🗊Презентация Development of European Communities (European Union)

THEME 2. Development of European Communities (European Union)

Questions 1950-s 1960-s 1970-s 1980-s 1990-s 2000-s

1950-s Foundation of European Communities May, 9, 1950 Schuman’s plan  "Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organisation open to the participation of the other countries of Europe."  It would also be a first step to a "European federation".

Schuman’s Plan

Shuman’s Declaration It is no longer a question of vain words but of a bold act, a constructive act. France has acted and the consequences of its action can be immense. We hope they will be. France has acted primarily for peace and to give peace a real chance. For this it is necessary that Europe should exist. Five years, almost to the day, after the unconditional surrender of Germany, France is accomplishing the first decisive act for European construction and is associating Germany with this. Conditions in Europe are going to be entirely changed because of it. This transformation will facilitate other action which has been impossible until this day. Europe will be born from this, a Europe which is solidly united and constructed around a strong framework. It will be a Europe where the standard of living will rise by grouping together production and expanding markets, thus encouraging the lowering of prices. In this Europe, the Ruhr, the Saar and the French industrial basins will work together for common goals and their progress will be followed by observers from the United Nations. All Europeans without distinction, whether from east or west, and all the overseas territories, especially Africa, which awaits development and prosperity from this old continent, will gain benefits from their labour of peace.

Shuman’s Declaration, Aims It would mark the birth of a united Europe. It would make war between member states impossible. It would encourage world peace. It would transform Europe in a 'step by step' process (building through sectoral supranational communities) leading to the unification of Europe democratically, unifying two political blocks separated by the Iron Curtain. It would create the world's first supranational institution. It would create the world's first international anti-cartel agency. It would create a single market across the Community. It would, starting with the coal and steel sector, revitalise the whole European economy by similar community processes. It would improve the world economy and the developing countries, such as those in Africa

Treaty of Paris European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Sind 18 April 1951 The common market was opened on 10 February 1953 for coal, and on 1 May 1953 for steel

ESCC The 100-article Treaty of Paris. The ECSC was the first international organisation to be based on supranational principles and was, through the establishment of a common market for coal and steel, intended to expand the economies, increase employment, and raise the standard of living within the Community. The market was also intended to progressively rationalise the distribution of high level production whilst ensuring stability and employment. Upon taking effect, the ECSC gradually replaced theInternational Authority for the Ruhr. On 11 August 1952, the United States was the first non-ECSC member to recognise the Community and stated it would now deal with the ECSC on coal and steel matters, establishing its delegation in Brussels.

ECSC Communitarian method federative goal gradual integration integration as method to solve social problems limitation of state sovereignty, foundation of supranational bodies

ECSC The institute consisted of nine members, nearly all appointed from the member states. France, Germany and Italy - 2 members each Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands -1 member each The ninth member was the President, who was appointed by the eight other members

ECSC Despite being appointed by national governments, the members were not supposed to represent their national interest, but rather took an oath to defend the general interests of the Community as a whole. Their independence was aided by members being barred from having any occupation outside the Authority or having any business interests. Power The Authority's principle innovation was its supranational character. It had a broad area of competence to ensure the objectives of the treaty were met and that the common market functioned smoothly. The High Authority could issue three types of legal instruments: Decisions, which were entirely binding laws;Recommendations, which had binding aims but the methods were left to member states; and Opinions, which had no legal force.

ECSC The Common Assembly was composed of 78 representatives. The Common Assembly representatives were to be national MPs delegated each year by their Parliaments to the Assembly or directly elected 'by universal suffrage' (article 21), though in practice it was the former, as there was no requirement for elections until the Treaties of Rome and no actual election until 1979, as Rome required agreement in the Council on the electoral system first. However, to emphasise that the chamber was not a traditional international organisation composed of representatives of national governments, the Treaty of Paris used the term "representatives of the peoples". The Assembly was not originally specified in the Schuman Plan because it was hoped the Community would use the institutions (Assembly, Court) of the Council of Europe. When this became impossible because of British objections, separate institutions had to be created. The Assembly was intended as a democratic counter-weight and check to the High Authority, to advise but also to have power to sack the Authority for incompetence, injustice, corruption or fraud. The first President (akin to a Speaker) was Paul-Henri Spaak.

