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Preparations for the smooth entry into force of the Treaty
22.01.2008, 11:21
An internal document circulated by Slovenia, the current
holder of the EU presidency, sets out 33 areas that need to be examined this
year, by taking into account ''the legitimate concerns of the institutions and
member states'', if the treaty is to
come into force on 1 January 2009 as planned.
It notes that EU ambassadors are to start "examining the technical and
legal aspects" at the end of January, while Slovenia will assess whether
"different arrangements are necessary at a later stage for some of the
more sensitive and political points."
Separately, the paper also notes that the new institutional set-up under the
Lisbon treaty - it establishes a foreign minister, a long-term president as
well as giving the European Parliament a far greater say in law-making - has
raised a whole series of pressing questions.
These include the "support structures for the president of the European
Council."
At the moment, it is not clear whether the president's post - essentially
representing the European Union externally - should have some sort of staff.
There are currently no provisions for this in the treaty.
In addition, there is the thorny issue of all the pending EU laws that may be
affected by the fact that the entry into force of the treaty will see MEPs have
full co-decision rights.
Pending laws in the area of justice and home affairs, agriculture, fisheries,
transport and structural funds could all be affected as MEPs gain new powers in
these areas.
EU officials must also consider what to do with the monthly meeting of EU
foreign affairs ministers, which under the new treaty will be chaired by the EU
foreign minister.
Traditionally, this meeting also covers development and trade issues but this
would - in the commission's eyes - hand unwanted powers to the foreign minister
as the Brussels executive traditionally has strong rights in this area.
The budget will also come up for discussion as the new treaty rules will give
the European Parliament the right to approve the whole of the annual EU budget
and the seven-year long-term budget.
Under current EU rules, member states alone decide on spending in certain areas
such as agriculture.
The Slovene document also lists several other areas, including activating the
citizens initiative - whereby EU citizens can petition the commission on issues
of their choice - as well as nominating the new president and foreign minister
and initial discussions on the setting up of a European public prosecutor.
The new treaty also shakes up how the EU handles its monthly meetings of
sectoral ministers in areas such as energy, competitiveness or agriculture.
The current system sees the EU presidency country chair all meetings for the
duration of the six-month rotating presidency. But the new system promises to
lead to all sorts of political haggling as the meetings are to be chaired by
ministers from a team of three member states for a period of 18 months.
Source: EUobserver.com