European Union "under reconstruction"

Lisboa lead out the deadlock

The Lisboa Treaty officially signed on 13th December is intended to enter into force on 1st January 2009. It contains a simplified mechanism to adopt EU legislation and extend the Commission's competences to new areas such as judicial co-operation. But the lack of transparency can be the cost for the consensus and the text can be largely unreadable to the average citizen


By MARCO RICIPUTI
from Ravenna, ITALY


After the double 'NO' of France and Netherlands in 2005 on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty, a "period of reflection" on the future of Europe was launched to reconnect the citizens with the European project and to decide the fate of the Constitution. The failed consultations stopped the 'Constitutional process' of the European Union launched with the Charter of Fundamental Right declared in Nice in 2000.

Angela-Gordon 1-0

The deadlock was over passed only in Berlin, celebrating the EU's 50th anniversary last March. There, EU leaders vowed to put the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009. This was the aim of the Berlin Declaration strongly warmed by Angela Merkel.

The role of the German Chancellor was stressed by José Sócrates, President of the EU Council, at the signing ceremony. 'With the Treaty of Lisboa Europe finally overcomes the political and institutional impasse that limited its capacity to act during the last few years' he said, 'and it is only right to recognize, that this process was successful just because of the engagement of Chancellor Angela Merkel'.

The ceremony at the gothic Mosteiro dos Jerónimos has been a solemn ceremony where the participants were surrounded by choreography of blue light. Well, almost all. Because Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of UK missed the opening. He was too busy and came in Lisbon to sign only in the afternoon. Gordon Brown was criticized in UK because he didn't call a national referendum on the Reform Treaty that many, in the British public opinion, consider the same of the dead Constitution Treaty.

Signing thinking to the Balkans

Despite the Gordon affairs, the main concern of the Heads of State was the Balkans. After the ceremony they met and the day after they agreed about 1,800-strong police and civilian mission in the Serbian region of Kosovo, although Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain expressed their concerns over such decision. A move that the Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica considers inacceptable.

Furthermore, the signing of the Treaty doesn't close the never-ending reflection status of the EU. First of all, the Treaty must be ratify. Hungary did it few days after Lisbon, but the whole process is expected to end in the 2009 and the lights are on Ireland and UK, two countries where referenda can accour. A scenario that the Heads of State hope to avoid. For instance, for the "group of wise" appointed to discuss the future of the UE is strictly forbidden to talk about institutional affairs because can interfere with the ratification discussion in the member states.

Is different but the same thing

But are the Reform Treaty and the rejected Constitutional Treaty the same thing? Is true that you can't find anymore some issues like the symbol and anthem of the EU as well the word "Constitution". Then the Charter of Fundamental Rights is not included in the treaty even if it has been signed by Barroso, Poettering and Socrates - representatives of the three main institutions of EU - and will be annexed as separate declaration and legally binding as the new treaty will be in force.

On institutional level, the treaty introduce double majority rule for Council decisions but due the Polish opposition, the new voting system will only apply from 2014. Furthermore, the Ioannina clause is included in a separate protocol and allows to a minority of member states to delay key decisions taken by qualified majority in the Council.

Finally, the EU Council will chair by a permanent President instead of the six months rotation. The role of the national parliaments was reinforced and the number of the Commissioners reduced from 27 to 15. The Union has now a single legal personality and an exit clause was introduced making it possible for members to leave the EU.

One should admit the Reform Treaty looks similar to the Constitutional Treaty. Both are not 'citizen friendly' and online there are already some guides to download to the Schuman Centre and the Andrew Duff - liberal member of the EU Parliament - websites as well anEU dedicated portal.

Both the radical part of the euro-skeptic and pro-Europe front can complains. The first lose the opportunities to block the integration process after the French and Netherland referenda. The second see the door of the Constitutional method to reform the Union closed probably for a long time.


(Published: 10.01.2008.)

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