ECSC The Special Council of Ministers was composed of representatives of national governments. The Presidency was held by each state for a period of three months, rotating between them in alphabetical order. One of its key aspects was the harmonisation of the work of the High Authority. The Council was also required to issue opinions on certain areas of work of the High Authority. Issues relating only to coal and steel were in the exclusive domain of the High Authority, and in these areas the Council could only act as a scrutiny on the Authority. However, areas outside coal and steel required the consent of the Council.

ECSC The Court of Justice was to ensure the observation of ECSC law along with the interpretation and application of the Treaty. The Court was composed of 7 judges, appointed by common accord of the national governments for six years. There were no requirements that the judges had to be of a certain nationality, simply that they be qualified and that their independence be beyond doubt. The Court was assisted by 2 Advocates General. Foundation of European case law

ECSC ECSC mission (article 2) was general: to contribute to the expansion of the economy, the development of employment and the improvement of the standard of living of its citizens. In terms of coal and steel production, the Community had little effect with the sectors respectively decreased and increased relative to the world trends. Trade between members did increase (tenfold for coal) which saved members' money by not having to import resources from the United States, particularly where there were cutbacks in one state.

Rome Treaties In 1956,opened the  Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom at the Val Duchesse castle, which prepared for the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The conference led to the signature, on 25 March 1957, of the Treaty of Rome establishing a European Economic Community. Come into force 1 January 1958

EEC European Economical Community Common market for all spheres (except steel and coal), transition period – 12 years Institutions: - Council of European Economic Community - Commission of European Economic Community Assembly of European Economic Community  Court of Justice of the European Economic Community

Euratom European Atomic Energy Community Special competence (sector community) Not common market, but common scientific researches and industrial using (not in military purposes) Chapter 1 - Promotion of research Chapter 2 – Dissemination of information Chapter 3 – Health and safety Property law – Agency of Euratom

Euratom Institutions - Council of Euroatom Commission of Euroatom Assembly of European Euroatom  Court of Justice of Euroatom

Convention about common institutes

1960-s Merger Treaty Signed in Brussels on 8 April 1965 and came into force on 1 July 1967. Common institutions of all communities: Council Comission Assembly Court of justice

1970-s European Political Cooperation Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the EC member states tried to give the internal market a foreign policy dimension, but failed twice. The idea of the supranational European Defence Community of State and Government instructed their Foreign Ministers during The Hague summit (1969), to "study the best way of achieving progress in the matter of political unification, within the context of enlargement". The Foreign Ministers subsequently drafted the Luxembourg / Davignon report (1970), which created an informal intergovernmental consultation mechanism where member states could achieve 'politics of scale'

EDC The European Defence Community (EDC) was a plan proposed in 1950 by René Pleven, then the French Prime Minister, in response to theAmerican call for the rearmament of West Germany. The intention was to form a pan-European defence force as an alternative to Germany's proposed accession to NATO, meant to harness its military potential in case of conflict with the Soviet bloc. The EDC was to include West Germany, France, Italy, and the Benelux countries. A treaty was signed on 27 May 1952, but the plan never went into effect.

EPC 1969 – European leaders meeting, Hague Special committee “to study the best way of achieving progress in the matter of political unification, within the context of enlargement, included diplomats from member states”, head – Etienne Dovignon Report by the Foreign Ministers of the Member States on the problems of political unification 27 October, 1970, Luxemburg

Dovignon report The Davignon report, published on 27 October 1970, was a report on the future foreign policy of European Economic Community. The committee was appointed by the Council of the European Communities to make proposals on political cooperation between the member states. It recommended that member states should try to speak with a single voice on international problems, a proposal that was approved by all six member governments.

