The Treaty of Lisbon: Reforming the European Union Essay

The Treaty of Lisbon is an agreement that brings various European countries together in order to enhance democracy, efficiency, and transparency in Europe; it also aims at forming knowledge-based economies that promote sustainable development and social cohesion under the guidance of two key organs – European Union and European Community. Generally, the mandate of the treaty includes reforming the structure of the European Union and its mode of operations within member countries. The history of the reform process can be traced back to the time when the European constitution was drawn to replace earlier treaties signed in Rome in 2004. Before being accepted, members were expected to ratify it. Following the collapse of the European constitution, it was shelved and the Treaty of Lisbon was enacted to replace it in 2007. However, the treaty became effective in 2009 on ratification by all members based on the constitutional requirement.

Generally, the Treaty of Lisbon seeks to achieve various objectives, including enhancing democracy and transparency in Europe thorough the European parliament; this would not only strengthen the voice of citizens, but also increase participation of national parliaments in facilitating reforms. Additionally, the Treaty intends to enhance efficiency among member countries of European Union, especially in relation to decision and policymaking, institutional frameworks, and living standards of citizens. The next objective of the Treaty is to promote and reinforce human rights and values, preserve fundamental freedom of all citizens and enhance solidarity among European countries. Finally, the Treaty works as a framework for international relations with the global community.

The Treaty of Lisbon is necessary in order to set precedence to modernization and create room for reforms amongst the 27 European Union members who operate under rules governing 15 of its members. The process that runs back to history has sought to find the right platform to use the avenues under its authority as well as empower action. The need has been prompted by challenges facing all nations such as climate change, terror, insecurity, threat to energy and other global concerns.

The Treaty of Lisbon has significantly achieved its success as evidenced by democracy that has increased participation, decision making and openness.¹ Indeed, citizens’ participation has promoted transparency and amplified the voice of people. The Treaty of Lisbon, according to Europa website, is said to strengthen the Union’s capacity, which has promoted coherence; it has also set various policies aimed at enhancing citizens’ success and modern structures that work amongst the 27 member states.²

The European Union reforms process under the Treaty of Lisbon’s Article 10 provides democratic principles seeking to strengthen the mandate of European parliament and citizens’ participation to enhance democratic values of the European Union.³ The Treaty has provisions that seek to reinforce democratic representation and participation. This is highlighted to be achieved through representative democracy, which gives room for empowered institutions like the European parliament and National and Regional organs as stipulated in the European Union Act. On participation, the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon will establish new avenues of communication that will comprise the civil society, which is likely to boost member citizens’ initiatives.

The Treaty, though feted, is likely to water down the gains that would be realized by a powerful European council. Such would include failure to recognize the constitution status, removal of political emblems, not recognizing the charter’s fundamental rights and failure to take a series of amendments to the existing treaties. However, some achievements are likely to be gained as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon mainly due to expansion of the treaty to the Eastern part of Europe as well as redefining its mandate. That enlargement is associated with diversity of views, which might delay decisions and impede development. Furthermore, some benefits accrue for the council as a result of collective voting and additional rights bestowed on the European parliament, which change it into a true organ for making laws. Finally, reducing the number of commissioners can either reinforce or diminish its position.

Social dimensions to the Treaty of Lisbon have witnessed challenges in the 21^st century occasioned by advancement in technology, globalization, and demographic changes. However, the fruits of the Treaty are evident in the case of Slovenian presidency achievements, especially in pushing for the achievement of reforms.⁴ Importantly, efforts are aimed at improving the lives of young people and adopting measures for gender balance. On climate concerns, the European commission in 2008 adopted a pact during the European council meeting, which declared that political solution was necessary for timely adoption among member states by the end of the same year. The need to share burden was seen as key and the meeting ended with calls for adoption of the 2012 comprehensive global agreement. Nevertheless, the major breakthrough in the presidency in the energy sector was the agreement on legislative package for a liberated electricity and gas market.

The significance of the Treaty of Lisbon may be viewed by pointing at the following loopholes. The treaty is viewed to make the British border porous, permitting European Union to take full control over asylum and immigration policies. This has an impact of threatening jobs due to competition that the free market brings, thus eroding the gains made by Thatcher. There is also the danger of reigning in the oil reserves, which is likely to bring disarray to the North oil reserve. The other concern is the disquiet voice, which points at the treaty being similar to the one rejected in French and Dutch forums.

Sectoral gains that are expected include regional cooperation and economic development. Specifically, this involves a call to introduce a common visa, transport agreement on European commission, and setting of the western Balkan investment Framework. The ‘co-decision procedure’, as put forth by Jean-Baptiste Jacquet, allowed the European parliament to be co-equal decision maker with the council of ministers, allowing its opinion in making law significant.⁵ This made the council to consider the amendments proposed by European parliament, leading to the principle of subsidiary; thus, the union was to act when the objectives were fitting and suited to demands of all member states.

There are several important achievements of the Treaty of Lisbon in reference to European reformation. First, it is seen to create an exceptional state by virtue of constitution. Secondly, it elevates the New European Union as a state that encompasses other states comprising its citizens, thus guaranteeing citizens’ status rights. Other notable milestones include creation of the union parliament for the subjects, a cabinet government for the union, and a political president with the benefits of civil participation. Parliament is made second to the union, thus increasing its powers for own capacity.

Abdulla Aziz points at several changes brought by the Treaty of Lisbon including guarantee of fundamental rights and human rights, as well as adoption of the charter on fundamental rights by altering Article six of the Treaty.⁶ These rights are both economic and social, and include the right to partial trial, same labor rights, right to family belonging and professionalism, and right to information, collective bargain, and protection from victimization. Social benefits have been tailored towards meeting social needs such as promoting employment, promoting advancement tertiary education, challenging social exclusion, and spearheading complete social change.

It is important to examine foreign issues in relation to the Treaty of Lisbon reforming European Union. The Treaty has a foreign policy allowing European Union to delegate powers in areas such as defense, military actions, and external relations. The initial expectations were to set way for immediate transfer of power in the future; however, this has faced setbacks since it is expected to be a gradual process that has been slowed down by rigorous requirements of compelled voting to facilitate the move at future dates.

In conclusion, EU power in foreign policy is expected to be enhanced and member states weakened, based on the initial premise of transfer. With a move in place to set EU foreign policy that will make EU boast of experts to initiate dialogue with the foreign government and the business community, there is likely to be major success in enhancing reforms within members of the Treaty of Lisbon. Nevertheless, the fruits of the Treaty can be evidenced by the increased democratic space and economic strides observed in European Union nations.

Works Cited

Achievements of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council 2008. Web.

Aziz, Abdulla. “Innovation and changes brought by the Lisbon Treaty: The social Aspect.” International journal of social sciences and Humanity studies 3.2 (2011): 1-8. Print.

Jacquet, Jean-Baptiste. The significance of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty for the Working of the European Union 2012. Web.

The Treaty of Lisbon 2014. Web.

Treaty of Lisbon – question and Answers 2014. Web.

Footnotes

1. The Treaty of Lisbon”. Web.
2. “Treaty of Lisbon – question and Answers,” (2014). Web.
3. “The Treaty of Lisbon”. Web.
4. “Achievements of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council,” (2008). Web.
5. J. Jacquet, (2012). “The significance of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty for the Working of the European Union”. Web.
6. Abdulla Aziza, “Innovation and changes brought by the Lisbon Treaty: The social Aspect,” International journal of social sciences and Humanity studies, Vol 3. No 2 (2011): 1-8. Web.