After a waiting period of exactly eight years - was December 1, 2001 when EU leaders gave way to the Convention on the Future Europe led by Valery Giscard D'Estaing - was officially opened the new Europe. On December 1, it shall enter into force the Treaty of Lisbon. A permanent president, Herman Van Rompuy, and a woman Foreign Minister, Catherine Ashton, destined to be the face in the world, a potent injection of democracy posed by the EU Parliament at the center of decision-making, one stop the use of the veto in the Council, the possibility for smaller groups of countries, to form the vanguard del'integrazione road.
The new treaty opens the way for new inputs, first and foremost those of Croatia and Iceland. And above all lays the foundation to build avant-garde of countries that can and will proceed more quickly than others in the field of defense policy (permanent structured cooperation) and in other areas such as justice and family law (enhanced cooperation). There are new materials, such as tourism, sport, politics to the security of energy supplies which will become part of EU powers. And there is the Court of Justice extended its sphere Activity and lubricates the enforcement mechanisms.
Moreover, for the first time, officially acknowledged the existence of the Eurogroup. The EU summit, to celebrate the entry into force of the new treaty, are meeting in Lisbon on Tuesday night. This event will also mark the opening of the site to make real reforms to date only described on paper.
Here are the main changes introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon:
EU PERMANENT PRESIDENT . Appointed by the European Council will remain in office for two and a half years and is renewable for one term.
FOREIGN MINISTER. Appointed by the European Council is also vice president of the EU Commission and is therefore subject to the approval of Parliament.
QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTING . Ends the possibility for a member country, to exercise the right of veto in the Council on over 40 subjects. Unanimity is required only in certain cases, including decisions on foreign and security policy (CFSP / ESDP) and the Treasury. From 2014 the system of double majority voting will be based on 55% of countries, representing 65% of the population.
Speak up. Through the extension of the co-decision procedure EU Parliament's vote, in addition to the Council, it becomes crucial for the approval of a large majority of European standards (agriculture, budget, etc...) The number of MPs from 736 to 751 rooms (754 to the end of term), the posts for Italy increased from 72 to 73.
NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS. Rulemaking process can block the EU if, within eight weeks, will check that the proposals do not respect the principle of subsidiarity.
RIGHT PEOPLE'S INITIATIVE . A million people can ask Brussels to present a proposal for EU legislation.
CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. acquire the same legal value as the Treaties and the EU Court of Justice may be asked to rule on its compliance.
IMMIGRATION AND JUSTICE. materials become part of common law and the competence of the EU Court of Justice, the rules are subject to majority voting and co-decision.
Eurogroup. Become informal EU institution with a president elected by a majority for two and a half years.
COOPERATION . EU countries may decide unanimously that a group of at least 9 States as a vanguard and proceeds to further integration in certain areas.
COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF DEFENSE. can be formed by a group of countries in the context of defense policy to integrate their armed forces or part thereof.
SOLIDARITY CLAUSE . At the request of a member country of the others have to go to his aid in case of armed aggression, terrorist attack, natural disaster.
exit clause. A country can leave the EU negotiating the conditions with their partners.
new skills. The EU acquire skills in areas such as sport, tourism, protection of personal data and intellectual property, energy, public health.
FINANCIAL PENALTIES. The EU Court of Justice can impose fines more quickly and in most cases when a country is in default.
SOURCE: AFFARITALIANI.IT