EPC The Ministers propose that: Being concerned to achieve progress towards political unification, the Governments should decide to cooperate in the field of foreign policy. I. Objectives This cooperation has two objectives: (a) To ensure greater mutual understanding with respect to the major issues of international politics, by exchanging information and .consulting regularly; (b) To increase their solidarity by working for a harmonization of views, concertation of attitudes and joint action when it appears feasible and desirable.

EPC II. Ministerial meetings 1. (a) The Foreign Ministers will meet at least once every six months, at the initiative of the President-inoffice. (b) A conference of Heads of State or Government may be held instead if the Foreign Ministers consider that the situation is serious enough or the subjects to be discussed are sufficiently important to warrant this. (c) In the event of a serious crisis or special urgency, an extraordinary consultation will be arranged between the Governments of the Member States. The President-in-office will get in touch with his colleagues to determine how such consultation can best be arranged. 2. The meetings shall be chaired by the Foreign Minister of the country providing the President of the Council of the European Communities. 3. The ministerial meetings shall be prepared by a committee of the heads of political departments.

EPC III. Political Committee 1. This Committee, comprising the heads of the political departments, will meet at least four times a year to do the groundwork for the ministerial meetings and to carry out any tasks entrusted to it by the Ministers. In exceptional circumstances the President-in-office may, after consulting his colleagues, convene this. Committee at his own initiative or at the request of one of the members. 2. The chairmanship of the Committee will be governed by the rules laid down for the ministerial meetings. 3. The Committee may set up working parties for special tasks. It may instruct a panel of experts to assemble data relating to a specific problem and to submit the possible solutions. 4. Any other form of consultation may be envisaged if the need arises. Since 1973 – group of European correspondents Institutions of European communities – consultative vote

1980-s Single European Act The SEA's signing grew from the discontent among European Community members in the 1980s about the de facto lack of free trade among them. Leaders from business and politics wanted to harmonise laws among countries and resolve policy discrepancies. Need of serious changes of Paris and Rome treaties

SEA Special conference, 1986 (Greese, GBr, Denmark against). The Danish parliament rejected the Single Act in January 1986 after an opposition motion calling for the then unsigned document to be renegotiated was passed by 80 votes to 75. The Danish government, who supported the treaty, decided to hold a national, non-binding referendum on the issue in order to overcome the treaty's rejection by the Danish parliament. This referendum was duly held on 27 February 1986 and approved by the Danish people by 56.2% voting in favour to 43.8% against on a turnout of 75.4%. Denmark signed the Single Act the following day in the Hague along with Italy and Greece who had also delayed in signing. The other nine member states signed the Single Act eleven days earlier in Luxembourg It had been originally intended to have the SEA ratified by the end of 1986 so that it would come into force on 1 January 1987 and 11 of the then 12 member states of the EEC had ratified the treaty by that date. The deadline failed to be achieved when the Irish government were restrained from ratifying the SEA pending court proceedings. In the court case, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that the Irish Constitution would have to be amended before the state could ratify the treaty, something that can only be done by referendum. Such a referendum was ultimately held on 26 May 1987 when the proposal was approved by Irish voters by 69.9% in favour to 30.1% against on a turnout of 44.1%. Ireland formally ratified the Single European Act in June 1987, allowing the treaty to come into force on 1 July.

SEA Aimed to create a "Single Market" in the Community by 31 December 1992 New spheres (regional, ecological, scientific and technological) Reform of institutes (Assembly  European Parliament, new powers; Council can adopt law by qualified majority, not unanimously: court reform) Title 3: Treaty provisions on European co-operation in the sphere of foreign policy

1990-s The Maastricht Treaty (the Treaty on European Union) was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty. Upon its entry into force on 1 November 1993 during the Delors Commission, it created the European Union and led to the creation of the single European currency, the euro. The Maastricht Treaty has been amended by the treaties of Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon.

