No.

148 y December 2007

The Treaty of Lisbon –

How much ‘Constitution’ is left?

An Overview of the Main Changes

Sebastian Kurpas

O
n 13 December European Leaders will sign remarks on this agreement, it is clear that when the
the “Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty ToL is signed on 13 December, it will only have
on European Union and the Treaty reached the same stage as the CT did back in
establishing the European Community”. Some October 2004. Despite the fact that French and
commentators already take its long title to mean that Dutch electorates will most likely not be consulted
it may not be quite the ‘mini-treaty’ Nicolas this time, the forthcoming ratification phase may
Sarkozy had promised, and much of the public still hold surprises that provide for a high degree of
debate on the text has focussed on the question of unpredictability.
‘how much constitution’ it still contains. This paper
The main lesson that leaders seem to have drawn
intends to provide a concise overview of the most
from the ratification of the CT appears to be “No
important innovations introduced by the Treaty of
more referenda!”, as they are making every effort to
Lisbon (ToL), comparing it at the same time to the
pass the treaty through national parliaments. At
abandoned Constitutional Treaty (CT).1
present, Ireland is the only member state set to hold
a referendum and even the Irish vote is not the result
I. General Points
of a deliberate political choice, but rather
Before addressing the treaty’s substance, there needs constitutional obligations. The fact that Dutch and
to be some comment on how agreement was reached French citizens are not consulted again will certainly
on this text. Looking back, the road to the new not play in favour of the Treaty in the Irish
treaty has been a long and bumpy one (see box on campaign. Also, political developments in some
page 2). After eight years of continuous reform member states (especially the UK) remain hard to
debate, a convention, difficult intergovernmental predict, which could then have a knock-on effect in
negotiations and two failed referenda, most other countries.
governments now just want to close the institutional
1. Another Amending Treaty (unlike CT)
dossier and concentrate on policy issues. However,
in contrast to the numerous self-congratulatory Maybe the most significant change in substance
from the CT is the return to the instrument of
‘amending treaties’. This implicitly means giving up
1
For a further analysis see the CEPS-EPC-Egmont-study, on one of the core aims of the CT: making the EU’s
“The Treaty of Lisbon: Implementing the Institutional legal framework more coherent and transparent.
Innovations”, November 2007 (http://shop.ceps.eu/ According to its article IV-437, the CT would have
BookDetail.php?item_id=1554).

Sebastian Kurpas is a Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels.
CEPS Policy Briefs present concise, policy-oriented analyses of topical issues in European affairs, with the aim of
interjecting the views of CEPS researchers and associates into the policy-making process in a timely fashion. Unless
otherwise indicated, the views expressed are attributable only to the author in a personal capacity and not to any
institution with which s/he is associated.

