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Top four key Lisbon arguments

Debate on the treaty centers on a few general issues

By Benjamin Thomas Cunningham
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
December 17th, 2008 issue

The EU Commission

Issue: The Lisbon Treaty proposes to reduce the number of commissioners by one-third, thus breaking from the policy of every state having a member on the commission at all times.
Pro: Although each member state currently has its own commissioner, the duty of commissioners is not to act as representatives of their home country but of the EU as a whole. Since commissioners are not representing the interests of individual states even now, the reduction will only make the commission more effective and efficient.
Con: Small states in particular have raised objections to this change. They argue that by not having a representative at all times, they lose a voice that they now share equally with larger states. Such concerns are furthered by a fear that other new offices created by the Lisbon Treaty (including the president of the European Council) will be more likely to go to politicians from larger or more established EU countries.
More consolidated foreign policy
Issue: The treaty seeks to merge the post of the European commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy and the post of the high representative for the common foreign and security policy into a single position, the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy.   
Pro: A more united Europe with a cohesive foreign policy is capable of being a major actor in world affairs on par with China, Russia and the United States. Without some consolidation and a single representative to oversee foreign affairs, the EU will continue to be a fractured voice on the world stage.
Con: Some states continue to be wary of tying their foreign policy to other member states. For example, some worry about having closely related foreign policies to the Baltic States, because of their proximity to and acrimonious relationship with Russia. Ireland, for example, is traditionally neutral, and anti-Lisbon campaigners argued that this would violate Irish neutrality in foreign affairs.
President of the European Council
Issue: Among the other Lisbon Treaty proposals is the creation of a permanent president of the European Council, a single individual to be elected for a two and a half year term, replacing the present six-month rotating presidency.
Pro: The new office will bring more consistency to the presidency post, enabling priorities and projects to move smoothly for longer than six months at a time. At present, the powers of the EU presidency (the head of government for the country holding the position for six months) are loosely defined. The new post is meant to solidify the duties of the president and, again, give the EU a more consolidated voice on the world stage.
Con: The primary argument again relates to a loss of national sovereignty by appointing a single person as head of the European Council and that power will be centralized in Brussels. Also, smaller states tend to fear that politicians from larger states are more likely to obtain this post, further overpowering their voice in EU affairs.
 
Democracy
Issue: Voters in the Netherlands and France rejected the EU constitution (the precursor to the Lisbon Treaty) in referendum in 2005. The Lisbon Treaty requires unanimous support from all member states, which it lacks in Ireland, where it was rejected by voters, the only citizens to vote on the Lisbon Treaty. A second vote in Ireland, now slated for late 2009, is a rejection of the democratic process.
Pro: The Irish “no” vote was based largely on misinformation and domestic political turmoil, including the resignation of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern amid corruption allegations. Public opinion polls show that most Irish do support the treaty. It will be impossible for the EU to operate effectively on the international stage without further streamlining its processes. The treaty is complex and hard to explain to voters. Democratically elected leaders are elected to make decisions on behalf of constituents.
Con: The Lisbon Treaty is merely a redrafting of the rejected constitution, and its ratification process (largely via national parliaments) is designed to bypass voters. Europeans don’t want further consolidation. Each time voters are asked to decide, they oppose reforms that would further integrate member states. A call for a second vote in Ireland is proof that politicians are not listening to democratic voices in Europe.  

Benjamin Thomas Cunningham can be reached at bcunningham@praguepost.com


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[10:48 22/12/2008] : I agree with the Lisbon Treaty but(always is there some "but")we should keep equality in all points among EU members and mainly keep national traditions and culture on the same level as this can be primary negative signal which could lead EU to its end and Im pretty sure that no one of EU leaders would wish something like that even though Im sometimes confused by some of the politicians statements and behaviour.With regard to much important tasks of EU as financial division for farming,health and educational system or environmental grants should be the main topics of European Parliament and European Commission.Underprivileged financial division among EU members or neglecting of resolution of many other problems are characteristic symptoms of sickly system.We shouldn't forget treat with each member of EU equally with acceptance to national,cultural and historical identity.Actually that is what make Europe interesting and more colourful.
RICHARD CVIKLOVIC
GREAT BRITAIN
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