transfers some of its competences - policy on visas, immigration, and asylum - to the First Pillar.