Treaty of Lisbon

The 2007 Treaty of Lisbon amended the European Union’s founding treaties, changing its institutions and decision-making rules. It entered into force in 2009.

European Council president: The permanent chair of the European Council, elected for a renewable two-and-a-half-year term. The treaty created this office to give EU leaders’ meetings continuity.
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe: A 2004 treaty intended to replace existing EU treaties with a single constitutional text; it never entered into force. Lisbon retained many reforms after the constitutional treaty failed ratification.
Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union: The treaty provision allowing a member state to withdraw from the European Union under an agreed process. Lisbon introduced an explicit withdrawal procedure, later used by the United Kingdom.
European Union: A political and economic union of European countries governed by common institutions and treaties. Lisbon amended the treaties that define this Union’s institutions and powers.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: The EU official who coordinates its common foreign and security policy and represents the Union abroad. Lisbon combined roles to strengthen the coherence of EU foreign policy.
European Convention: A body convened in 2002 to draft proposals for reforming the European Union’s treaties and institutions. Its draft constitutional treaty supplied much of Lisbon’s reform agenda.
European Citizens’ Initiative: A procedure allowing EU citizens to invite the European Commission to propose legislation on an EU matter. Lisbon created this participation tool, which became operational in 2012.
Maastricht Treaty: The 1992 treaty that established the European Union and set out its original pillar structure. Lisbon later abolished the pillar structure created by Maastricht.
Ordinary legislative procedure: The EU lawmaking procedure in which the European Parliament and Council jointly adopt legislation, usually on a Commission proposal. Lisbon extended this procedure to more policy areas, increasing Parliament’s role.
2005 French European Constitution referendum: A French referendum in which voters rejected ratification of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The rejection helped end the constitutional treaty’s path to ratification.

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