Lisbon Treaty: Reviving The Eu Constitution

what treaty replaced a failed attempt at the eu constitution

The Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December 2007, replaced the failed attempt at a European Union Constitution. The Lisbon Treaty was drafted to make changes to the structure of the EU, allowing it to continue functioning effectively and democratically as it grew and evolved. The Lisbon Treaty amended existing treaties, abandoning the idea of a single codified constitution. The Constitutional Treaty was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, resulting in a period of reflection to determine the next steps. This period ended with the signing and ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

Characteristics Values
Name of the treaty that replaced a failed attempt at the EU constitution Lisbon Treaty
Date of signing 13 December 2007
Date of coming into force 1 December 2009
Purpose To make changes that the Constitution was unable to, to increase efficiency, increase participation of EU citizens, and make the EU more democratic
Differences from the Constitutional Treaty Instead of repealing and replacing existing treaties, it amended them and abandoned the idea of a single codified constitution
Countries that rejected the Constitutional Treaty France, the Netherlands

cycivic

The Lisbon Treaty was signed in 2007 and entered into force in 2009

The Lisbon Treaty was signed on December 13, 2007, and entered into force on December 1, 2009. It replaced the failed attempt at the EU constitution, which was rejected by France and the Netherlands in their national referendums on May 29 and June 1, 2005, respectively. The Lisbon Treaty was drafted to make the necessary changes to the EU's structure, which the Constitution had failed to achieve.

The Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Lisbon, amended the existing treaties instead of repealing and replacing them. It abandoned the idea of a single codified constitution. The treaty was created following a period of reflection after the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty. During this time, a group of politicians and officials considered possible courses of action to move forward.

The Lisbon Treaty was signed during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and it was named after Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The treaty's drafting began with a call for a new debate on the future of Europe at the Laeken European Council in December 2001. A European Convention was founded shortly afterward, chaired by former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

The Lisbon Treaty is significant because it makes the EU a legal entity and brings about more accountability and efficiency to its decision-making process. The treaty introduces changes to make the EU more efficient and democratic, especially with the addition of new member states. It also aims to increase the participation of EU citizens.

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

cycivic

The Lisbon Treaty amended existing treaties, unlike the constitution

The Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December 2007, amended existing treaties, unlike the constitution, which would have replaced all former treaties with a single document. The Lisbon Treaty was created following the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands, which caused a constitutional crisis. The Lisbon Treaty contained many of the changes that were originally placed in the Constitutional Treaty but instead of repealing and replacing the existing treaties, it simply amended them and abandoned the idea of a single codified constitution. The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009 after being ratified by all member states.

The Lisbon Treaty was drafted to make changes that the Constitution had not been able to, as the EU had undergone significant changes since its last treaty amendments. The biggest changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty were to make it more efficient, increase the participation of EU citizens, and make it more democratic. The Lisbon Treaty amended the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and the 1957 Treaty of Rome, unlike the constitution, which would have replaced these former treaties.

The Constitutional Treaty, or the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by 53 senior political figures from the 25 member states of the European Union. The Treaty was then rejected by France and the Netherlands in their national referendums on 29 May 2005 and 1 June 2005, respectively. This rejection led to a period of reflection on what to do next, and eventually, the Lisbon Treaty was created.

The proposed Constitution was based on the EU's two primary existing treaties: the 1957 Treaties of Rome, the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, and their amendments at the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and the Treaty of Nice (2000). The Constitution would have made the EU a legal entity and brought about more accountability and efficiency to its decision-making process. However, it faced opposition and concerns from some countries, including Ireland, which initially rejected it due to fears of losing representation in the European Commission and being forced to make changes to its national constitution.

cycivic

The Lisbon Treaty was ratified in 2009 after Irish citizens initially rejected it

The Lisbon Treaty was drafted to make changes to the EU's structure, which were previously unable to be implemented due to the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty, unlike the constitution, does not replace previous treaties but instead amends them. It was signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009.

