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  • Amelia Gora February 20, 2012 at 5:41am

    http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/full_text/index_en.htm

    Full text of the Treaty

    Some pages of the Treaty on display

    The Treaty of Lisbon amends the EU's two core treaties, the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community. The latter is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In addition, several Protocols and Declarations are attached to the Treaty.

    The Treaty of Lisbon

    Order your printed copy of the Treaty of Lisbon or download the PDF...

    A consolidated text of the two core Treaties, integrating the modifications which the Treaty of Lisbon lists in its articles, is also available.

    Consolidated versions of the Treaties as amended by the Treaty of L...

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    • Amelia Gora > Amelia Gora February 20, 2012 at 5:46am

      The Treaty at a glance

      Small man-like figure walking on a page of the Treaty

      On 1 December 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, thus ending several years of negotiation about institutional issues.

      The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It provides the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.

      1. A more democratic and transparent Europe, with a strengthened role for the European Parliament and national parliaments, more opportunities for citizens to  have  their voices heard and a clearer sense of who does what at European and national level.
        • A strengthened role for the European Parliament: the European Parliament, directly elected by EU citizens, is provided with important new powers regarding EU legislation, the EU budget and international agreements. In particular, the increase of co-decision procedure in policy-making ensures that the European Parliament is placed on an equal footing with the Council, representing Member States, for the vast bulk of EU legislation.
        • A greater involvement of national parliaments: national parliaments have greater opportunities to be involved in the work of the EU, in particular thanks to a new mechanism to monitor that the Union only acts where results can be better attained at EU level (subsidiarity). Together with the strengthened role for the European Parliament, it will enhance democracy and increase legitimacy in the functioning of the Union.
        • A stronger voice for citizens: thanks to the Citizens' Initiative, one million citizens from a number of Member States have the possibility to call on the Commission to bring forward new policy proposals.
        • Who does what: the relationship between the Member States and the European Union become clearer with the categorisation of competences.
        • Withdrawal from the Union: the Treaty of Lisbon explicitly recognises for the first time the possibility for a Member State to withdraw from the Union.
      2. A more efficient Europe, with simplified working methods and voting rules, streamlined and modern institutions for a EU of 27 members and an improved ability to act in areas of major priority for today's Union.
        • Effective and efficient decision-making: qualified majority voting in the Council is extended to new policy areas to make decision-making faster and more efficient. From 2014 on, the calculation of qualified majority will be based on the double majority of Member States and people, thus representing the dual legitimacy of the Union. A double majority will be achieved when a decision is taken by 55% of the Member States representing at least 65% of the Union’s population.
        • A more stable and streamlined institutional framework: the Treaty of Lisbon creates the function of President of the European Council elected for two and a half years, introduces a direct link between the election of the Commission President and the results of the European elections, provides for new arrangements for the future composition of the European Parliament, and includes clearer rules on enhanced cooperation and financial provisions.
        • Improving the life of Europeans: the Treaty of Lisbon improves the EU's ability to act in several policy areas of major priority for today's Union and its citizens. This is the case in particular for the policy areas of freedom, security and justice, such as combating terrorism or tackling crime. It also concerns to some extent other areas including energy policy, public health, civil protection, climate change, services of general interest, research, space, territorial cohesion, commercial policy, humanitarian aid, sport, tourism and administrative cooperation.
      3. A Europe of rights and values, freedom, solidarity and security, promoting the Union's values, introducing the Charter of Fundamental Rights into European primary law, providing for new solidarity mechanisms and ensuring better protection of European citizens.
        • Democratic values: the Treaty of Lisbon details and reinforces the values and objectives on which the Union is built. These values aim to serve as a reference point for European citizens and to demonstrate what Europe has to offer its partners worldwide.
        • Citizens' rights and Charter of Fundamental Rights: the Treaty of Lisbon preserves existing rights while introducing new ones. In particular, it guarantees the freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and gives its provisions a binding legal force. It concerns civil, political, economic and social rights.
        • Freedom of European citizens: the Treaty of Lisbon preserves and reinforces the "four freedoms" and the political, economic and social freedom of European citizens.
        • Solidarity between Member States: the Treaty of Lisbon provides that the Union and its Member States act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the subject of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster.  Solidarity in the area of energy is also emphasised.
        • Increased security for all: the Union gets an extended capacity to act on freedom, security and justice, which brings direct benefits in terms of the Union's ability to fight crime and terrorism. New provisions on civil protection, humanitarian aid and public health also aim at boosting the Union's ability to respond to threats to the security of European citizens.
      4. Europe as an actor on the global stagewill be achieved by bringing together Europe's external policy tools, both when developing and deciding new policies. The Treaty of Lisbon gives Europe a clear voice in relations with its partners worldwide. It harnesses Europe's economic, humanitarian, political and diplomatic strengths to promote European interests and values worldwide, while respecting the particular interests of the Member States in Foreign Affairs.
        • A new High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also Vice-President of the Commission, will increase the impact, the coherence and the visibility of the EU's external action.
        • A new European External Action Service will provide back up and support to the High Representative.
        • A single legal personality for the Union will strengthen the Union's negotiating power, making it more effective on the world stage and a more visible partner for third countries and international organisations.
        • Progress in European Security and Defence Policy will preserve special decision-making arrangements but also pave the way towards reinforced cooperation amongst a smaller group of Member States.

