PES Manifesto

Treaty of Lisbon - walking in the right direction

Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:04
by marco (1243 views and 0 comments)

As you know, the Treaty of Lisbon significantly changed the organization and functioning of the European Union Institutions, namely the new Treaty generalizes - with few exceptions - the process of “co-decision” in which the European Parliament and the Council – formed by the ministers of member states – participate.

On the other hand, the European Union Reform Treaty ordered that the voting will be done by qualified majority in forty issues – like the security of energetic supply and humanitarian emergency aid in critical areas of the world; however the unanimity will go on as general rule, namely in what regards tax, external politics, defence, social security and culture.

Besides, the Treaty will strengthen the democratic control of the EU, since it grants more important functions whether to the European Parliament or the National Parliament. Moreover, the citizens will have the right, for the first time, of proposing the Commission to adopt a specific legislative initiative. Finally, there will be established a high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, being a new institutional figure that will simultaneously perform two offices: the office of high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the office of Vice-President of the Commission. Without doubt we are on the right track!

Tags: citizens, democracy, treaty