NT/CT
Nice Treaty 2001/03
background context
many countries applied for membership of the EU, 20 member goal
all about influence
deferred decisions at AT e.g. institutions that would have prepared the EU for enlargement
Franco-German axis wobbling
change in leadership in Germany, more up and coming, less war focussed
relationship core to European integration
Agenda 2000 proposals were necessary but politically contencious
preparing for enlargement
fight for influence in voting system
worried small states could join together to make a blockade
key features
QMV extended into further 29 policy areas
voting system reweighed to make it more fair between large and small states
commission president empowered to sack commissioners in reflection of fraud scandals
commission members capped at 25, stops each member state from having a commissioner
enhanced cooperation, 8th state move together to move quickly through policy areas, tried to create more flexibility
not sufficient enough
Constitutional Treaty 2004
background context
weak institutional reform in NT
enlargement pressure intensifying
EU Laeken Summit 2001
called for convention on future of Europe to examine simplification and reorganisation of EU Treaties
proposals
institutional reform
more radical proposals
size of commission reduced from 2014
commission president to be elected rather than appointed by European Parliament based on a proposal from the European Council
European Council elected for 2.5 years
bring external EU together
minister for foreign affairs to combine external relations commissioner and high representatives for CFSP
EP seats redistributed on proportional bias
decision making
new QMV system, less complicated and more even
bridging clauses to enable later extensions of QMV and soon to have ordinary legislative procedures allowing for future decisions
making sure the decision making works in a larger union
QMV extended to 20 existing and 20 new legal bases
Union Policies
stimulus coming from 9/11
abolish pillar system
progressive definition of a common defence policy
by working together, better protection from terrorism
indicated you could be on the way to a EU army - not the case
enhance area of freedom, security and justice
EU gains single legal personality
more active judicial and political corporation on asylum, immigration, and external border control
Lisbon Treaty 2007/09
context
Brits don't want new treaty, way of avoiding referendum
Dutch and French rejected Constitutional Treaty
enlarged EU to 27 members
Irish reject Lisbon with large majority, asked what about it specifically they reject so they can work it out and move forwards
key features
scrapped Maastricht pillars
merged commissioner for external relations and high representative for CFSP
introduced European External Action Serivce
democratic accountability
European Council
Extension of EP power
scrap weighted voting put in play in 2014
result?
was it the constitutional treaty in disguise?
differences between this and CT
not a constitution for Europe
all references to EU symbol removed
commission to keep 27 members
reweighing of votes in council pushed to 2014
Text of Charter of Fundamental Rights dropped
opt out conditions
Brits and Irish regarding justice and home affairs
Denmark with justice and home affairs
Poland with Charter of Fundamental Human Rights in relation to family issues and mortality (abortion)