Eu Constitution: What's New And Approved?

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) was an international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union (EU). It was signed on 29 October 2004 by the then 25 member states of the EU. The treaty was supposed to replace existing EU treaties with a single text, give legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and expand qualified majority voting. While it was ratified by 18 member states, it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, bringing the ratification process to an end. Following this, the Treaty of Lisbon was created to replace the TCE, amending existing treaties rather than creating a single constitution. The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009, giving the EU legal status and allowing it to accommodate new member states.

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The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) was signed by 25 member states in 2004

The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) was signed by 53 senior political figures from the 25 member states of the European Union on 29 October 2004 in Rome. The treaty was approved by the European Parliament and was intended to create a consolidated constitution for the EU, replacing existing treaties with a single text. It would have expanded qualified majority voting and given legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The TCE was the product of protracted negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) during the Italian presidency. Disputes arose over the proposed framework for qualified majority voting, and several countries urged that the preamble of the Constitution include a reference to Christianity. The final text of the TCE was settled in June 2004 under the Irish presidency.

The treaty was later ratified by 18 member states, including Spain and Luxembourg, where it was endorsed through referendums. However, the TCE was rejected by French and Dutch voters in May and June 2005, bringing the ratification process to an end. Following this rejection, European leaders decided to hold a "period of reflection" on the way forward.

During this reflection period, a group of high-level European politicians, known as the Amato Group, proposed establishing a new Inter-Governmental Conference to write a new treaty. This led to the creation of the Treaty of Lisbon, which replaced the Constitutional Treaty and amended existing treaties without repealing them. The Lisbon Treaty was signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009, with parts of the Constitutional Treaty being integrated into EU law.

France and the Netherlands rejected the treaty in 2005, stalling the process

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) was signed on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the then 25 member states of the European Union. It was intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union (EU) and replace existing EU treaties with a single text. From then until November 2006, the treaty was supposed to be ratified by each of the Member States before it could come into force. However, in May and June 2005, the proposed constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters in national referendums, stalling the process.

The TCE was initially adopted by the European Council on 18 June 2004 and approved by the European Parliament. However, the rejection of the treaty by France and the Netherlands in their national referendums brought the ratification process to an end. The treaty required ratification by all member states before it could come into effect, and the process was aborted following the rejection by France and the Netherlands. This marked a significant setback for the EU's efforts to establish a consolidated constitution.

The rejection of the TCE by France and the Netherlands had several consequences. Firstly, it led to the cancellation of referendums in other member states that had proposed to hold them. Secondly, it prompted European leaders to declare a ""period of reflection" to consider the next steps. During this period, a group of high-level European politicians, known as the Amato Group, was formed to explore possible courses of action. The group first met on 30 September 2006 in Rome and presented its report on 4 June 2007, proposing the establishment of a new Inter-Governmental Conference to draft a new treaty.

The rejection of the TCE by France and the Netherlands also contributed to a constitutional crisis within the EU. The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union prioritised finding a solution to the standstill. This ultimately led to the creation of the Treaty of Lisbon, which replaced the Constitutional Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009, amended existing treaties rather than replacing them and abandoned the idea of a single codified constitution. While it did not achieve the same level of integration as the TCE, the Lisbon Treaty still accomplished many of its goals, such as giving the EU legal status and allowing for the accommodation of new member states.

The Lisbon Treaty was created to replace the TCE, amending existing treaties

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) was an international treaty that aimed to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union (EU). It was intended to replace existing European Union treaties with a single text, give legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and expand qualified majority voting. The TCE was signed on 29 October 2004 by 25 member states of the European Union. However, despite being ratified by 18 member states, it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in May and June 2005, bringing the ratification process to an end.

Following this rejection, there was a "period of reflection", during which the idea of a single codified constitution was abandoned. Instead, it was agreed to maintain the existing treaties and amend them to bring about some of the envisaged reforms. This led to the creation of the Lisbon Treaty, which amended the Treaty on European Union ("Maastricht Treaty") and the Treaty establishing the European Community ("Treaty of Rome"). The Lisbon Treaty was signed in 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009.

The Lisbon Treaty is not an autonomous text but consists of amendments to the existing treaties, giving legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and clarifying the powers of the Union. It enhances citizens' participation and protection, creates a new institutional setup, and amends decision-making processes for increased efficiency and transparency. It also increases the power of the European Parliament and provides a new role for national parliaments, bringing more checks and balances into the EU system.

While the Lisbon Treaty succeeded in amending existing treaties and bringing about some reforms, it did not address all the issues. There have been calls for another new treaty in response to the economic crisis and ongoing challenges facing the EU. The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the functioning of the EU has also raised questions and led to uncertainties.

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The Lisbon Treaty entered into force in 2009, giving the EU legal status

The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009, giving the EU legal status and allowing it to evolve to accommodate new member states. The Lisbon Treaty was created following the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by French and Dutch voters in referendums in May and June 2005, which brought the ratification process to an end. The Constitutional Treaty was intended to create a consolidated constitution for the EU, replacing existing EU treaties with a single text and giving legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December 2007, amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome, rather than replacing them. It maintained the idea of a single codified constitution, and many of the changes originally intended for the Constitutional Treaty were included in the Lisbon Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty aimed to make the EU more efficient, increase the participation of EU citizens, and make it more democratic.

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty was not without challenges. Some countries, like Ireland, required a referendum before they would ratify it. Irish citizens initially rejected the treaty in a vote in 2008, citing concerns about potential losses of representation in the European Commission and possible changes to their national constitution. However, after receiving assurances from the European Commission and promises that certain parts of Ireland's constitution would not be affected, Irish citizens voted again in October 2009 and passed the treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty's entry into force in 2009 marked a significant step forward for the EU, providing it with legal status and enabling the bloc to adapt and grow while striving for greater efficiency and democracy.

The EU continues to operate based on existing treaties, with the Lisbon Treaty being the most recent amendment

The European Union (EU) is constantly changing and evolving; for instance, new countries join the union, new policy areas are added, and new agreements are made. As a result, the EU also needs to undergo structural changes that will allow it to continue functioning effectively, efficiently, and democratically as it continues to grow and evolve.

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution or the Constitutional Treaty, was an attempt to create a consolidated constitution for the EU. It was intended to replace the existing EU treaties with a single text, give legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and expand qualified majority voting. The TCE was signed on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the then 25 member states of the EU. However, it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in May and June 2005, bringing the ratification process to an end.

Following this rejection, the EU countries began work on the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009. The Lisbon Treaty did not replace the previous treaties like the TCE would have. Instead, it amended the existing treaties and abandoned the idea of a single codified constitution. The Lisbon Treaty achieved many of the same goals as the TCE, giving the EU legal status and allowing it to evolve to accommodate additional new member states while becoming more efficient and democratic.

The Lisbon Treaty also made changes to increase the efficiency of the EU, which now operates with 27 individual and unique member states, and to increase the participation of EU citizens and make the EU more democratic. The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty was not without challenges, with some countries requiring a referendum before ratification. For example, Irish citizens initially rejected the Lisbon Treaty in 2008 due to concerns about losing representation in the European Commission and being forced to make changes to their national constitution. However, after receiving guarantees from the European Commission and promises that certain parts of its constitution would not be affected, Irish citizens voted to pass the Treaty in October 2009.

Thus, the EU continues to operate based on existing treaties, with the Lisbon Treaty being the most recent amendment. The Lisbon Treaty has allowed the EU to evolve and function more effectively, efficiently, and democratically as it continues to grow and change.

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