Estonian Government Approved Draft Law for Ratification of Lisbon Treaty
31.01.2008
The government of Estonia approved the draft law for ratifying the Lisbon Treaty and forwarded it to the Riigikogu for ratification on Thursday, 31 January. The Lisbon Treaty amends the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the goal of the Lisbon Treaty is to increase the effectiveness of the European Union’s decision-making processes. “The Union will become more uniform and will certainly be closer to its citizens,” said Paet. “We hope that the Riigikogu will be ready to ratify the treaty in the spring,” he added.
One of the most essential changes made by the Lisbon Treaty is the balancing of the European Union institutional framework. “The pillar structure used until now will be replaced, as will the notion of the European Community, which will now be referred to as the European Union,” said Foreign Minister Paet.
Foreign Minister Paet emphasised the fact that The Lisbon Treaty will give more legitimacy and transparency to the European Parliament. “The co-decision procedure will be expanded, and Council sessions will be disclosed during legislation drafting,” said Paet. The foreign minister added that the new treaty provides for the possibility of a motion made by citizens, and also grants national parliaments an extended supervisory period for ensuring that measures comply with the principle of subsidiarity.
Acting on a qualified majority of votes in most areas will, according to Foreign Minister Paet, make the European Union decision-making process quicker and more effective. “The creation of the roles of President of the European Council as well as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will help increase unity among the institutions,” Paet noted. “It will also support the consistency of EU policies,” he added.
The heads of state of the European Union reached an unanimous decision on the Treaty in October of last year. The Lisbon Treaty was signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet signed it in the name of the Republic of Estonia. In order for the Treaty to come into effect, it must be ratified by all 27 EU member states. Currently it has been ratified by Hungary, Slovenia and Malta.
The Estonian-language text of the Treaty of Lisbon can be found on the website of the Council of the European Union: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/cg00014.et07.pdf
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The concluding document from the conference of representatives of the governments of member states can be found as well (http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/cg00015.et07.pdf). It contains declarations about prescriptions and protocols of basic agreements, as well as various uni- or multi-lateral declarations by member states.
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