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Understanding the Lisbon Treaty

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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)

Understanding the Lisbon Treaty

(Polish version)

The 10 Sheets

Sheet 1.

To what purpose the Lisbon Treaty?

Sheet 2.

How will the European Union work with the Lisbon Treaty?

Sheet 3.

How will decisions be taken in a Union with 27 members?

Sheet 4.

The Lisbon Treaty and citizens' power in the European Union

Sheet 5.

Who is responsible for what?

Sheet 6.

The Lisbon Treaty and the area of freedom, security and justice

Sheet 7.

The Lisbon Treaty and economic issues

Sheet 8.

The Lisbon Treaty and social issues

Sheet 9.

The Lisbon Treaty and the enlargement policy

Sheet 10.

The Lisbon Treaty and the Union's external action

Annexe 1

List of treaties of the European construction

Annexe 2

How the European Union's institutions are run

Annexe 3

List of the articles coming under qualified majority voting

Annexe 4

List of the articles coming under ordinary legislative procedure

Text of the treaty

Ratification map

The ratification procedure by country

Download the ratification procedures in PDF format

Germany

(art. 23 and 79 of the Basic Law of 1949). Parliamentary ratification by 2/3 majority in each federal chamber (Bundestag and Bundesrat).

Austria

(art. 50 of the Constitution of 1983). Parliamentary ratification by 2/3 majority in each chamber.

Belgium

(art. 53, 77 and 167 of the Constitution of 1994). Parliamentary ratification by absolute majority in both chambers in the absence of a constitutional amendment, or by 2/3 majority in each chamber (with a quorum of 2/3 members present) in the event of a constitutional amendment.

Bulgaria

(art. 85 of the Constitution of 1991) Parliamentary ratification by absolute majority.

Cyprus

(art. 50 of the Constitution of 1960). Parliamentary ratification by absolute majority. The president and the Council of Ministers can, however, veto parliament's decision.

Denmark

(art. 20 al. 1 and 2 of the Constitution of 1992). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 5/6 majority in the event of a transfer of sovereignty. In the latter case, if the parliamentary majority is less than 5/6 but more than half, the ratification proceeds by referendum.

Spain

(art. 94 of the Constitution of 1992). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority of parliament. The referendum procedure is purely advisory.

Estonia

(art. 121 of the Constitution of 1992). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority.

Finland

(art. 33 and 69 of the Constitution Act of 1995 revised in 2000). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 2/3 majority in the event of a transfer of sovereignty.

France

(art. 89 of the Constitution of 1958). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in both chambers in the absence of a constitutional amendment, by referendum in the event of a constitutional amendement (except if the president asks for ratification by 3/5 majority of the joint chambers of parliament in Congress).

Greece

(art. 28 al. 2, 36 al. 2, 44 al. 2 of the Constitution of 1986). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 3/5 majority in the event of a transfer of sovereignty. Ratification by referendum at the discretion of the government or on "national questions of crucial importance".

Hungary

(art. 2 and 28 of the Constitution of 1949). Parliamentary ratification by 2/3 majority of parliament (with a quorum of ½ of MPs present).

Ireland

(art. 29 and 46 of the Constitution of 1990). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by referendum in the event of a transfer of sovereignty.

Italy

(art. 72 and 75 of the Constitution of 2001). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in each chamber.

Latvia

(art. 68 of the Constitution of 1992 revised in 2003). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority of parliament. Ratification by referendum in the event of "substantial changes in the terms of Latvia's accession to the European Union" and if demanded by half of its members of parliament.

Lithuania

(art. 138 of the Constitution of 1992). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority.

Luxembourg

(art. 37 and 114 of the Constitution of 1868). Parliamentary ratification by 2/3 majority in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 2/3 majority with a quorum of ¾ members present in the event of a transfer of sovereignty. The referendum procedure is purely advisory.

Malta

(art. 71 of the Constitution of 1964). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in principle, but the procedure varies depending on the constitutional amendments required.

Netherlands

(art. 91 of the Constitution of 1983). Ratification is at the discretion of parliament. In principle, it is solely parliamentary, by simple majority in the absence of a constitutional amendment, by 2/3 majority in both chambers in the event of an amendment to the Constitution.

Poland

(art. 89 and 90 of the Constitution of 1997). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in each chamber in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 2/3 majority in each of the two chambers with a quorum of half of the members present in the event of a transfer of sovereignty.

Portugal

(art. 115 and 161 of the Constitution). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority of parliament votes. Ratification by referendum at the discretion of the government and president on "significant questions of national interest".

Czech Republic

(art. 39 and 49 of the Constitution of 1992). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in each chamber in the absence of a transfer of sovereignty, by 2/3 majority in each of the two chambers in the event of a transfer of sovereignty.

Romania

(art. 91 of the Constitution of 1991). Parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the 60 days following the signature of the treaty by the president.

United Kingdom

(no formal or written Constitution). Customary parliamentary ratification in each of the two chambers.

Slovakia

(art. 84 and 102 of the Constitution of 1992). Presidential ratification in principle. The president may call for parliamentary ratification by simple majority in the absence of a constitutional amendment or 3/5 majority in the event of a constitutional amendment.

Slovenia

(art. 3 of the Constitution of 1991 revised in 2003). Parliamentary ratification by 2/3 majority. Ratification by referendum if the National Assembly wishes – the result of the referendum is binding.

Sweden

(chapter 10 of the Constitution of 1989). Parliamentary ratification by simple, 3/4, or 5/6 majority depending on the extent of the transfer of sovereignty.

Foundation publications

After the Lisbon Treaty: Does the European Union finally have a telephone number?

European Issue n°151 - 30/11/2009 - Thierry Chopin, Maxime Lefebvre