Lisbon Treaty enters force

1 December sees the new Lisbon Treaty rules on the EU's institutions and working methods come into force. Some changes to the functioning of the EU under the new rules are outlined below. Scotland Europa will hold a 're-introduction' to the EU familiarisation session in 2010, which will explain the key changes brought in by Lisbon and what they mean to stakeholders, as well as looking at the new key figures at EU-level following the June 2009 European Parliament elections and the new European Commission which takes office next year.

Key changes with the EU Lisbon Treaty:

• Two new posts are created to increase the EU's international presence; Herman van Rompuy will be the EU's first President and Catherine Ashton the first High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
• The European Parliament sees its powers extended into a number of policy areas where decision-making powers previously rested more fully with the EU Governments. These include agriculture and fisheries policy; the EU structural funds; and transport.
• More majority voting (where no one EU state can veto a decision) will be used in Council.
• New powers are conferred on national Parliaments to scrutinise draft EU legislation.
• A citizens' petition - with one million signatures - can oblige the European Commission to investigate introducing legislation in the area concerned.
• A common EU energy policy and climate change are introduced as objectives of the EU. 

For more information on the Lisbon Treaty, click here.

Author:
Scotland Europa

Categories:

• EU
• EU Policy
• EU Funding
• European Union
• Europe

Policy areas:

Article date:
1 Dec 2009

Expiry date of the article:
1 Dec 2013