1. Amsterdam Treaty (1997) IGC mandated by the Maastricht Treaty
Reflection Group
Making the EU more relevant to citizens
Improving efficiency and accountability
Improving the EU’s ability to act internationally.
IGC more transparent, but little public interest.
Europe in recession, unable to meet economic criteria for EMU
Protests in France against cuts in social spending
Franco-German negotiations over Stability Pact
Weak Franco-German leadership
Ineffective Commission
EU’s failure in Bosnia

2. Amsterdam Treaty (1997) Flexibility debate
Coping with enlargement and Britain
Two-tier Europe or Europe a-la-carte
Institutional reform
Reweighing votes in the Council
Composition of Commission
EP powers
Extend the range of QMV.
Statement about European values
Sanctions against Austria in 2000.
Smooth ratification process

3. Nice Treaty Dealing with ‘Amsterdam left-overs’. Council votes
Big vs. small member states,
Proportionality
Double majority principle
Commission
One Commissioner per member state until EU-27.
European Parliament
Seats increased to accommodate enlarged EU.
Relax criteria about flexibility
Irish rejection –repeat referendum

4. Nice Treaty

5. Constitutional Treaty
Convention method
Prepare draft treaty for IGC
Increase legitimacy and popular involvement
National parliaments, European Parliament, candidate states are represented.
Chaired by Giscard D’estaing.

6. Constitutional Treaty
Convention debates (cont)
Big vs. small MS
aggravated by Ger+Fr failure to abide by Stability and Growth Pact
Fr. and Ger. proposal for standing president of European Council and election of Commission President by Parliament
Commission of 13 –rotation
EU foreign minister
British Euroskepticism –inclusion of an exit clause.
Demarcating EU and national-level competencies.
Whether to recognize EU’s religious heritage
IGC
Renegotiating voting weights
Smaller Commission postponed to 2014.

7. Constitutional Treaty
Merging of three pillars
Union Minister of Foreign Affairs
European Council chaired by a President appointed for 2 ½ years
European Parliament, 750 seats, degressive proportionality
Composition of Commission remains same until 2014
Double majority (55% of MS 65% population)

8. Constitutional Treaty
Integration of the Charter for Fundamental Rights
European laws will be adopted jointly by Council and Parliament
Citizens can submit proposals
Transparency of Council
Early warning system –national parliaments review legislative proposals.

9. Constitutional Treaty

10. Ratification Process
Parliamentary approval: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Approval by referenda: Luxembourg (non-binding), Spain (non-binding)
Rejection by referenda: France, Netherlands (non-binding)
Ratification postponed:
Parliament: Sweden
Referendum: Britain, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic.

11. Lisbon Treaty Treaty not Constitution: no state-like symbols
2 ½ year permanent president, elected by European Council
Double-majority voting system (55% of member states, representing 65% of population) –introduced in 2014.
Commission reduced to 13 rotating basis.
QMV extended to new areas
Unanimity in foreign affairs, defense, fiscal matters, social security, and culture.

12. Lisbon Treaty
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
External Action Service. The EU as a legal entity
Co-decision procedure
National Parliaments review legislative texts and 1/3 of all national parliaments can overturn.
Citizens’ initiative
Charter of Fundamental Rights –Britain opts out. Not part of the Treaty.

13. Lisbon Treaty

14. Ratification Member states choose parliamentary ratification.
Irish referendum- 12 June % against
Promised changes:
One commissioner for each member state
Small increase of seats in EP
Taxation policy, worker’s rights, and neutrality
Repeat referendum planned for November 2009.

15. Lisbon Treaty- Cartoons
Source:
Source:

16. Source: http://www. workerspartyireland

17. Schroeder, Chirac, and Blair

18. Sarkozy and Merkel