NewsFormer Le Monde Editor: Lisbon Treaty has made EU more complex rather than more simpleJanuary 25, 2010 - In an article in El País on 6 January Jean-Marie Colombani, former Editor of Le Monde, criticised the Lisbon Treaty for making the EU more complex, regarding the combination of the full-time EU President and rotating EU Presidency for member states. He writes, "What a strange thing, this two-headed presidency!" He continues, "Put ourselves in the place of European citizens, who were sold the idea that the Lisbon Treaty would simplify things... [more] LISBON'S CONSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION BY STEALTH
LISBON TREATY COMES INTO FORCE ON TUESDAYNovember 30, 2009 - The Lisbon Treaty, which has 99% the same legal effect as the EU Constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, comes into force on tomorrow, 1 December. [more] Barroso II line-up
First balancing act for Van RompuyNovember 27, 2009 - New procedural rules being considered by member states show that EU president-designate Herman Van Rompuy will have to manage a delicate power balancing act with the country holding the rotating presidency when he takes up his duties on 1 January. [more] Soon new powers for MEPs
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End of nationsVideo Archiveeud blogDavid Heathcoat-Amory on LisbonIn 2001, the EU heads of government issued the Laeken Declaration, calling for a reformed Europe, 'closer to its citizens'. That reform has never been carried out. Look at the EU budget - now rejected by the auditors for the 14th year. [» more]Decisions on EU top jobs could take timeNovember 17, 2009 - A deal on the EU top jobs remains far from reach ahead of a special summit on Thursday (19 November) that could require a follow-up meeting the next day. [more] Eastern member states against secret nominations for EU-postsNovember 13, 2009 - Eastern Europe is chipping away at the secretive nomination process for new EU posts created under the Lisbon Treaty, with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves formally throwing his name into the ring on Thursday (12 November). [more] Poland calls for job interviews for EU top appointmentsNovember 10, 2009 - Poland has made a bid to give smaller EU countries more power in the EU president selection process by calling for candidates to hold job interviews in front of the 27 EU leaders. [more] |
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December 01, 2009 - With the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday 1 December, members of the European Parliament, who up to now have been "representatives of the peoples of the States brought together in the Community"(Art.189 TEC), become "representatives of the Union's citizens" (Art.14 TEU). This change in the status of MEPs is but one illustration of the constitutional revolution being brought about by the Lisbon Treaty. 
November 27, 2009 - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has unveiled his new team of commissioners putting new people in all portfolios, and giving the weightiest economic posts to a Finn, a Spaniard and a Frenchman. 
November 24, 2009 - MEPs are awaiting next week's entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty with impatience as the new institutional rules give the EU assembly a say in an array of new areas, including the EU's money-eating farm policy and its long-term budget.