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A TREATY FOR THE REFORM OF EUROPEAN UNITY (13.12.2007)
(2007-12-13)
Last updated: 2007-12-14 13:26 EET Print
The heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states met in Lisbon to sign the EU reform treaty, a crucial document for the future of the United Europe. The ceremony in Lisbon was preceded by the solemn proclamation in the European Parliament on Wednesday of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, considered to be one of the main innovations of the new treaty. The Charter establishes a series of civil, political, economic and social rights for EU citizens. The Treaty is no longer defined as a Constitution and does not mention the symbols of the Union-the flag and the anthem- but it still maintains a large part of the changes brought to the previous draft. Under the new treaty, as of 2014, the Union will have a president elect for a period of two years and a half, a high representative who will co-ordinate the whole European foreign policy, and a more democratic decision-making system. Additionally, national parliaments will be more influential and the number of European Commission members will be reduced by half. In order to be enforced, the document should also follow the long way to ratification by all member states by the end of next year. Hopefully, this time there will be no unpleasant surprises such as the French and Dutch voters’ negative vote in the referendum on the defunct European Constitution. Analyst Cristian Parvulescu tells us whether the treaty is easier to ratify or not. ”Undoubtedly, the treaty will be easier to ratify, but not because it is an improved variant, on the contrary, because it is a significantly changed variant, the result of many compromises. Of course, we can see the full part of the cup, namely the institutional reform of the European Union will be resumed, but we can also take a look at the empty part of the cup, because we should admit that in 2004 the cup was full, and the empty part of the cup refers to the failed attempt to find a federal structure of the European Union, to allow it to be competitive from an institutional point of view. More likely than not, without this structure we will waste another decade if not more.” Is the Lisbon Treaty beneficial to Romania or not? Cristian Parvulescu: ”In Romania, we have never seriously discussed whether this treaty brings advantages to Romania or not. I believe that a stronger European Union is undoubtedly an advantage for Romania. In another move, I think the way in which the issue of representation in the European Parliament was solved, apart from some comments made by Romanian politicians, including Romanian EMPs, was favourable to Romania. I think the Treaty as such is not disadvantageous for Romania.”

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