Available for free downloading from the CEPS website (http://www.ceps.eu) y © CEPS 2007
repealed and replaced the existing treaties. In Chronological Overview: The long road to Lisbon
contrast, the ToL changes them, just like the Treaty
• 26 February 2001: Signing of the Treaty of Nice
of Amsterdam or the Treaty of Nice did in the past. (generally perceived as a ‘lowest common
In this respect, the ToL is thus a step ‘back to the denominator’ that would require further treaty
future’. Using an architectural metaphor, the ToL reform); ratification starts immediately, but rejected in
continues to add new attachments to the existing a first Irish referendum (7 June 2001); approved in a
‘main building’ and thus contributes further to the second referendum (19 October 2002); entry into
Union’s Byzantine legal structure. force on 17 February 2003
• 14/15 December 2001: European Council (EC) at
2. Demolition of the pillar structure (like Laeken decides to refer the preparation of the next
CT, but specificity of CFSP stressed) treaty reform to a ‘Convention on the Future of
Europe’ presided by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
Just like the CT, the ToL will formally abolish the
• 28 February 2002: Convention starts work
current ‘three-pillar-structure’ of the EU. This
means that (at least formally) the special • 20/21 June 2003: “Draft Treaty on a Constitution for
Europe” (CT) presented to the EC in Thessaloniki; EC
instruments applied in Common Foreign and
considers it as a “good basis for initiating the
Security Policy (‘second pillar’) and in police and Intergovernmental Conference” (IGC)
judicial cooperation on criminal matters (‘third
• 4 October 2003: IGC begins officially
pillar’) will be abandoned. The move towards one
common framework is also reflected in article 1 • 13 December 2004: IGC fails to find agreement at
Brussels summit, mainly due to opposition from
TEU (“The Union shall replace and succeed the
Poland and Spain to the proposed system of voting
European Community.”) weights in the Council
However, the ToL also clearly states that “the • 18 June 2004: Political agreement reached under the
adoption of legislative acts shall be excluded” from Irish EU presidency
CFSP (art. 11 (1) TEU). There will thus be • 29 October 2004: Heads of State sign CT in Rome;
‘decisions’ in the area of CFSP, but the term will ratification begins
still not mean the same as in other policy areas. • 20 February 2005: Yes-vote in referendum in Spain
Unlike the CT, the ToL also states explicitly that • 29 May and 1 June 2005: No-votes in France & the
“the common foreign and security is subject to Netherlands
specific rules and procedures” (art. 11 (1) TEU). • 10 June: Yes-vote in Luxembourg
The specificity of CFSP is further underlined by two • 16/17 June 2005: EC calls for ‘Period of Reflection’;
new Declarations, one of which clarifies that the several MS put ratification on hold (CT never ratified
provisions on CFSP “do not give new powers to the by CZ, DK, FR, IRL, NL, PL, PT, SE,UK) while
Commission to initiate decisions nor do they others continue
increase the role of the European Parliament.” • 15/16 June 2006: EC asks German EU-presidency
(1st half of 2007) to present a report “that should
The second pillar is also maintained in view of the contain an assessment of the state of discussion with
so-called ‘flexibility clause’. Article 308 TEC will regard to the [CT] and explore possible future
in principle apply beyond the current first pillar in developments”
the future, but the ToL now explicitly excludes its • 21/22 June 2007: EC agrees mandate for IGC on a
application for CFSP matters. ‘Reform Treaty’ and decides to open IGC
If one accepts that the word ‘pillar’ signifies a • 5 October 2007: First full draft of new treaty
distinct set of decision-making rules, the second presented
pillar will thus de facto largely be maintained. • 18/19 October 2007: Informal Summit in Lisbon
Compared to the CT, the ToL has increased the agrees on remaining points
safeguards against possible ‘spill-overs’ from • 13 December 2007: Signing ceremony in Lisbon
‘communitarised’ decision-making. • Ratification in all MS; entry into force foreseen for
1 January 2009 (before next EP-elections)
**
II. The Treaty on European Union
The following two sections give an overview of the
changes introduced to the two main texts by the As amended by the ToL, the future TEU will be
ToL: divided into the following six ‘Titles’:
- the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and • I. General Provisions (mostly amendments to the
old TEU)
- the Treaty establishing the European Community
(TEC). • II. Democratic Principles (new title, mostly
from CT)

