In a statement today UEF President Andrew DUFF said: "One year on, and federalists can take heart from the overall success of the new treaty. All the EU institutions have been strengthened by the streamlining of decision making. Greater transparency is seen especially the in law making of the Council of Ministers. President Van Rompuy is providing the European Council with much needed leadership. The European Commission has rediscovered something of its former dynamism. The External Action Service in place will allow the Union to make some strategic decisions in international affairs, not least with respect to Europe's own neighbourhood. The European Parliament is deploying its new powers with skill and self-confidence."
So the verdict is positive. But there remains much more to be done. Some national governments and parliaments have not read the Lisbon treaty as thoroughly as they might, and still seem jealous of the growing authority of the EU, especially of the Parliament. We have returned to a budgetary crisis, with national treasuries refusing to give the EU the financial resources it needs to fulfil the political functions conferred on it by Lisbon.
"Huge weakness has been exposed in the arrangements of economic and monetary union -- untouched by the Lisbon treaty -- which now demand further reform. The long term future of the eurozone will only be secured by the installation of a properly democratic economic government and a federal budget, and not by the continuing enforced centralisation of different national economic policies." And alongside stronger economic government must come the greater popular legitimacy of the EU. In particular, treaty change is needed to reform the electoral system of the European Parliament."Lisbon has shown that treaty change is a normal dynamic of European integration. We should not be frightened of it, or intimidated by the continuing challenge of making our united Europe more effective and democratic.
Editors' Note
Andrew Duff is a British Liberal MEP. He co-chairs the Federalist Intergroup in the European Parliament and the new Spinelli Group of MEPs. He represented the Parliament at the Lisbon IG
30 November, 2010
Good first year for Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force exactly one year ago today, has proven its merit by strengthening European solidarity at a very difficult time. This is the verdict of the Union of the European Federalists who campaigned hard to ensure that a stronger and more effective Europe emerged from the long process of negotiation and ratification of the new treaty.
