European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso said that 'this treaty strengthens the Community's ability to function.' He called on EU governments to ensure the speedy ratification of the agreement. Particular gratitude at the signing of the Lisbon Treaty was expressed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She and her foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, chairing the European Council for six months, literally resurrected the idea of European integration from the ruins. Moreover, at a turning point when, after the failed referendums in France and the Netherlands, the project of the European Constitution, which had been prepared for two years by the European Convention under the leadership of former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, was buried. Angela Merkel's merit also lies in the extremely difficult negotiations with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who, as is known, for a long time simply blocked any attempts to create a new treaty, demanding special privileges for his country.
The signed treaty is essentially a modified version of the European Constitution, a compromise that satisfied all interested parties – even the eternally dissatisfied Poland. What changes await Europe with the entry into force of the new rules?
The Lisbon Treaty, after ratification, is intended to change the legal basis on which the EU currently rests. It now relies on two fundamental documents: the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The new document combines them, but with some fundamental changes. First of all, they concern the decision-making system within the EU. Firstly, at the latest from 2017, EU member states will no longer be represented in this process by a number of votes proportional to their 'weight'. Instead, the European Parliament will introduce the principle of 'double majority': at least 55% of MEPs representing at least 65% of the EU population must vote in favor of a decision.
It was precisely this principle that the Polish government fought against for two years, seeking the adoption of the 'square root' principle personally devised by the Kaczynski brothers. According to it, European countries should be represented in the European Parliament in proportion to the square root of their population – this system would have resulted in Poland gaining additional seats. But with the coming to power in Poland of a liberal government led by Donald Tusk, the 'Polish obstacle' disappeared.
Furthermore, the principle of unanimity will no longer be observed in the adoption of pan-European decisions: now a majority of votes will suffice. At the same time, individual countries can veto a decision only if at least four countries want to exercise this right.
Next, the number of European Commissioners and MEPs should be reduced. There will be 751 MEPs including the speaker (currently 781 MEPs), and the European Commission will no longer be formed on the principle of 'one country, one commissioner'. Now only two-thirds of EU states will be represented in the European Commission. The principle of a six-month rotating presidency among the 27 EU member states will be abolished. Instead, the post of President of the European Union will be introduced, with a term of 2.5 years. In addition, Europe will get a de facto foreign minister, who, however, does not have the right to be called that (his post retains the name 'High Representative'). He automatically becomes Vice-President of the European Commission and will have at his disposal not only administrative but even military resources: a separate department and 20,000 soldiers of the so-called Eurocorps.
The signing of the document was not without its curiosities: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was late for the ceremony, so instead of him, Foreign Secretary David Miliband had to sign the treaty on behalf of the United Kingdom.
The treaty will enter into force only after it is ratified by the parliaments of EU member states. This must happen no later than early 2009 – in time for the elections to the new European Parliament. Notably, ratification is far from clear: at least one country – Ireland – intends to put the issue to a national referendum. However, according to opinion polls, the Irish mostly support it. But their neighbors, the British, may still balk: support for the new treaty in both houses of the British Parliament is a highly contentious issue.
Boris Altner.
IA Rosbalt