it is quite clear in the Maastrict treaty that the EU was a newly established entity that absorbed the obligations and responsibilities of the former entities

it is quite clear in the Maastrict treaty that the EU was a newly established entity that absorbed the obligations and responsibilities of the former entities (in the same way the United States absorbed the obligations and responsibilities of Great Britain in the 13 colonies) (regardless, I got my dates wrong, I was thinking of Nice...)