EU’s Treaty Of Lisbon: A Landmark Reform Treaty

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed by the 27-nation Europe Union heads of state (Dec.13, 2007), was drawn to replace the EU’s original constitution which was rejected by French and Dutch “no” votes at referendums in 2005. It has yet to be ratified individually by member states before it can come into effect in 2009.

The treaty proposes a new president post, a figurehead to replace the current six-month rotating presidency system and the European foreign policy supremo. If ratified, it would cut the size of the European Parliament and the number of EU decisions, thus reducing national vetoes. It also includes a European charter of fundamental human and legal rights, which Britain and Poland have refused to make binding. On the other hand, it drops all references to an EU flag or anthem, which had created fears of another step toward a federal Europe.