[Dossier N°09] The Treaty of Lisbon: a slow birth

(B2) The double "No" by referendum of the French first, then of the Dutch, sounded the death knell of the European Constitution as it had been conceived by the members of the European Convention. Very quickly the need was felt to put in place a new Treaty which would take up the essential "pieces" of the Constitution but in a more classic framework that of the European Treaties. The negotiation proved however complicated by the difficulties of some (French, Dutch, Irish...) and the delaying maneuvers of others (mainly British, Czechs and Poles).

Le 29 May 2005. The French say "No" to the Constitution by 55%. With 69% participation, the refusal is clear. Three days later, the 1er June 2005, the Dutch confirmed the "No" at 61,5%, with 63,3% participation (which in the Netherlands is a score to say the least important). This is a Hangover aftermath in Brussels.

At the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, who holds the presidency, notes the death of the Constitution. We note that the date of November 1, 2006, which had initially been planned for taking stock of ratifications, is no longer tenable... There must be a period of reflection, explanation and debate. ».

Le July 10, 2005. Luxembourgers say "Yes" with 56,5% of voters and 90,44% participation. For the principle...

The period of reflection

The June 15 and 16, 2006 At the European Council under the Austrian presidency, the Heads of State and Government decided to find a solution by the end of 2008. Mourning over the Constitution ends, time for proposals begins

Le 25th January 2007. The countries that said "Yes" to the Constitution meet in Madrid. The period of reflection ends. European Treaty: negotiations start again

Negotiations on a new treaty begin

Le February 28st, 2007. To the Committee of the Regions, Jacques Delors proposes adding a new social protocol to the Treaty, towards “a new social Europe”.

Le March 25, 2007Taking advantage of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in Berlin, the German EU presidency intends to push its advantage.

To the mid-June 2007. The German presidency hands over the draft mandate for the opening of the IGC, the intergovernmental conference responsible for arriving at a new European treaty.

Le June 23, 2007, at the European Summit, a draft agreement is placed on the table of the Heads of State and Government. A real work of art. Read: The battle of values: social protection or free competition. Many details allow for a compromise. Read: At the European summit. Some keys to understanding the new text

Le June 23, 2007. On the second day of the summit, the rumor is spreading and spreading among the delegations and journalists present. "Free and undistorted" competition would be excluded from the objectives of the European Union. Read: Free and undistorted competition: the reality

This goldsmith's work, carried out during the last weeks, allows us to reach an agreement. Read: The Lisbon Treaty. How was it designed?

One last race

Mid-September 2007The final meeting of legal experts tasked with revising the European Treaty will be held on Friday 13 September. Experts' work is finished, new text imminent. The Poles have a problem and they are shouting it loud and clear. The Ioannina Compromise and the Polish Complex

17, 19, 21 September 2007. The meetings are taking place one after the other. Contrary to the media impression, it is not Poland that is really causing problems for the legal experts, but the British demands. The problem is… British and delays an agreement

Le 2 October 2007. A text message from the Portuguese presidency informs that Legal experts of the 27 have an agreement. The work on the new European treaties and that a new text would be ready shortly (it will be made public). This concludes a cycle of discussions conducted smoothly. Read: The details of the compromise. To consult the text

Le 18 October 2007At the Lisbon Summit, the heads of state and government agree on the final text of the Treaty.

Le 13 December 2007.Final Act of the Treaty is signed in Lisbon

En December 2007At the last moment, the Czech Republic discovered that it was allergic to the Charter. And one more reservation to the Charter of Fundamental Rights...

The Irish problem, the Czech and Polish hesitation waltz

12st June 2008 . The Irish reject by 53,4% ​​of votes against the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty (46,6% for). This has a first consequence, the postponement of the entry into force of the treaty planned for the beginning of 2009. Read: The consequences of the Irish “No” deciphered

September 1, 2008An exceptional European summit is being held on the crisis in Georgia which, paradoxically, could contribute to easing the situation on the Lisbon Treaty. Towards a “Prague Agreement”?