TEU 1970 – idea to create universal union, based on communities Approved in 1972, plan – 1980 Practical stage after SEA Constitutional reforms in member states

TEU Following the preamble the treaty text is divided into six parts. Title 1, Common Provisions Article 1 establishes the European Union on the basis of the European Community and lays out the legal value of the treaties. The 2-nd article states that the EU is "founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities." The member states share a "society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail".

TEU Article 3 then states the aims of the EU in six points. to promote peace, European values and its citizen's well-being. free movement with external border controls are in place. internal market. establishing the euro. EU shall promote its values, contribute to eradicating poverty, observe human rights and respect the charter of the United Nations. EU shall pursue these objectives by "appropriate means" according with its competences given in the treaties. Article 4 relates to member states' sovereignty and obligations. Article 5 sets out the principles of conferral, subsidiarity and proportionality with respect to the limits of its powers. Article 6 binds the EU to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 7 deals with the suspension of a member state Article 8 deals with establishing close relations with neighbouring states.

TEU Title 2, Provisions on democratic principles Article 9 establishes the equality of national citizens and citizenship of the European Union. Article 10 declares that the EU is founded in representative democracy and that decisions must be taken as closely as possible to citizens. It makes reference to European political parties and how citizens are represented: directly in the Parliament and by their governments in the Council and European Council – accountable to national parliaments. Article 11 establishes government transparency, declares that broad consultations must be made and introduces provision for a petition where at least 1 million citizens may petition the Commission to legislate on a matter. Article 12 gives national parliaments limited involvement in the legislative process.

TEU Title 3, Provisions on the institutions Article 13 establishes the institutions in the following order and under the following names: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors. it obliges co-operation between these and limits their competencies to the powers within the treaties. Article 14 deals with the workings of Parliament and its election Article 15 with the European Council and its president Article 16 with the Council and its configurations Article 17 with the Commission and its appointment. Article 18 establishes the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy  Article 19 establishes the Court of Justice.

TEU Title 4, Provisions on enhanced cooperations Only one article which allows a limited number of member states to co-operate within the EU if others are blocking integration in that field. Title 5, General provisions on the Union's external action and specific provisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy Chapter 1. Article 21 deals with the principles that outline EU foreign policy; including compliance with the UN charter, promoting global trade, humanitarian support and global governance. Article 22 gives the European Council, acting unanimously, control over defining the EU's foreign policy. Chapter 2 is further divided into sections. The first, common provisions, details the guidelines and functioning of the EU's foreign policy, including establishment of the European External Action Service and member state's responsibilities. Section 2, articles 42 to 46, deal with military cooperation.

TEU Title 6, Final provisions Article 47 establishes a legal personality for the EU. Article 48 deals with the method of treaty amendment; specifically the ordinary and simplified revision procedures. Article 49 deals with applications to join the EU Article 50 with withdrawal. Article 51 deals with the protocols attached to the treaties Article 52 with the geographic application of the treaty. Article 53 states the treaty is in force for an unlimited period Article 54 deals with ratification Article 55 with the different language versions of the treaties.

TEU Policies and actions - the internal market; the free movement of goods, including the customs union;  agriculture and fisheries;  free movement of people, services and capital; the area of freedom, justice and security, including police and justice co-operation; transport policy;  competition, taxation and harmonisation of regulations; economic and monetary policy, including shifting on the euro; employment policy; the European Social Fund;

TEU education, vocational training, youth and sport policies; cultural policy; - public health; consumer protection;  Trans-European Networks; industrial policy; economic, social and territorial cohesion (reducing disparities in development); research and development and space policy; environmental policy;  energy policy; tourism; civil protection; and administrative co-operation