2 | Sebastian Kurpas
• III. Institutions (new title from CT; modified move to make the treaty look as technical and
‘double majority’ voting rules) unemotional as possible is clearly motivated by the
• IV. Enhanced cooperation (mostly amendments fact that leaders want to play down the significance
to old TEU; formerly Title VII TEU) of the treaty and to avoid referenda. It is far from
clear however whether citizens will buy into that
• V. External Action & CFSP (mostly amendments argument.
to old TEU)
The omission of European symbols in the treaty text
• VI. Final Provisions (mostly amendments to old
does not make a difference from a legal point of
TEU, formerly Title VIII TEU)
view and will certainly not lead to the abolition of
While four titles are in fact amended versions of the European flag or anthem in practice. However, it
existing titles of the TEU, Title II and III are taken demonstrates that European leaders have given up
almost entirely from the CT. As a consequence of on the attempt to provide the EU with any kind of
the abolition of the current ‘third pillar’, the former ‘social legitimacy’ or emotional attachment –
Title VI TEU on ‘police and judicial cooperation in something already sorely lacking at present. In this
criminal matters’ is integrated into Title IV of the respect, those who see the Union as another tool in
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union the box of the nation state have clearly won the case,
(TFEU),2 where the provisions of the already which is unlikely to be without consequence for the
‘communitarised’ parts on justice and home affairs prospects of future integration.4 (In this context it
(e.g. visa, asylum, immigration) are located. The should be mentioned that at least the outcome of the
ToL will thus lead to one common title on Justice French referendum was not primarily motivated by
and Home Affairs. fear of a European ‘super state’, as surveys show
that most French people actually voted ‘no’ for a
1. General Provisions (Title I TEU) lack of EU legislative action in the field of social
protection.5)
1.1 Provisions on values and objectives of the
EU (mostly like CT) 1.3 Reference to the Charter of Fundamental
The current Title I of the TEU is substantially Rights (functionally like CT)
amended with provisions that have already been Article 6 of the TEU makes a clear reference to the
included in the CT. For example, the reference to Charter of Fundamental Rights and states that it
the “cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of “shall have the same legal value as the treaties”. As
Europe” is taken from the CT’s preamble. The such it becomes legally binding, just as it would
articles on the EU’s values and objectives are also have when it still was Part II of the CT. The fact that
taken on board. Contrary to the CT, the ToL does the Charter of Fundamental Rights is not directly
not introduce ‘undistorted competition’ as a new incorporated into the treaty text anymore is
objective of the EU. One should bear in mind motivated by the same concerns for which the
however, that the current treaties do not include this symbols have been abandoned. Britain and Poland
objective either. ‘Undistorted competition’ is have negotiated opt-outs from the Charter that
currently mentioned in article 3g TEC as an exclude its application by national and European
‘activity’ of the Union, which will in the future only Courts when this would contradict national laws or
be included in a protocol (thus also legally binding). practices.
This has triggered concern about future Court
rulings giving less weight to undistorted 1.4 Explicit primacy of EU law not mentioned
competition,3 while the author of this paper is of the (unlike CT)
view that this is an unlikely ‘worst case scenario’. The fact that the ToL will not introduce an explicit
reference to the primacy of EU law over national
1.2 Symbols of the EU not mentioned (unlike
law is likely to be of minor importance. Instead a
CT)
“Declaration concerning primacy” has been annexed
A more significant impact on the Union’s future to the treaty that clearly confirms the status quo, i.e.
could result from the fact that the ToL no longer the well-established case-law of the European Court
contains articles on the symbols of the EU. This
4
See also Sebastian Kurpas and Justus Schönlau,
Deadlock avoided, but sense of mission lost? The
2
Note that the current Treaty establishing the European Enlarged EU and its Uncertain Constitution, CEPS
Community (TEC) is renamed by the ToL as the Treaty Policy Brief No. 92, February 2006.
on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). 5
See Flash Eurobaromètre 171, La Constitution
3
See for example Alan Riley, The EU Reform Treaty and européenne – Sondage post-référendum en France, juin
the Competition Protocol: Undermining EC Competition 2005, p. 17/18 (http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/
Law, CEPS Policy Brief No. 142, September 2007. fl171_fr.pdf).

The Treaty of Lisbon | 3

of Justice that has never been contested by member Commission abandon the project. If the
states.6 If, for whatever reason, member states Commission still proceeds, the initiative can be
should start to contest this principle, the EU would stopped either by 55% of member states in the
find itself in deep crisis. Council or 50% of the votes cast in the European
Parliament.7 This instrument is a potentially
1.5 Relations between the Union and Member
powerful tool, but its effectiveness will largely
States (mostly like CT) depend on the capacity of national parliaments to
Article 3a of the TEU is mostly taken from the CT. coordinate their actions within the foreseen deadline
It contains one sentence stating that “[The Union] of eight weeks. There are also concerns that national
shall respect [Member States’] essential State parliaments will focus too strongly on the role of a
functions…” As this sentence does not conclusively defensive ‘emergency brake’ for EU-legislation,
define what “essential State functions” are, it leaves instead of becoming more pro-active contributors in
room for further interpretation. Unlike the CT, the the European decision-making process. In many
ToL will introduce an additional phrase that further member states, parliaments still fail to efficiently
stresses national sovereignty (“In particular, national control their respective government in the Council
security remains the sole responsibility of each and do not sufficiently stimulate public debate on
Member State.”). policy options at the national level.
1.6 Relations between the Union and 3. Institutions (Title III TEU)
neighbouring countries (like CT)
Title III clearly contains the greatest number of
Art. 7a of the TEU is an exact ‘copy-paste’ of art. I- significant innovations. With very few exceptions
57 CT, calling for a “special relationship with they had already been included in the CT. Elements
neighbouring countries” and outlining the from Title III are therefore also most often cited
possibility of the Union to conclude specific when it is claimed that the ToL was a ‘Constitution
agreements with the countries concerned. by the back door’.
2. Democratic Principles (Title II TEU) 3.1 Permanent European Council President
(like CT)
This new title is essentially taken from the CT
(article I-45 to I-47 CT). The provision on the European Council President is
directly taken from the CT. Art. 9 b TEU establishes
2.1 Citizens’ initiative (like CT) a permanent President of the European Council who
According to this provision of participatory will be nominated for 2 ½ years, renewable once.
democracy “one million citizens who are nationals He/she will be nominated by a qualified majority of
of a significant number of member states” can call the members of the European Council and the
upon the European Commission to submit a position cannot be combined with any national one.
proposal on a matter that falls within its area of On paper the European Council President only has
competence. The Commission would not have to limited powers of a mostly procedural nature (e.g.
follow this request, but considerable public pressure chairing European Council meetings), but much will
could be expected in such a case. depend on the personality that fills the position.
There are some concerns about potential ‘turf fights’
2.2 National Parliaments (stronger than CT) with the Commission President or the new ‘double-
A second innovation is included in a new article on hat’ High Representative for Foreign Affairs. There
national parliaments (article 8c TEU). It highlights is no clear delimitation of competences on the
the role of national parliaments in the EU policy external representation of the Union especially with
process and makes reference to the ‘Protocol on the the latter (see art. 9 b (6) TEU). One should also
Application of the Principles of Subsidiarity and note that while the European Council and the
Proportionality’, which was already annexed to the Foreign Affairs Council receive a permanent chair,
CT. This annex includes provisions that grant all other council formations will remain subject to a
national parliaments the power to kick off a rotating presidency (art. 9c (9) TEU.
procedure for a subsidiarity check. This procedure
3.2 European Council and ECB receive
has been strengthened in the ToL in comparison to
the CT (so called ‘orange card procedure’): If 1/3 of
institutional status (like CT)
national parliaments claim that a particular Like the CT, the new treaty will grant the European
legislative initiative of the Commission breaches the Council and the European Central Bank (ECB) the
principle of subsidiarity, they can demand that the status of a European Institution. Article 9 TEU lays
6 7
See for example Costa/ENEL, 15 July 1964, Case See article 7 of the Protocol on the Application of the
6/641. Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality.

