The Lisbon Treaty, which came into force on the 1st December of 2009, is a major revision of the former treaties concerning the European Union. It changed a lot of the structures of the Union to which many citizens have grown used to. For example, the “pillar-structure” of the EU, which was implemented by the Maastricht Treaty, is gone. It is a big step towards a more (political) integrated and an “ever closer Union”. In the first part of this essay the changes the Lisbon Treaty introduced to
the political institutions will be discussed. The second part will show how integration might look like post-Lisbon and whether there will be further integration in form of further revisions of the treaty.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Institutional Changes under the Lisbon Treaty
2.1. The European Parliament
2.2. European Council - Europe’s most exclusive club
2.3. The Commission
3. European Integration post-Lisbon?
3.1. Possibilities without changing the Treaties
3.2. Another revision of the Treaties?
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the institutional shifts triggered by the Lisbon Treaty, identifying the "winners" and "losers" among EU bodies and analyzing the future prospects for European integration within the existing legal framework.
- The shifting balance of power between the European Parliament, the European Council, and the Commission.
- The impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on democratic legitimacy and institutional effectiveness.
- Potential pathways for further integration without requiring additional treaty revisions.
- The challenges of building a supranational European identity amidst persistent national political perspectives.
Excerpt from the book
2.1. The European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is the only institution within the EU which is directly elected. Therefore, it argues that it has the most democratic legitimacy, though, as the German federal constitutional court laid out, elections do not “take due account of equality” compared to the requirements which are in place for democracy in states. A German MEP represents 860.000 citizens compared to a MEP from Malta, which represents 66.000 citizens. Those facts do not support a strong democratic legitimacy.
However, after the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, the EP gained some significance compared with the powers it had before. For one, the EP’s power concerning the Union’s Budget was increased. The distinction between compulsory and non-compulsory expenditure, which was in place before Lisbon, was dismissed. Therefore, the EP has now the right to amend all expenditures. Secondly, the legislative role of the EP increased, as the Treaty of Lisbon changed the number of policy areas were codecision (between EP and Council, now called ‘ordinary legislative procedure’) is necessary from 43 under the Treaty of Nice to 80. Also the EP has now some veto-rights in certain areas. The president of the Commission is now to be elected by the EP on proposal of the European Council. This proposal has to take the outcome of the last election for the EP into account. Conclusively, the EP plays now a much more important role then it did pre-Lisbon. It now participates in nearly every policy area. European legislature is dependent on the approval of the EP in many areas. One is justified in saying, that the European Parliament is one of the big winners under the Treaty of Lisbon. However, from the EP’s point of view the extension of its powers did not go far enough – again with the argument that the EP is the body with the most democracy legitimacy - as it sill has to share legislative competence with the Commission and the Council, but as long as the allocation of seats remains unchanged with the principle of digressive proportionality, the EP will not heal the democratic deficit. More power will not change that.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the significance of the Lisbon Treaty as a major institutional revision that moves the Union towards a more integrated political structure.
2. Institutional Changes under the Lisbon Treaty: This chapter details how the powers of the European Parliament and the European Council have expanded, while the Commission has experienced a relative loss of power and increased accountability.
3. European Integration post-Lisbon?: This section explores whether further integration is possible through existing treaty provisions or if a new formal revision process would be required.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the shift in institutional power and reflects on the nebulous future of further European integration and the challenge of overcoming Euroscepticism.
Keywords
Lisbon Treaty, European Union, European Parliament, European Council, European Commission, Institutional Reform, Democratic Deficit, European Integration, Legislative Procedure, Judicial Review, Supranationalism, Intergovernmentalism, Treaty Revision, Political Identity, Qualified Majority Vote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the institutional changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty and evaluates the resulting shift in power dynamics among major European Union institutions.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in this work?
The main themes include institutional reform, the evolving legislative roles of the Parliament and Council, the power constraints placed on the Commission, and future prospects for political integration.
What is the central research question?
The work seeks to answer who the winners and losers of the Lisbon Treaty are and explores the possibilities and limitations of future European integration post-Lisbon.
Which methodology is applied in this analysis?
The paper utilizes a qualitative political and legal analysis, relying on treaty documentation, academic literature, and case law to assess the structural changes of the Union.
What is addressed in the main body of the text?
The main body examines specific institutional shifts in the European Parliament, the European Council, and the Commission, followed by an evaluation of future integration paths without new treaty changes.
What are the essential keywords associated with the work?
The paper is characterized by terms such as Lisbon Treaty, European Union, institutional reform, democratic deficit, and supranational integration.
Why is the Commission considered a "loser" under the Lisbon Treaty?
The Commission is categorized as a loser because its powers have been constrained by increased accountability to the Parliament and Council, including the ability of these bodies to block delegated legislation.
What is the role of the President of the European Council regarding integration?
The author discusses the theoretical possibility of a "double-president"—one person heading both the Council and the Commission—as a potential driver for a more unified European identity.
How does the author view the likelihood of further treaty revisions?
The author is skeptical about near-future treaty revisions, citing the difficulty of the Lisbon process and the lack of desire among current EU leaders for further reform.
- Quote paper
- Katja Breucker (Author), 2011, Winners and Losers of Lisbon and Further Possibilities of European Integration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/190293