Pillars of EU

First pillar European Community (EC): Customs union and Single market Common Agricultural Policy Common Fisheries Policy EU competition law Economic and monetary union EU citizenship Education and Culture Trans-European Networks Consumer protection Healthcare Research (e.g. 7th Framework Programme) Environmental law Social policy Asylum policy Schengen treaty Immigration policy

Second and third pillars Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Foreign policy: Human rights Democracy Foreign aid Security policy: Common Security and Defence Policy EU battle groups Helsinki Headline Goal Force Catalogue Peacekeeping Intergovernmental cooperation method

Amsterdam treaty The Amsterdam Treaty, officially the Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty of the European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, was signed on 2 October 1997, and entered into force on 1 May 1999; it made substantial changes to theTreaty of Maastricht. The Treaty of Amsterdam meant a greater emphasis on citizenship and the rights of individuals, an attempt to achieve more democracy in the shape of increased powers for the European Parliament, a new title on employment, a Community area of freedom, security and justice, the beginnings of a common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the reform of the institutions in the run-up to enlargement.

Amsterdam treaty The treaty was the result of very long negotiations which began in Messina, Sicily on 2 June 1995, nearly forty years after the signing of the Treaties of Rome, and reached completion in Amsterdam on 18 June 1997. Following the formal signing of the Treaty on 2 October 1997, the Member States engaged in an equally long and complex ratification process. The European Parliament endorsed the Treaty on 19 November 1997, and after two referenda and 13 decisions by national parliaments, the Member States finally concluded the procedure.

Amsterdam treaty Amsterdam comprises 13 Protocols, 51 Declarations adopted by the Conference and 8 Declarations by Member States plus amendments to the existing Treaties set out in 15 Articles. Article 1 (containing 16 paragraphs) amends the general provisions of the Treaty on European Union and covers the CFSP and cooperation in criminal and police matters. The next four Articles (70 paragraphs) amend the EC Treaty, the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty (which expired in 2002), the Euratom Treaty and the Act concerning the election of the European Parliament. The final provisions contain four Articles. The new Treaty also set out to simplify the Community Treaties, deleting more than 56 obsolete articles and renumbering the rest in order to make the whole more legible.

Amsterdam treaty legal and personal security, immigration and fraud prevention EU will now be able to legislate on immigration,  civil law or civil procedure, in so far as this is necessary for the free movement of persons within the EU. cooperation in the police and criminal justice field, Member States can coordinate their activities/ The Union aims to establish an area of freedom, security and justice for its citizens. The Schengen Agreements incorporated into the legal system of the EU (Ireland and the UK remained outside the Schengen agreement).

Amsterdam treaty Enlargement of European parliament functions Veto – less possibilities for use New numeration of articles in treaties Text change of treaties (taking off old phrases) Common principles of constitutional system, sanctions for trespass

Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 1 February 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome. The Treaty of Nice reformed the institutional structure of the European Union to withstand eastward expansion, a task which was originally intended to have been done by the Amsterdam Treaty, but failed to be addressed at the time. The entrance into force of the treaty was in doubt for a time, after its initial rejection by Irish voters in a referendum in June 2001. This referendum result was reversed in a subsequent referendum held a little over a year later.

Treaty of Nice In all the EU member states the Treaty of Nice was ratified by parliamentary procedure, except in Ireland where the government decided that a constitutional amendment would be required.  To the surprise of the Irish government and the other EU member states Irish voters rejected the Treaty of Nice in June 2001. The turnout itself was low (34%). The Irish government, having obtained the Seville Declaration on Ireland's policy of military neutrality from the European Council, decided to have another referendum on the Treaty of Nice on Saturday, 19 October 2002. The result was a 60% "Yes“.

