2012年-CEPS欧洲政策研究中心_Fresh_Opportunities_from_the_Treaty_of_Lisbon_2页_124kb

Summary of "Fresh Opportunities from the Treaty of Lisbon"

Core Content

The document, authored by Stefano Micossi and published in December 2009, discusses the potential for significant progress in the European Union (EU) following the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon. Despite the economic and financial crisis, the author argues that the Treaty provides new opportunities for the EU to strengthen its institutions and enhance its effectiveness in addressing both internal and external challenges.

Main Points

• Context of the Crisis: The EU is facing its worst economic and financial crisis in 70 years, and its institutions are struggling due to weak leadership and unclear governance structures.

• Treaty of Lisbon: The Treaty is described as a positive development that resolves long-standing political disputes, particularly around voting procedures, competence allocation, and the principle of subsidiarity.

• Institutional Reforms:

  • A stable president of the European Council and a High Representative who also serves as a powerful Vice-President of the Commission will improve the Union’s ability to act cohesively.
  • The European Parliament has seen an expansion of its powers, particularly in areas such as the EU budget and internal security and justice.
  • The Commission has retained its role as the guardian of the Treaty and the sole initiator of legislation, though it has been weakened in some respects.

• Need for Political Vision: While the Treaty provides structural improvements, the author emphasizes that political will is essential to make these changes effective. Strong institutions without a clear vision and common action will remain irrelevant.

Key Challenges

The document outlines three main challenges that the EU must address to fully leverage the opportunities provided by the Treaty:

1. Economic Policies

• The traditional approach of market liberalization and fiscal discipline is insufficient.
• There is a need for common economic policies to stimulate aggregate demand, investment, and supply-side improvements.
• Human capital development, infrastructure upgrades, and energy and environmental security are critical areas requiring attention.
• The EU should consider issuing its own bonds to access international capital markets, but this must be accompanied by rigorous project selection and fair burden-sharing to prevent fiscal profligacy.

2. Social Policy and Immigration

• The EU must develop common policies to support labor mobility and integrated labor markets for both skilled and unskilled workers.
• Highly-skilled immigrants from outside the Union could play a vital role in addressing labor shortages.
• The author calls for a modernization of labor and welfare policies aligned with the Lisbon Agenda, which has seen limited progress.
• A new political commitment is necessary to advance these reforms.

3. External Policy and International Responsibilities

• Due to internal divisions and inward-looking leadership, the EU has been underperforming in international relations.
• The Union must adopt clear and consistent policies on key global issues such as Afghanistan, Iran's nuclear programme, Middle East peace process, financial regulatory reform, and development and poverty reduction.
• There is a need to unify the Union’s voice and present a cohesive international stance.

Conclusion

The Treaty of Lisbon offers the EU the opportunity to enhance its institutional capacity and effectiveness. However, the success of these reforms depends on the Union’s ability to develop a political vision, common goals, and coordinated actions. The author highlights the importance of addressing economic, social, and external challenges in a unified manner to ensure the EU remains a relevant and influential actor on the global stage.