The Lisbon Treaty: Bringing the union to a new phase

THE Lisbon Treaty changes the way the European Union functions.

Lisbon brings the union into a new phase. The first, from 1957 to 1993, was a functional non-political one where technical details were agreed to allow the common market to be created.

The second phrase began with the Maastricht Treaty and has been concerned with creating a political entity. Jan-Peter Paul, a member of the commission, treaty expert and author, sees the Lisbon Treaty as bringing us into the completion of the EU. It has not become a federation, but sharing an average of 410 new pieces of legislation and thousands of decisions each year certainly deepens the relationships between the member states.

How the union operates can be hard to understand because the structures are unique and do not have equivalents in national governments. So the commission is a civil service – but not quite; the council representing the member states is a government, but not quite; and the parliament is made up of elected representatives but does not have a party in power and a government like the Dáil.

This is further complicated by the union operating under three forms of democracy, explains Mr Paul. The parliament and Council of Ministers is a representative democracy; the MEPs and the ministers in the council are directly elected by their national citizens; while the commission represents a third form of democracy with commissioners nominated by member states to look after the common good of the union.

The Lisbon Treaty will not change this overall structure but tries to streamline how decisions are made and will expand the number of areas where the EU has a role.

The Lisbon Treaty began life as the European Constitution, The treaty is over 95% the same document, retaining the essential structures drawn up by what was the most democratic process ever for a treaty — certainly in the EU.

If Ireland and the remaining 10 countries pass it, most of it will come into force on January 1 next.