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      In your country

      The Treaty of Lisbon, officially signed by the Heads of the Member States on 13 December 2007, entered into force on 1 December 2009. It was ratified by each Member State. The procedure by which this was done varied from country to country, depending on each Member State’s constitutional system. Click on the map to find more info on how the ratification procedure was in your country!

      Map of Europe
      • Countries where the Treaty has been ratified.

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      • Amelia Gora > Amelia Gora February 20, 2012 at 5:46am
        AustriaAustriapic-au.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 13/05/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European CommissionDeutsch
        European Parliament information officeDeutsch

        Related websites:
        Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
        Austrian Chancellery Deutsch

        BelgiumBelgiumpic-be.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 15/10/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European CommissionDeutschfrançaisNederlands
        European Parliament information officeDeutschfrançaisNederlands

        BulgariaBulgariapic-bg.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 28/04/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionбългарски
        European Parliament information officeбългарски

        CyprusCypruspic-cy.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 26/08/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commission
        European Parliament information officeελληνικά

        Czech RepublicCzech Republicpic-cs.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 03/11/2009

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissiončeština
        European Parliament information officečeština

        Related websites:
        Euroskop.cz - Czech on the membership in the EU čeština

        DenmarkDenmarkpic-da.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 29/05/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissiondansk
        European Parliament information officedansk

        Related websites:
        EU Information Centre dansk
        Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark dansk

        EstoniaEstoniapic-et.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 23/09/08

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissioneesti keel
        European Parliament information officeeesti keel

        FinlandFinlandpic-fi.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 30/09/08

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionsuomisvenska
        European Parliament information officesuomisvenska

        Related websites:
        Europe Information

        FranceFrancepic-fr.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 14/02/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionfrançais
        European Parliament information officefrançais

        Related websites:
        Toute l'Europe.fr français

        GermanyGermanypic-de.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 25/09/2009

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European CommissionDeutsch
        European Parliament information officeDeutsch

        GreeceGreecepic-el.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 12/08/08

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionελληνικά
        European Parliament information officeελληνικά

        HungaryHungarypic-hu.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 2008/02/06

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionmagyar
        European Parliament information officemagyar

        Related websites:
        "Euvonal": the Foreign Ministry's EU information servicemagyar

        IrelandIrelandpic-ir.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Referendum

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 23/10/2009

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commission
        European Parliament information office

        Related websites:
        Referendum Commission's Lisbon Treaty 2009
        Department of Foreign Affairs

        ItalyItalypic-it.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 08/08/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionitaliano
        European Parliament information officeitaliano

        Related websites:
        Department for Community Policies italiano

        LatviaLatviapic-lv.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 16/06/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionlatviešu valoda
        European Parliament information officelatviešu valoda

        Related websites:
        Ministry of Foreign Affairs
        European Information Union Agency

        LithuaniaLithuaniapic-lt.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 26/08/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionlietuvių kalba
        European Parliament information officelietuvių kalba

        LuxembourgLuxembourgpic-lu.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 21/07/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionfrançais

        Related websites:
        europaforum.lufrançais
        Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg français

        MaltaMaltapic-mt.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 06/02/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European CommissionMalti
        European Parliament information officeMalti

        PolandPolandpic-pl.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 13/10/2009

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionpolski
        European Parliament information officepolski

        PortugalPortugalpic-pt.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 17/06/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionportuguês
        European Parliament information officeportuguês

        Related websites:
        European Information Center Jacques Delors português
        Institute of Strategic and International Studies português

        RomaniaRomaniapic-ro.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 11/03/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionromână
        European Parliament information officeromână

        SlovakiaSlovakiapic-sk.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 24/06/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionslovenčina
        European Parliament information officeslovenčina

        Related websites:
        Euro Info - Slovak Government information centre slovenčina

        SloveniaSloveniapic-sl.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 24/04/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionslovenščina
        European Parliament information officeslovenščina

        SpainSpainpic-es.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 08/10/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionespañol
        European Parliament information officeespañol

        SwedenSwedenpic-sv.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 10/12/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commissionsvenska
        European Parliament information officesvenska

        Related websites:
        The EU Information Centre en
        The Government Offices of Sweden svenska
        The Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies

        The NetherlandsThe Netherlandspic-nl.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 12/09/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European CommissionNederlands
        European Parliament information officeNederlands

        Related websites:
        Ministry for Justice and Internal Affairs Nederlands

        United KingdomUnited Kingdompic-uk.jpg

        Ratification procedure:
        Parliamentary vote

        Status of ratification:
        Ratified : 16/07/2008

        The EU in your country:
        Representation of the European Commission
        European Parliament information office

        Related websites:
        Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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