The European Union

Treaty of Lisbon

The European Union

Treaty of LisbonTaking Europe into the 21st Century

13 December 2007

The European Union

• The Treaty of Lisbon (initially known as the Reform Treaty) is a treaty that was signed by EU leaders on 13 December 2007. It replaces the failed Constitutional Treaty and amends the current EU and EC treaties (without replacing them).

• After a long ratification process, the Lisbon Treaty is expected to finally enter into force on 1 December, 2009.

The European Union

• A More Democratic and Transparent Europe

• A More Efficient Europe

• A Europe of Rights and Values, Freedom,

Solidarity and Security

• A More Visible Europe on the Global Stage

The Treaty of Lisbon at a Glance

The European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon at a Glance• A More Democratic and Transparent Europe

- A strengthened role for the European Parliament

- Greater involvement by national parliaments

- Decision-making of the Council must now be open to public

- A Citizens' Initiative

- Clearer categorization between Member State and EU competences

- Explicit recognition of a Member State’s right to withdraw from the Union

European Parliament

The European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon at a Glance

• A More Efficient Europe

- Decision making based on a double majority system from 2014 (vote can only be carried by 55% of Member Countries who must represent at least 65% of EU’s population)

- More Actions to be decided by majority voting in the Council

- New full-time President of the European Council to give more coherence to EU actions

- Improvement in the ability of the EU to act more swiftly in policy areas such as freedom, security and justice

The European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon at a Glance• A Europe of Rights and Values, Freedom,

Solidarity and Security

- Democratic values: Reinforcement of the values and objectives on which the European Union is built

- Guarantee of the freedoms and principles in the Charter of Fundamental Rights

- Solidarity between Member States in the event of a terrorist attack or natural or man-made disaster

- Extended capacity to act on freedom, security and justice including the fight against crime and terrorism

The European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon at a Glance

• A More Visible Europe on the Global Stage

- A new High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

- A new European External Action Service

- A single legal personality for the Union

- Progress in European security and defense policy

The European Union

• After 2010, an amended Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs will focus on overcoming the recession and transforming the EU into a more sustainable, greener and more innovative economy.

• The Lisbon Strategy was adopted by the European Council on 23-24 March 2000 to create a more dynamic and knowledge-based EU economy

The European Union

Economic:Economic:

create a competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy (focus on research and development)

Social:Social:

modernize the European social model (invest in human resources and combat social exclusion)

Environmental:Environmental:

Economic growth to be decoupled from the use of natural resources

Three pillar strategy:

The European Union

• The Lisbon Treaty relates to the institutional structure of the EU and is important for gaining a thorough background understanding of the workings of the EU

• The Lisbon Strategy explicitly refers to the EU’s economic goals and as such may be used as a benchmark when analyzing the actual economic situation within the euro area