4 | Sebastian Kurpas
out what this status implies in terms of competences block the implementation and demand a treaty
and obligations. There were some concerns in the change on this point.
ECB about its independence in view of the sentence
3.5 ‘Double-hat’ High Representative/Vice-
“The institutions shall practise mutual sincere
cooperation.” (art. 9 (2) TEU). President of the Commission (like CT,
except the title)
3.3 Commission President elected by majority
In the CT this position was called ‘Foreign
of European Parliament (like CT)
Minister’. Besides its ‘new old’ name (“High
As foreseen in the CT, the European Council will Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and
nominate a candidate by qualified majority “taking Security Policy”, article 9e TEU), it remains exactly
into account the elections to the European the same construct in the ToL: Like the Foreign
Parliament”. In a second step this candidate will Minister, it essentially entails a ‘merger’ between
then be elected by the majority of the component the current High Representative (Solana) and the
members of the European Parliament (article 9 d (7) Commissioner for External Relations (Ferrero-
TEU). In many ways this procedure only makes the Waldner). Additionally the new ‘double-hat’ HR
current procedure more visible: already under the will also chair the Foreign Affairs Council and
present treaty provisions, the candidate is become the Vice-President of the Commission.
‘approved’ by the European Parliament. The change He/she will however not be the Secretary-General of
in wording might raise awareness of the importance the Council anymore. The ‘double-hat’ structure is
of European elections, but it must be stressed that intended to bring together the visibility and political
already after the 2004 elections, the strongest group clout of the current HR with the resources of the
successfully demanded that the Commission Commission. Many issues still need to be clarified
President had to come from their ranks. In the and there remains some nervousness that the new
longer term the election of the Commission structure might lead to an ‘intergovernmentali-
President might give an incentive for a European sation’ of the Commission’s external competences,
political party to agree on a common candidate. This or – on the contrary – to the ‘communitarisation’ of
would certainly strengthen the ‘personality factor’ in the CFSP (despite the safeguards mentioned above).
the European election campaign that is currently In the end much will depend on the personality of
missing. It would make the campaign more the person holding this office. There are also some
interesting, which (in view of the traditionally low unclear legal aspects. (For example, what happens to
turnout) would certainly be a welcome change. the HR, if the Commission has to step down and
then a new one comes to office? Will he/she then
3.4 College of Commissioners reduced to 2/3
also have to give up his/her office in the Council?)
of the number of MS (like CT)
3.6 Double-majority voting system (based on
As of 2014 the Commission will be reduced to 2/3
of the number of member states. The reduction must CT, but amendments)
based on a system of “strictly equal rotation” (article The double majority system is the only institutional
9d (5) TEU). This means that every third term there element that has undergone substantial changes in
will not be a Maltese or Luxembourg Commissioner comparison to the arrangement of the CT. Once
just as there will not be a French or German one, i.e. meant to make the voting system in the Council
regardless of the size of the member state. One clearer and more transparent, one could hardly claim
could argue that this does not matter, since progress on this aspect anymore. The complicated
Commissioners are not meant to be representative of amendments to the initial provision in the CT are
their home country anyway, and should rather due to strong opposition from the former Polish
define (and defend) the common European interest. government under the then Prime Minister Jarosław
However, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Kaczynski. The Polish would have preferred to keep
particular has already voiced concern and suggested the rather arbitrary Nice voting rules of the current
that the elected Commission President should be treaties and then put forward a so-called ‘square-
free to chose his/her team in the future. Certainly root’-system as a possible compromise. In the end
this suggestion was also motivated by the (probably numerous transitional and safeguard clauses have
realistic) belief that a Commission President would been introduced, but the essential concept of the
not dare to ignore a French candidate for his/her double-majority system from the CT has been
team. The system of equal rotation still needs to be preserved. It means that the weight of each national
implemented through a unanimous Council decision vote is based on two elements that weigh in equally:
before 2014. With the rest of the treaty already in (1) each country counts as one – regardless of its
force by then, the requirement for unanimity will population; (2) each country counts according to the
still give large member states an opportunity to size of its population. A majority is reached if 55%
of member states that represent 65% of the EU’s

The Treaty of Lisbon | 5

population vote in favour (article 9c (4) TEU).8 The Representative have already been mentioned above.
Polish government has negotiated, however, that In the context of CFSP two other aspects should
this system will now only come into force in 2014 however be included in this overview. Both have
and until 2017 any member state can still demand to already featured in the CT.
apply the current Nice rules, if that country believes
5.1 External action service (like CT)
a proposal could have been blocked. In addition the
so-called Ioannina-formula is maintained in a According to article 13a (3) TEU, the External
revised version in a declaration. It stipulates that if Action Service (EEAS) shall assist the HR in
there are not sufficient votes to constitute a blocking fulfilling his mandate. It is supposed to work in
minority, but 75% of the number of countries or cooperation with the diplomatic services of the
75% of the population necessary to constitute a member states and shall comprise officials from the
blocking minority, the issue is to be referred back to General Secretariat of the Council, from the
the Council for further discussion (from 2007 even Commission and seconded staff from national
55% will be sufficient). An agreement should then diplomatic services. Its organisation and functioning
be reached within a “reasonable time”. Here again still needs to be established by a Council decision
the Polish government argued that a “reasonable agreed upon a proposal by the HR. As for the HR
time” could be up to two years, while the other many issues still remain open concerning the EEAS,
governments insisted that it should be three months particularly its legal status and its institutional
maximum. In the end the Polish government affiliation, which could be in the Council, in the
abandoned its opposition. Commission or somewhere outside the two (‘sui
generis’).
3.7 Size of European Parliament limited to
750 members (almost like CT) 5.2 Permanent structured cooperation on
defence matters (like CT)
The size of the parliament will be limited to 750
members, as foreseen by the CT. However, due to Permanent structured cooperation is a mechanism
demands from the Italian government, there will be that was already included in the CT providing for
one additional Italian MEP, thus bringing Italy on a cooperation on defence matters among a smaller
par with the UK. To get to this result, the President group of member states (art. 28a (6) TEU, 28e
of the European Parliament will be counted in TEU). Participation does not only depend on the
addition to the 750 other deputies. political willingness of a member state, but also on
objective criteria concerning military capabilities
4. Enhanced cooperation (Title IV TEU) (i.e. “targeted combat units”, see article 1 of the
‘Protocol on Permanent Structured Cooperation’).
As regards this title, several minor changes can be
Permanent Structured Cooperation can be
detected.9 While the CT stipulated that 1/3 of
established by a qualified majority in the Council
member states would have to participate in an
(article 28e (2) TEU).
enhanced cooperation, the ToL demands “at least
nine Member States” (article 10 (2) TEU), which is
6. Final provisions (Title VI TEU)
one more than under the current provisions. In view
of future enlargements, the ToL thus makes it 6.1 Legal personality of the EU (like CT)
(slightly) easier than the CT to start an ‘avantgarde’
Just like the CT, the ToL will introduce a single
movement within the treaty framework. This
legal personality for the European Union (article 46a
mechanism has so far never been used, however,
TEU) covering both the current European
and it remains unclear whether it will become an
Community and the European Union. In a
attractive alternative to initiatives outside the
declaration to the ToL it is stated that the legal
treaties in the future.
personality may not “in any way authorise the
Union to legislate or to act beyond the competences
5. External action (Title V TEU)
conferred upon it by the Member States in the
The general clarification that CFSP remains subject Treaties.”
to specific rules and the double-hat High
6.2 Voluntary withdrawal clause (like CT)
8 This clause is also directly taken from the CT. It
Where the Council does not act on a proposal from the
only regulates what would already have been
Commission or from the High Representative, the
qualified majority is defined as at least 72% of member possible in the past, since no member state would
states, representing at least 65% of the population, have been obliged to stay in the European Union
according to article 205 (2) TFEU. against its will. The new provision (article 49a
9
For a detailed overview see the Joint Study by CEPS, TEU) only makes this option visible and provides a
EPC and Egmont, pp. 99-119. procedure for an ‘orderly retreat’. It foresees

6 | Sebastian Kurpas
negotiations, but in case these fail, the member state also change: the Treaty establishing the European
can leave the Union two years after notifying the Community will be renamed ‘Treaty on the
European Council of its intention. The voluntary Functioning of the European Union’ (TFEU).
withdrawal clause can thus be seen as a safeguard
From a functional point of view, one could argue
against unconsidered moves by national
that the TEU contains more general provisions,
governments (e.g. in case a government comes to
while the TFEU – as its name suggests – covers
power after promising to leave the Union in the
more detailed articles, which would have justified a
election campaign, it would at least have to wait for
certain hierarchy. However, like article 1 TEU,
two years, if negotiations fail).
article 1 TFEU also states that both treaties have the
6.3 Ordinary and simplified revision procedure same legal value. Consequently, there is no legal
(like CT) hierarchy between the two texts. Most governments
rejected the idea that the TFEU could be interpreted
As in the CT, the ordinary revision procedure for the in the light of the provisions of the TEU.
treaties introduced by the ToL foresees a
Convention and an IGC (article 48 (2-5) TEU). A As a detailed description of the changes in all policy
Convention does not have to be convened, if a areas would go beyond the scope of this paper, the
simple majority in the European Council is reached following part will provide a general overview of
and if the European Parliament gives its consent. As the most important changes to the treaty.
governments might want to avoid a Convention in
the future, the European Parliament will be given a 1. Qualified majority voting and co-
powerful tool: in order to grant its consent, it is decision become the “ordinary
likely to make demands on the content of future legislative procedure” (like CT)
treaty revisions.
The most important change to the TFEU is
A simplified revision procedure is foreseen for Part undoubtedly a further extension of co-decision and
III of the TFEU, but still demanding a unanimous qualified majority voting. This goes together with
decision in the European Council. The decision the fact that co-decision and qualified majority
“shall not increase the competences conferred on the become the so-called “ordinary legislative
Union in the Treaties” (article 48 (6) TEU). procedure” (article 251 TFEU). The policy area that
will be most broadly affected by this change is
There are also two so-called ‘passarelle clauses’ that
justice and home affairs, but there will also be many
allow the move from unanimous decision-making to
other policies shifted fully or partially under the
qualified majority voting and from a consultation
ordinary legislative procedure, e.g. energy (art. 176
procedure to co-decision (i.e. full involvement of
a TFEU), tourism (art. 176 b TFEU), civil
the EP). Such a decision must be taken by unanimity
protection (art. 176 c TFEU), sport (art. 149 TFEU),
in the European Council, by majority in the EP and
structural funds (art. 161 (1) TFEU), incentive
it may not be taken on matters with military
measures to protect human health (art. 152 TFEU)
implications. More importantly, however, it can be
or space policy (art. 172a TFEU).
stopped if any one national parliament voices its
opposition within six months of the date of its 2. Extension of the ordinary legislative
notification. The two ‘passarelle clauses’ are thus procedure to the whole annual budget
very unlikely to play a significant role in the future. (like CT)
The ToL has introduced one – rather symbolic – With this innovation the distinction between
clarification to article 48 TEU that was not already compulsory and non-compulsory expenditure will
in the CT, stating that proposals for Treaty be abandoned, which means that the EP will have
amendments may also serve to reduce the the final word for all categories of expenditure. In
competences conferred on the Union. return, however, the multi-annual financial
6.4 Accession criteria (like CT) framework will determine the amounts of the annual
ceilings as well as the appropriations for the various
Article 49 TEU is amended with a reference categories of expenditure and payment.
demanding that applicant countries have to respect
and promote the values of the Union. 3. New title on energy (like CT)
A new title on energy (Title XX) is added to the
III. Treaty on the Functioning of the treaty, which had already been included in the CT.
Union What the exact impact of this article will be in
As a result of the fact that the European Union practice, however, remains to be seen. According to
“shall replace and succeed the European article 176a TFEU, it will give the EU a legal basis
Community” (article 1 TEU), the treaty name will to “(a) ensure the functioning of the energy market;

The Treaty of Lisbon | 7

(b) ensure security of supply in the Union; (c) decision of the Council that would introduce
promote energy efficiency and energy saving and qualified majority voting to the area of family law.
the development of new and renewable forms of The use of this ‘passarelle’ has therefore become
energy; and (d) promote the interconnection of even less likely than under the provisions of the CT.
energy networks.” However, the provision also
contains important safeguards that ensure member 6. Provisions on Services of General
states’ rights to determine the conditions for Interest (mostly like CT)
exploiting their energy resources, their choice
The provision on services of general economic
between different energy sources and the general
interest will be amended. Article 16 TFEU will
structure of their energy supply (so-called ‘energy-
make reference to article 3a TEU that mentions the
mix’). Unanimity and mere consultation of the EP
respect of the Union for the “essential State
apply when measures are “primarily of fiscal
functions” of member states. Article 16 TFEU will
nature.”
also provide a legal basis for EU regulations (by
In addition to the provision taken from the CT, the ‘ordinary procedure’) that establish principles and
ToL has added a reference to the “spirit of solidarity set conditions “to provide, to commission and to
between Member States”. The same reference has fund such services”.
also been included in article 100 TFEU
A ‘Protocol on Services of General Interest’ has
(“Difficulties in the Supply of Certain Products”).
been added by the ToL that was not part of the CT.
As regards the content of this protocol, however, it
4. Categories and areas of competences
seems to be only of a clarifying character.
(like CT)
The provisions on “categories and areas of Conclusion: More democratic, more
competences” (article 2a to 2e TFEU) have been efficient, more transparent?
taken from the CT. They specify the different
This overview has shown that the innovations of the
categories (exclusive competence, shared
Constitutional Treaty have to a very large extent
competence, competence to coordinate, support or
been preserved in the ToL. The main differences can
supplement actions of member states) and list the
be summarised as follows:
policy areas falling into the respective categories. It
is certainly not a rigid “Kompetenzkatolog” as • The symbolic elements of the CT have been
initially demanded by Germany, but it does make abandoned. As explained, this appears as a minor
clearer what the EU may (and may not) do. detail from a legal perspective, but may have
major implications for the future of the
5. Abolition of current third pillar and integration process. The stronger emphasis on
integration into Title IV (like CT) national sovereignty and on the limits of EU
competences also hints in this direction.
The formal abolition of the EU’s pillar-structure has
already been mentioned above. Contrary to the • The Treaty of Lisbon is again an amending treaty
second pillar (CFSP), the third pillar (police and that will add another ‘layer’ of provisions to the
judicial cooperation on criminal matters) will not ‘acquis’. The legal foundations of the EU will
only be ‘demolished’ pro forma, but also in thus become even more complex and the treaty
substance.10 Two main differences between the ToL itself is unreadable for the average citizen.
and the CT should be mentioned however:
• Several member states negotiated substantial opt-
(1) The UK and Ireland have negotiated a outs (UK and Ireland on JHA: UK and Poland on
comprehensive opt-out for which the conditions are the application of the Charter), thus adding to the
laid out in great detail in article 4a of the revised already existing ‘variable geometry’ among
‘Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom member states.
and Ireland in Respect of the Area of Freedom,
Security and Justice’. • Certain control mechanisms for national
parliaments have been strengthened (subsidiarity
(2) A veto for each national parliament has been check, vetoes on ‘passarelle clauses’). This holds
introduced that allows it to stop a unanimous the potential for a better implication of the
national level in the EU-policy making process,
10
Although some exceptions remain here as well; for but also carries the risk of national parliaments
greater detail see Sergio Carrera and Florian Geyer, The focussing on a defensive role as an ‘emergency
Reform Treaty & Justice and Home Affairs – Implications break’ for European integration.
for the common Area of Freedom, Security and Justice,
CEPS Policy Brief No. 141, August 2007 At the beginning of the Constitutional Convention
(http://shop.ceps.eu/BookDetail.php?item_id=1535). European leaders pleaded for a more democratic,

