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Understanding the Lisbon Treaty

The European Council, which met in Lisbon on 18th and 19th October 2007 approved the new reform treaty so called "Lisbon Treaty", which replaces the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. This new treaty introduces modifications both to the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (Rome Treaty).

The 27 Member States of the EU have ratified the Lisbon Treaty. This will now be implemented rapidly, possibly by 1st December this year.

The 27 Heads of State and Government appointed on 19 November 2009 Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Council and Catherine Ashton as High Representative of the EU and Vice-President of the European Commission.

In addition to the official text approved in December 2007, the Robert Schuman Foundation provides you with 10 explanatory sheets including the main innovations contained within the Treaty together with the ratification dates of each Member State. You will also find the Foundation's latest publications on issues raised by the Lisbon Treaty.

Fact sheets

The Lisbon Treaty in 10 information sheets (Complete document including 10 sheets and annexes)
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Understanding the Lisbon Treaty (Polish version)
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• Sheet 1: To what purpose the Lisbon Treaty?
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• Sheet 2: How will the European Union work with the Lisbon Treaty?
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• Sheet 3: How will decisions be taken in a Union with 27 members?
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• Sheet 4: The Lisbon Treaty and citizens' power in the European Union
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• Sheet 5: Who is responsible for what?
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• Sheet 6: The Lisbon Treaty and the area of freedom, security and justice
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• Sheet 7: The Lisbon Treaty and economic issues
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• Sheet 8: The Lisbon Treaty and social issues
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• Sheet 9: The Lisbon Treaty and the enlargement policy
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• Sheet 10: The Lisbon Treaty and the Union's external action
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Annex 1 : List of treaties of the European construction
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Annex 2 : How the European Union's institutions are run
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Annex 3 : List of the articles coming under qualified majority voting
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Annex 4 : List of the articles coming under ordinary legislative procedure
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