Treaty of Nice - The Treaty provided for an increase after enlargement of the number of seats in the European Parliament to 732 (before 788) - The question of a reduction in the size of the European Commission after enlargement was resolved to a degree — the Treaty providing that once the number of Member States reached 27, the number of Commissioners appointed in the subsequent Commission would be reduced by the Council to below 27, but without actually specifying the target of that reduction. As a transitional measure it specified that after 1 January 2005, Germany, France, theUnited Kingdom, Italy and Spain would each give up their second Commissioner. - The Treaty provided for the creation of subsidiary courts below the European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance to deal with special areas of law such as patents. - The Treaty of Nice provides for new rules on closer co-operation, the rules introduced in the Treaty of Amsterdam being viewed as unworkable, and hence these rules have not yet been used.

2000-s The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enshrines certain political, social, and economic rights for European Union (EU) citizens and residents into EU law. It was drafted by the European Convention and solemnly proclaimed on 7 December 2000 by the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. However its then legal status was uncertain and it did not have full legal effect until the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union The Charter contains some 54 articles divided into seven titles. The first six titles deal with substantive rights under the headings: dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens' rights and justice, while the last title deals with the interpretation and application of the Charter. Much of Charter is based on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), European Social Charter, the case-law of the European Court of Justice and pre-existing provisions of European Union law.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union The first title, dignity, guarantees the right to life and prohibits torture, slavery, the death penalty, eugenic practices and human cloning. The second title covers liberty, personal integrity, privacy, protection of personal data, marriage, thought, religion, expression, assembly, education, work, property and asylum. The third title covers equality before the law, prohibition of all discrimination including on basis of disability, age and sexual orientation, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, the rights of children and the elderly. The fourth title covers social and workers' rights including the right to fair working conditions, protection against unjustified dismissal, and access to health care, social and housing assistance.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union The fifth title covers the rights of the EU citizens such as the right to vote in election to the European Parliament and to move freely within the EU. It also includes several administrative rights such as a right to good administration, to access documents and to petition the European Parliament. The sixth title covers justice issues such as the right to an effective remedy, a fair trial, to the presumption of innocence, the principle of legality, non-retrospectivity and double jeopardy. The seventh title concerns the interpretation and application of the Charter. These issues are dealt with above.

Laken declaration December 2001, Laken convent, Convention on the Future of Europe European Union need Constitution European Convent, 105 delegates+102 assistants (February 2002 – July 2003) Intergovernmental conference 29 October 2004, Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, Rome

Constitution On 12 January 2005 the European Parliament voted a legally non-binding resolution in support of the Constitution by 500 votes in favour to 137 votes against, with 40 abstentions. Before an EU treaty can enter into force, it must be ratified by all member states. Ratification takes different forms in each country, depending on its traditions, constitutional arrangements and political processes. 

Constitution On 20 April 2004 then British prime minister Tony Blair unexpectedly promised a referendum, a proposal which he had previously rejected. A further seven member states announced or had already announced that they would hold referendums on the Constitution. These being Denmark, France,Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. On 20 February 2005 Spain was the first country to hold a referendum on the Constitution. The referendum approved the Constitution by 76% of the votes, although participation was only around 43%. On 29 May 2005 the French public rejected the Constitution by margin of 55% to 45% on a turn out of 69%. And just three days later the Dutch rejected the constitution by a margin of 61% to 39% on a turnout of 62%. Notwithstanding the rejection in France and the Netherlands, Luxembourg held a referendum on 10 July 2005 approving the Constitution by 57% to 43%. It was the last referendum to be held on the Constitution as all of the other member states that had proposed to hold referendums cancelled them.

Constitution Under the TCE, the Council of the European Union would have been formally renamed the "Council of Ministers", which is already its informal title. The "General Affairs Council" would have been formally split from the "Foreign Affairs Council", which had informally held meetings separately since June 2002. The TCE included a flag, an anthem and a motto, which had previously not had treaty recognition, although none of them is new.

