The European Union is unique in history as the fi rst ever relationship between nations which is genuinely democratic. Under Lisbon the EU will have a more powerful Parliament representing ordinary citizens, equal representation of each member state and a charter guaranteeing fundamental individual rights. Even the UN, which is a great achievement, offers no representation to the citizen, is dominated by the might of fi ve big countries, and regularly ignores the fundamental rights of the citizens of some of its members.

In the EU power is divided among three main bodies:
■ Parliament – Represents the citizens (made up of 751 MEPs)
■ Councils – Represents the governments (made up of one government minister from each country)
■ Commission – Represents the interests of the EU as a whole (made up of 27 members,
one appointed by each government)

The Commission proposes laws and acts as a mediator between the Council and Parliament who make the fi nal decision.

1. Making the EU More Democratic:

■ By giving Parliament a joint role with the Council in
almost all decisions, starting with the approval of the
new European Commission
■ By reducing the number of areas where just one
Government can stop progress
■ By giving the Dáil (and other national parliaments)
advance notice of proposals and the opportunity to
fl ag objections and force reviews

2. Helping Governments Work Better Together:

The Treaty will make the work of the Councils more
coherent.
■ It will require all Council meetings to be held in
public. Citizens will then be able to see how their
ministers are representing their interests.
■ Instead of rotating every 6 months, the Council of
Prime Ministers will have a President elected
for a two and a half year term, renewable once.
The president will chair Council meetings and carry
through the Council’s decisions.
■ A new Post of High Representative will chair the
Foreign Affairs Council, be Vice President of the
Commission, and represent the EU in Diplomatic and
Trade talks around the World.
These changes will make Europe more effective,
particularly in reacting to global problems where our
response in the past has been ineffective.

3. Facing New Challenges Together:

The Treaty sets out some new areas where Member
States are agreeing to develop joint policies or deepen
existing activities. These refl ect emerging global
challenges – climate change, natural disasters,
energy security, cross-border crime, and
co-ordination of economic policy.

4. Putting the Citizen at the Heart of Europe

The Treaty seeks to give greater recognition to the
citizens of Europe.
■ Setting out a fundamental Charter of Rights that
citizens enjoy by virtue of their membership of the
Union, in addition to the rights of national citizenship
■ Setting out the Union’s fundamental objective “To
Promote Peace, Fundamental Values, and the Well-
Being of Its Peoples”
■ Creating the Right of “Citizen’s Initiative” to
require the Commission to consider new actions at
the request of ordinary people.
The changes are illustrated on the opposite diagram.