The Constitutional Treaty, or the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, was initially approved by the European Parliament on 12 January 2005. However, it was later rejected by France and the Netherlands in their national referendums on 29 May 2005 and 1 June 2005, respectively. This rejection led to a period of reflection and the Berlin Declaration, an attempt by the German Presidency to forge a path toward a united Europe.

The Lisbon Treaty faced its own challenges during ratification. Some countries, like Ireland, required a referendum before ratifying the treaty. In 2008, Irish citizens initially rejected the Lisbon Treaty due to concerns about losing representation in the European Commission and potential changes to their national constitution. However, after obtaining guarantees from the European Commission and assurances that certain parts of Ireland's constitution would not be affected, Irish citizens were asked to vote again in October 2009, and this time, the treaty was passed.

The Lisbon Treaty's ratification process highlights the complexities of decision-making in an enlarged European Union, with various countries having different traditions, constitutional arrangements, and political processes. The treaty's entry into force in 2009 marked a significant step forward in the evolution of the EU, adjusting its structure to accommodate the growing number of member states and promoting efficiency, democracy, and citizen participation.

cycivic

The Lisbon Treaty was drafted to make changes that the Constitution couldn't

The Lisbon Treaty, or the Treaty of Lisbon, was signed by all EU member states on 13 December 2007 and came into force on 1 December 2009. It was drafted by the European Convention and established more centralised leadership and foreign policy, as well as a process for countries that wanted to leave the EU. The Lisbon Treaty also streamlined the process for enacting new policies.

The Lisbon Treaty was important because it gave the EU full legal personality, allowing it to sign international treaties in areas of its attributed powers or join international organisations. It also provided a formal procedure for member states wishing to withdraw from the EU, as outlined in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Lisbon Treaty also enhanced citizens' participation and protection, creating a new institutional setup and amending decision-making processes for increased efficiency and transparency.

Supporters of the Lisbon Treaty argued that it enhanced accountability by providing a better system of checks and balances and giving more power to the European Parliament. Critics, however, argued that it formed an unequal distribution of power that ignored the needs of smaller countries.

cycivic

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in 2004 but never ratified

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by 53 senior political figures from the 25 member states of the European Union. The Treaty was approved by the European Parliament in a legally non-binding resolution on 12 January 2005. However, it was rejected in national referendums in France and the Netherlands in 2005. As a result, it was never ratified by all member states, which is a requirement for an EU treaty to enter into force.

The Treaty aimed to reform EU institutions to enable the EU to function efficiently after reaching 25 member countries. It sought to change the composition of the Commission and redefine the voting system in the Council. Additionally, it aimed to prepare for the European Monetary Union and introduce elements of a political union, such as citizenship and a common foreign and internal affairs policy.

The rejection of the Constitutional Treaty created a constitutional crisis in the EU. The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, along with Portugal and Slovenia, worked to find a solution. This led to the drafting of the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009. Unlike the Constitution, the Lisbon Treaty did not replace previous treaties but instead amended them, abandoning the idea of a single codified constitution.

The Lisbon Treaty introduced changes to make the EU more efficient, democratic, and able to function effectively with 27 member states. It increased the participation of EU citizens and aimed to make decision-making more transparent. The Lisbon Treaty is important as it allows the EU to undergo structural changes and adapt to its growing and evolving nature.

In conclusion, the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in 2004 but failed to be ratified due to rejection in referendums in France and the Netherlands. This led to a period of reflection and the drafting of the Lisbon Treaty, which amended existing treaties instead of replacing them. The Lisbon Treaty addressed the need for structural changes in the EU and introduced reforms to increase efficiency, democracy, and transparency in the decision-making process.

Frequently asked questions

The Lisbon Treaty replaced the failed Constitutional Treaty, which was rejected by France and the Netherlands.

The Lisbon Treaty aimed to make the EU more efficient, increase the participation of EU citizens, and make it more democratic.

The Lisbon Treaty made the EU a legal entity and amended the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and the 1957 Treaty of Rome.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment