Treaty of Lisbon

Treaty of Lisbon
Name	Treaty of Lisbon
Long name	Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community
Signed	13 December 2007
Location	Lisbon, Portugal
Effective	1 December 2009
Condition	Ratification by all European Union member states
Parties	European Union member states
Depositary	Government of Italy
Language	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Greek, Czech, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish

Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty of Lisbon was signed by the European Union member states on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, and entered into force on 1 December 2009, following ratification by all member states, including Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. This treaty amended the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, and was a significant step towards further European integration, as envisioned by Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, and Alcide De Gasperi. The Treaty of Lisbon built upon the Treaty of Rome, the Treaty of Maastricht, and the Treaty of Nice, and was influenced by the European Convention, which was chaired by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and included notable figures such as Peter Sutherland and Andrew Duff.

Introduction

The Treaty of Lisbon introduced significant changes to the European Union's institutions and decision-making processes, with the aim of increasing the European Union's efficiency and effectiveness, as discussed by Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Gordon Brown during the European Council meetings. The treaty created the position of President of the European Council, which was first held by Herman Van Rompuy, and established the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which was first held by Catherine Ashton. The Treaty of Lisbon also increased the European Parliament's powers, giving it more influence over the European Union's legislative process, as noted by Jerzy Buzek and Martin Schulz. The treaty was negotiated during the German presidency of the European Union in 2007, with the support of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering.

History

The Treaty of Lisbon was the result of a long process of European integration, which began with the Treaty of Paris in 1951 and continued with the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992, and the Treaty of Nice in 2001, involving key figures such as Jean Monnet, Walter Hallstein, and Jacques Delors. The European Convention was established in 2002 to draft a Constitution for Europe, which was signed in 2004 but failed to be ratified by all member states, including France and the Netherlands, due to concerns raised by Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi. The Treaty of Lisbon was negotiated as a replacement for the failed Constitution for Europe, and was signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, in the presence of Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The treaty was influenced by the Berlin Declaration, which was signed in 2007 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, and was supported by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

Provisions

The Treaty of Lisbon introduced several significant provisions, including the creation of a permanent President of the European Council, the establishment of a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the increase of the European Parliament's powers, as outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President David Sassoli. The treaty also introduced a new system of qualified majority voting in the Council of the European Union, which replaced the previous system of unanimity in many areas, as discussed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas. The Treaty of Lisbon also included provisions on climate change, energy policy, and justice and home affairs, as noted by European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans and European Parliament Vice-President Klára Dobrev. The treaty was influenced by the European Union's Lisbon Strategy, which was launched in 2000 to promote economic growth and job creation, and was supported by European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Suma Chakrabarti.

Ratification

The Treaty of Lisbon was ratified by all European Union member states, including Ireland, which held a second referendum on the treaty in 2009 after initially rejecting it in 2008, as reported by Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The treaty was also ratified by the Czech Republic, which was the last member state to complete the ratification process, as noted by Czech President Václav Klaus and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009, and has since been ratified by new member states, including Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, as welcomed by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

Impact

The Treaty of Lisbon has had a significant impact on the European Union's institutions and decision-making processes, as discussed by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The treaty has increased the European Parliament's powers and influence, and has created a more efficient and effective system of decision-making in the Council of the European Union, as noted by European Parliament President David Sassoli and European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas. The Treaty of Lisbon has also promoted further European integration, and has helped to strengthen the European Union's position on the global stage, as reported by European External Action Service Chief Josep Borrell and European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen. The treaty has been influenced by the European Union's Global Strategy, which was launched in 2016 to promote the European Union's interests and values, and has been supported by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Amendments

The Treaty of Lisbon has been amended several times since its entry into force, including the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, which was signed in 2012, and the European Fiscal Compact, which was signed in 2013, as reported by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The treaty has also been influenced by the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework, which sets out the European Union's budget and spending priorities, as discussed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President David Sassoli. The Treaty of Lisbon has provided a framework for further European integration and reform, and has helped to promote the European Union's values and interests, as noted by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. The treaty has been supported by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.

Category:European Union