EU Decision-making after the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. European Policy Papers #9, July 2004

Devuyst, Youri. (2004) EU Decision-making after the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. European Policy Papers #9, July 2004.

Abstract

[From the Executive Summary]. This paper offers an institutional analysis of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. It identifies the Treaty-Constitution’s main implications for the decision-making process in the European Union (EU). While the aim was to streamline EU decision-making in light of the expansion from 15 to 25 Member States, the Treaty-Constitution is characterised by numerous safeguard mechanisms. These are designed to preserve a high degree of Member State control over what is decided in terms of new constitutional, legislative or budgetary commitments in the EU. Veto-rights and blocking options have been retained, notably in procedures for the adoption and revision of the Treaty-Constitution as well as in a number of crucial policy fields. This is unlikely to foster a dynamic decision-making process in an expanded European Union of 25 Member States.