The European Constitution rises from its ashes: the Treaty of Lisbon

Abstract

This editorial looks at the Treaty of Lisbon approved last October. Reference is made to the project for a European Constitution that was withdrawn after being rejected by referendum in Holland and France. We maintain that the text of the present Treaty consists of a new version of the two Treaties now in force, comparing it with the above mentioned Constitution project. Reference is made to the proposals on Presidency of the Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the definition of qualified majority and Parliamentary power. An assessment is given both of the process (absence of leadership, practise of gradualism, maintaining of most of the Constitution’s content although a certain pro–European “élan” is lost) and of the European model (criticism of its character as being too liberal, a model based on advanced social democracies, the need for a redefinition of sovereignty). Finally the future challenges for the Union are outlined: ratify the new Treaty, set institutional changes in motion, assimilate enlargement, define Europe’s frontiers, incorporate the challenge of globalisation, consolidate the new finance model, reform the Common Agricultural Policy, consolidate and enlarge the Monetary Union and face up to world challenges as a block.