The Lisbon Treaty Law, Politics, and Treaty Reform

Provides a comprehensive analysis of the Lisbon Treaty, helping the reader understand all important aspects of its legal and political reforms
Places the Treaty reforms in the broader context of political debates about the EU, clarifying the significance of the Lisbon Treaty for the broader development of the EU
Presents an in-depth examination of the legal changes made by the Lisbon Treaty to the previous Treaties, offering greater understanding of the new rules and the impact of the changes
The Lisbon Treaty reformed the foundations of the European Union and marked the culmination of a process of Treaty reform that began after the Treaty of Nice and spanned almost a decade. This book addresses the main innovations made by the new Treaty, examining its legal and political consequences in a reformed EU. The book is organized thematically around the principal issues that occupied those engaged in the reforms over the last decade. The chapters include analysis of the reform process itself and the political forces that shaped the relevant provisions of the Lisbon Treaty.

The book contains detailed analysis of the relevant legal changes made by the Lisbon Treaty on each topic covered. This legal analysis is informed by broader literature from related disciplines, such as political science and international relations, since it is only by doing so that it is possible fully to understand the legal implications of the new provisions dealing with issues such as the inter-institutional division of power within the EU, the distribution of competence, the hierarchy of legal acts and the Charter of Rights.

The book addresses the political and legal implications of the Treaty provisions, and the discussion is set against the background of the pre-existing legal and political regime, aiding a full understanding of the effect of the new rules contained in the Lisbon Treaty.

Readership: Academics, scholars, graduate students, government lawyers, practitioners and policy makers working in the field of EU law and administration.