The Lisbon Treaty for dummies

Dont have a clue what we are being asked to vote on in the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon
Treaty on June 12th? Join the rest of the country. The treaty comprises 270 pages of complex legal
language - its not light reading even for those of us paid to study it. But dont worry, help is at
hand. Jessie Magee breaks down the treaty into a ten point summary, so you can make up your mind
without having to enlist a lawyer.

Confusing. Unintelligible. Impenetrable. This is the general reaction of anyone who has read or
attempted to read the Lisbon Treaty, from politicians to pundits to ordinary people trying to find the
facts. The treaty amends the contents of several existing EU treaties in a document running to
hundreds of pages of legal articles, protocols, declarations and annexes.
Those in favour of a Yes vote argue that complexity is unavoidable when a treaty needs to set out
the rules governing relations between 27 sovereign member states.
Those opposed to the treaty claim it is deliberately unclear, and that we should not be asked to vote
on something we cannot understand.
Both sides agree that the Lisbon Treaty preserves the main substance of the EU constitution,
rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Both sides also agree that some reform of EU
structures is necessary, to facilitate the continuing expansion of the union and streamline its
decision-making processes. The question is whether the Lisbon Treaty, signed by EU leaders last
December and due to come into effect in 2009, represents the best path to reform.
Ireland is the only country in the EU to hold a referendum on the treaty, as required by our
constitution. Every other member state can ratify the treaty by a vote in their national parliament. As
such, we hold responsibility for supporting or rejecting the treaty on behalf of about 490 million
Europeans who do not have the option to vote.
Below are some of the main changes that will come about if the Lisbon Treaty is approved by the
people of Ireland. Whether they are positive, negative, necessary, significant or otherwise is up to
you to decide.
1. Top jobs
A politician will be chosen to be president of the European Council for two and a half years,
replacing the current system where presidency is rotated between member states every six months.
Another post to be created will be the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy,
combining the current roles of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and external affairs
commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
2. Charter of Fundamental Rights
The Lisbon Treaty makes the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights a legally-binding document. The
charter lists the human rights recognized by the European Union.

3. Citizens initiative
Under the Lisbon Treaty, the commission is obliged to consider any proposal signed by at least one
million citizens from a number of member states.
4. National parliaments to get yellow card facility
All proposals for EU legislation will have to be sent to national parliaments, who will then have
eight weeks to offer a reasoned opinion on whether they believe the proposal respects the principle
of subsidiarity (this is the principle by which decisions should as far as possible be made at local or
national level). If enough national parliaments object to a proposal, the commission can decide to
maintain, amend or withdraw it.

5. Smaller commission
The European Commission is the EUs executive arm; it puts forward legislation and ensures that
EU policies
are correctly implemented. Since 2004, it has been made up of 27 commissioners, one from each
member state. Under the new treaty, the commission will be reduced to 18 members from 2014,
with membership rotating every five years. This means that only two-thirds of member states will
have their own commissioner at any one time, and each country will lose its commissioner for five
years at a time.

6. European Parliament to get greater powers but reduced numbers

Currently, the European Parliament has joint lawmaking power with the Council of Ministers over
about 75% of legislative areas. If the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, co-decision will be extended
to virtually all areas of EU policy.
The European Parliament comprises 785 MEPs from across the union; under the treaty, this will be
permanently reduced to 751. The number of Irish MEPs will drop from 13 to 12.

7. New areas of EU competence

The Lisbon Treaty will set out those areas over which the EU has exclusive competence, shared
competence with member states, or supporting competence. The treaty gives the EU no new areas
of exclusive competence; however, it establishes joint competence in the areas of space and energy.
It also gives the EU the role of supporting competence in several new fields including health,
education, tourism, energy and sport.

8. Redistribution of voting weights between member states

Within those areas to be decided by qualified majority voting, the current rules require the support
of a little over 72% of member states for a law to be passed. Under the new system due to come into

effect from 2014, a vote can be passed if it is backed by 55% of member states, and secondly, if
these countries represent 65% of the EUs population. It can also be passed if less than four
countries oppose it. The changes mean
that it will be easier to pass legislation, and more difficult to block it. Countries with smaller
populations will have less chance of blocking legislation.

9. Shift from unanimity to majority voting

The Lisbon Treaty will see an increase in the number of policy areas to be decided by a majority
vote at the council, rather than by unanimity. Qualified majority voting will become the norm;
however, there are some notable exceptions that will still require unanimous decisions, including
taxation and defence.
One area where the unanimity veto will give way to qualified majority voting is Justice and Home
Affairs, covering issues such as asylum, immigration, criminal law, border controls and police
cooperation. Ireland has the power to opt out of this area on a case-by-case basis.

10. Changes to common security and defence policy

The Lisbon Treaty provides for the progressive framing of a common defence policy for the
European Union, which will nonetheless respect the neutrality of member states like Ireland. It also
allows the European Council to change decision making from unanimity to majority voting in a
number of areas, excluding military and defence. However such changes will themselves require
unanimous decisions.
The treaty extends the range of peacekeeping and humanitarian missions for which the union may
draw on member states to include disarmament operations, military advice and assistance and postconflict stabilization.

KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

1950: Robert Schuman, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, makes a speech proposing that
France and Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organization that other European
countries can join. This date, May 9, is regarded as the birth of the European Union, and is now
celebrated annually as Europe Day.
1951: France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy
sign up to the treaty, which creates the European Coal and Steel community (ECSC).
1957: The Common Market and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) are created
by the Treaty of Rome. The Common Market allows member countries to trade freely with one
another with import /export taxes being added to the cost of their goods.
1960: The European Free Trade Association is created (EFTA). This is made up of Iceland, Norway,
Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is created to establish free trade among members and to broaden
the economic union to other non-EU western European countries.

1973: Ireland, Denmark and the UK join the European Community. Norway holds a referendum and
votes not to join.
1979: For the first time, 410 members of the European Parliament are elected by elections in which
the public vote.
1981: Greece joins the European Community.
1986: The Single European Act is adopted. Spain and Portugal join, bringing membership of the
European Community to ten countries.
1991: Creation of the European Economic Area.
1992: The treaty on European Union is signed at Maastricht.
1993: The single market is created.
1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union.
1997: The Treaty of Amsterdam is signed.
1999: Eleven member states start the third stage of European Monetary Union and vote to adopt the
Euro as their single European currency.
2001: The Treaty of Nice is signed. Irish voters reject the treaty in a referendum in June. Voter turn
out is low at 34%.
2002: Euro notes and coins come into general circulation in 12 countries. Ireland holds a second
referendum on the Nice Treaty in October. This time turnout rose by almost a third, and the treaty is
approved by a majority of almost 63%.
2004: Ireland holds the presidency of the EU from January to June. Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia join the European
Union.
2005: The French reject the European Constitution in a referendum, followed three days later by
voters in The Netherlands.
2007: Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. The Treaty of Lisbon is signed by EU
leaders in December.
2008: Ireland holds a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the only EU member state to do so.
http://tinyurl.com/jb6gpo8