Constitution As stated in Articles I-1 and I-2, the Union is open to all European States that respect the member states' common values, namely: human dignity freedom democracy equality the rule of law respect for human rights minority rights free market

Parliamentary power and transparency President of the Commission: The candidate for President of the European Commission would be proposed by the European Council, after consultation with MEPs, and would be elected by the European Parliament. Parliament would have the final say. Parliament as co-legislature: The European Parliament would acquire equal legislative power under the codecision procedure with the Council in virtually all areas of policy. Previously, it had this power in most cases but not all. Meeting in public: The Council of Ministers would be required to meet in public when debating all new laws. Currently, it meets in public only for texts covered under the Codecision procedure. Budget: The final say over the EU's annual budget would be given to the European Parliament. Agricultural spending would no longer be ring-fenced, and would be brought under the Parliament's control. Role of national parliaments: Member states' national parliaments would be given a new role in scrutinising proposed EU laws, and would be entitled to object if they feel a proposal oversteps the boundary of the Union's agreed areas of responsibility. If the Commission wishes to ignore such an objection, it would be forced to submit an explanation to the parliament concerned and to the Council of Ministers. Popular mandate (aka initiative): The Commission would be invited to consider any proposal "on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Constitution" which has the support of one million citizens. The mechanism by which this would be put into practice has yet to be agreed.

Treaty of Lisbon The Treaty of Lisbon ( the Reform Treaty) is an international agreement which amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU). The Lisbon Treaty was signed by the EU member states on 13 December 2007, and entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amends the Maastricht Treaty (also known as the Treaty on European Union) and the Treaty of Rome (also known as the Treaty establishing the European Community). In this process, the Rome Treaty was renamed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Ratification The European Parliament approved the Treaty by 525 votes in favour and 115 against on 20 February 2008 Problems in Ireland and Check republic Ireland The result of 1st referendum on 12 June 2008 was in opposition to the treaty, with 53.4% against the Treaty and 46.6% in favour, in a 53.1% turnout. On 10 September, the government published the more in-depth research analysis on voters' stated reasons for voting yes or no: this concluded that the primary reason for rejection was "lack of knowledge/information/ understanding". The second referendum on the treaty took place on 2 October 2009. The final result was 67.1% in favour to 32.9% against, with a turnout of 59%

Check republic Both houses of the Czech parliament have ratified the treaty, in February and May 2009. However, President Václav Klaus was opposed to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty at that time. In September 2008, he had also stated that he would not sign the treaty until Ireland had ratified it. Prior to that, President Klaus stated that he was awaiting the verdict of the Constitutional Court concerning a complaint submitted by senators against certain parts of the treaty. The Court dismissed this complaint on 26 November 2008. However, the senators proceeded to request the Constitutional Court to assess the treaty as a whole. On 29 September 2009 a group of Czech senators lodged a fresh complaint with the Constitutional Court. According to Czech Constitution, the treaty cannot be ratified until a ruling of the Constitutional Court is delivered. Beside the constitutional challenge president Klaus, notwithstanding Czech parliament approval of the treaty, asked for an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. He said that, were the charter to gain full legal strength, it would jeopardise the Beneš decrees, and in particular the decree that confiscated, without giving compensation, the properties ofGermans and Hungarians during the Second World War. These decrees are still part of the domestic law of both Czech Republic and Slovakia (the latter not having requested any exemption from the charter).

Check republic On 2 October 2009, Ireland voted for the treaty in the second referendum, thereby removing one of Klaus's earlier objections to him signing the treaty. On 12 October 2009, the Czech government agreed to adopt Klaus's demand as its own assuming that the president would sign if they successfully negotiated the opt-out, and if the Constitutional Court ruled that the treaty was compatible with the Czech constitution. The opt-out was agreed by other member states of the EU in the European Council on 29 October 2009. On 3 November 2009, the Czech Constitutional Court approved the treaty, clearing the way for President Klaus to sign it,which he did that afternoon. The Czech instrument of ratification was then deposited with the Italian Government on 13 November 2009.

Institutions European Parliament European Commission Council of the European Union Court of Justice of the European Union European Court of Auditors European Council European Central Bank