The Treaty of Lisbon, also known as the Lisbon Treaty, is a major international agreement that amends the functioning of the European Union. It was signed on December 13, 2007, and entered into force on December 1, 2009. The Treaty was a response to the need for institutional reform and to streamline decision-making within the EU to meet the challenges of an enlarging Union. It aimed to modernise and streamline the EU's institutional framework, strengthen democratic legitimacy, enhance efficiency, and enable the EU to better address global challenges.
Key Changes
European Council: The Lisbon Treaty established the position of President of the European Council, who chairs and provides continuity to the meetings of EU leaders. It also extended the scope of qualified majority voting in the European Council.
European Commission: The treaty introduced changes to the composition and functioning of the European Commission, limiting the number of commissioners to two-thirds of the number of member states from 2014 onwards. The Commission President is elected by the European Parliament in consultation with the European Council.
Voting system: The treaty modified the voting system in the Council of the European Union, which is the EU's primary legislative body. It introduced a double majority voting system based on population and the number of member states. This replaced the previous "Nice Treaty" voting system, making it more representative and efficient.
European Parliament: The Lisbon Treaty expanded the European Parliament's legislative powers, making it the co-legislator with the Council in most policy areas. It increased the Parliament's role in budgetary matters, gave it the power to elect the Commission President, and expanded its supervisory powers over the Commission.
Charter of Fundamental Rights: The treaty incorporated the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union into EU primary law, giving it legal force. The charter outlines a broad range of civil, political, economic, and social rights, strengthening the protection of fundamental rights within the EU.
Enhanced cooperation: The Lisbon Treaty streamlined the enhanced cooperation mechanism, allowing a minimum of nine member states to pursue deeper integration in specific policy areas without the participation of all member states. It facilitated greater flexibility for countries willing to integrate further.
Foreign policy and defence: The treaty established the position of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, combining the roles of the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Commissioner for External Relations. This created a more coherent and effective EU foreign policy.
Citizens' initiative: The Lisbon Treaty introduced the European Citizens' Initiative, enabling EU citizens to participate directly in the EU's legislative process by calling on the European Commission to propose legislation in specific areas if a million signatures are collected from at least seven member states.
Impact
Streamlined decision-making: The treaty aimed to improve the EU's decision-making process by extending the use of QMV, reducing veto power, and providing more efficient mechanisms for decision-making in areas such as justice and home affairs.
Enhanced democratic legitimacy: The Lisbon Treaty sought to strengthen the role of the European Parliament, making it a more influential legislative body and increasing its democratic legitimacy by involving it in the election of the Commission President.
Coherent foreign policy: The treaty aimed to enhance the EU's foreign policy capabilities by establishing a more coherent and visible external representation through the High Representative. It also introduced mechanisms for closer cooperation in defence and security matters.
Increased protection of fundamental rights: The incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU primary law provided stronger legal protection for fundamental rights within the EU.
Improved citizen participation: The introduction of the European Citizens' Initiative aimed to increase citizen involvement in EU decision-making and provide a platform for direct citizen engagement.
The Treaty of Lisbon sought to improve decision-making processes and ensure a more coherent and effective EU. It represents a significant step in the evolution of the EU's institutional structure and decision-making processes, strengthening its ability to address the challenges of a changing world and fostering deeper integration among member states.
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