8 | Sebastian Kurpas
more efficient and more transparent EU. Judging the 3. ….more transparent? No.
Treaty of Lisbon by these three criteria, the question
If the ToL has failed in one respect, then it is clearly
remains whether it will make the EU…
in making the current treaties more understandable
1. ….more democratic? Yes. and transparent. On the contrary, the ToL will make
the EU even more difficult to grasp due to a further
Concerning this aspect the content stands in some
increase in opt-outs, protocols and declarations. In a
contrast to the procedure. While the failed referenda
Union of 27 member states this might be
on the Constitutional Treaty have led to more
unavoidable and a poor omen for future integration.
secretive negotiations than ever before, the content
of the text does mean progress for EU democracy. It
**
gives greater control to national parliaments,
strengthens the power of the European Parliament as Finally, as regards general tendencies for the future,
an equal co-legislator in many policy areas and one can easily predict an increased use of ‘flexible
might even make the European elections more integration’ mechanisms, be it inside or outside the
attractive, as political parties now have an additional treaties. The Treaty of Lisbon actively contributes to
incentive to nominate candidates for the office of this development through the difficult treaty
the Commission president before the elections. The revision procedure, the opt-outs for the UK, Ireland
treaty also introduces an element of direct and Poland, (slightly) more attractive provisions for
democracy through the citizens’ initiative. ‘enhanced cooperation’ and the introduction of the
‘permanent structure cooperation’ on defence. This
2. …. more efficient? Maybe.
does not have to be negative, as long as on the one
It is impossible to pass definitive judgment on hand the door remains open for other member states
whether the EU will become more efficient as yet. that want to join later and no exclusive clubs are
Certainly the move towards more qualified majority constituted outside the EU. On the other hand, opt-
voting will make agreement easier in a number of outs should not become so broad or numerous that
policy fields, especially in justice and home affairs. the character of the EU as a ‘community of values’
The impact of the new voting system in the Council is undermined.
(‘double majority’) is less likely to have a major
The probable move towards more flexible
impact as long as the ‘consensus style’ of Council
integration also makes it more likely that the present
negotiations is preserved. In any case, first results
IGC has been the last one for a long time. The heavy
will only be visible in 2014. Future treaty revisions
revision procedure combined with the experience of
will hardly become easier either. Initial ideas in the
recent years will curb the appetite among decision-
Convention aimed at bringing certain parts of the
makers for further comprehensive treaty reforms
treaties under a revision procedure by ‘super-
considerably.
qualified majority (e.g. 80%), but they had already
been discarded in the CT. The simplified revision And what does the treaty mean for citizens’
procedure still maintains unanimity for all changes support? Here again, the problem has certainly not
to the treaties and the ‘passarelle clauses’ are been solved. The Constitutional Treaty, once
unlikely to be used. There is also some justified envisaged as a remedy to the public’s
concern that the treaty reform may have disenchantment with the Union, turned into a
concentrated too much on making each institution problem itself and led to the most secretive treaty
more efficient, but neglecting the impact of these negotiations in a long time, when leaders tried to
reforms on the overall institutional balance. For save the substance of the text. Today, little seems to
example, it is certainly more efficient for the be left of the ambitions “to bring European
European Council to have a permanent president, to institutions closer to the citizens.”11 As has been
grant the Commission President more clout through shown in this paper, the Treaty of Lisbon does
an official election and to ‘merge’ the post of the contain certain elements to increase citizens’ interest
current High Representative with that of the in EU decision-making. Let’s hope that leaders will
Commissioner for External Relations (and Vice- also be wise enough to use and promote them.
President of the European Commission). However,
it is difficult to predict how these three posts will
interact, especially as regards the external
representation of the EU and the provision of
political leadership. It is difficult to deny a certain
potential for ‘turf fights’ and much will depend on
the personalities involved. 11
See Laeken Declaration on the Future of the European
Union, p. 2 (http://european-convention.eu.int/pdf/
LKNEN.pdf).

The Treaty of Lisbon | 9