Le 11 December 2008The French presidency of the EU is putting on the table of the Council a compromise likely to lead the Irish to initiate a new referendum before the end of the year. A compromise on the Lisbon Treaty on the Council table

March 19th, 2009. The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the negotiation on the installation of the American radar are part of the same political tempo in the Czech Republic. Read: No radar, the Lisbon Treaty and the government are rockingThe question arises. Will the Czechs ratify the Lisbon Treaty? The Chamber of Deputies ratified the Senate's follow-up in May 2009.

Le March 24, 2009. The Czech government falls, in the middle of the EU presidency. It is replaced by a technical government. Read: Why I loved the Czech presidency... Yes, yes. The Senate (May 6) ratifies the treaty. But Eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus does not want to sign it.

Friday June 19, 2009, European summit. An agreement is reached between Heads of State and Government on the Irish case. It recalls the special status of Ireland on fiscal aspects and military neutrality. The European Commission's reduction mechanism is suspended, each country retains the right to appoint a European Commissioner. Read: Agreement on an “Irish” protocol on Defence : a simple cut and paste… Really? (analysis)

Le 22 September 2009The Bundestag (German parliament) voted on Tuesday by a clear majority for the necessary law. Germany's ratification of the Lisbon Treaty is imminent

Le 2 October 2009. A final referendum is taking place in Ireland. The result is clear. At 67,13% the Irish say Yes to the Treaty of Lisbon, with a relatively high turnout on the island (58%).

The content of the treaty

Thu 29 October 2009. At the European summit, the 27 agree on the nature of the Czech concession. The Swedish EU presidency proposes to include in the next accession treaty (with Croatia) a clause ofopt-out to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights for the benefit of the Czech Republic. The road to Lisbon cleared, at last! Terms of compromise and timetable

Le 1st December 2009The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force. First comprehensive analysis of the Treaty released

This case is closed.

(NGV)

Also read our file No. 10. Foreign policy and PeSDC at the pace of the Lisbon Treaty

Read all our articles:

• Weakening Europe is not an option (Lisbon declaration)
• Social Europe. Articles of the Lisbon Treaty
• The Lisbon Treaty in 27 keys
• Nicolas S. revisits the structures of the Lisbon Treaty. The saber and the aspergillum!
• Cathy Ashton revisits Lisbon and abandons the CSDP in open country
• With the "Lisbon format", the Commission is an accomplice of the presidency
• Sarkozy's "Off" in Lisbon. Or how to have fun at the expense of journalists
• The EU-US Summit will indeed take place… in Lisbon
• Treaty of Lisbon. The main articles on the CFSP/CSDP in a single document
• Lisbon Treaty: main institutional changes
• Lisbon Treaty: ESDP becomes PeSDC. A little more common?
• On the menu of Defense Ministers on November 16 and 17: Somalia and the Lisbon Treaty
• The last instrument of ratification of Lisbon deposited on November 13
• The adaptation of the Lisbon Treaty for the CFSP/ESDP, almost completed
• Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by Germany: close
• Will the Czechs ratify the Lisbon Treaty?
• No radar, the Lisbon Treaty and the government are rocking
• A compromise on the Lisbon Treaty on the Council table
• Lisbon Treaty, double counting exists recognizes the Commission
• Lisbon Treaty: 17 States have officially ratified
• Lisbon Treaty: towards a “Prague agreement”?
• Lisbon Treaty: Luxembourg 13th to submit its ratification
• Eleven states have ratified the Lisbon Treaty
• The Czechs' plan B if the Lisbon Treaty is not signed
• Ratifications of the Lisbon Treaty. The importance of a formality!
• Lisbon Treaty, consolidated version…
• Lisbon Strategy: a success, you are told… (bis)

 

• Defense Europe enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty
• 4 good reasons when we said No, to say Yes to the Lisbon Treaty
• With the future Treaty of Lisbon, the end of one cycle, the beginning of another?
• Agreements on the IGC in Lisbon: the 5 changes are minor
• The text of the future treaty (of Lisbon): 145 pages
• The future Treaty of Lisbon. What will be its content?
• The Lisbon Treaty. How was it designed?
• Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty: Hungary takes the lead