24 February 2011 | CIL-EU Centre Joint Seminar
Lisbon Treaty on Foreign Policy
Introduction
In this lecture, Mr Jean-Claude Piris elucidated why the original 1957 Treaty of Rome excluded mention of foreign policy, how it eventually became politically possible in the 1992 Treaty of the European Union (Maastricht Treaty), and the evolution of foreign policy in successive Treaties until Lisbon.
The Lisbon Treaty was signed on 13 December 2007 and after ratification by all the EU’s 27 Member States, entered into force on 1 December 2009. It contains two important institutional innovations which might have a significant impact on the EU’s external action: the “permanent” President of the European Council appointed for a renewable term of 2.5 years, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, who should ensure the consistency of EU external action. Connecting different strands of EU foreign policy such as diplomacy, security, trade, development, humanitarian aid and international negotiations, the Treaty aims to give the EU a clearer voice in its relations with partner countries and organisations worldwide. The impact of EU intervention should also be helped by the new European External Action Service, drawing on the resources of the EU institutions and EU Member States to assist the High Representative.
The Treaty introduces a single legal personality for the EU that enables it to conclude international agreements and join international organisations. It also introduces for the first time a specific legal basis for humanitarian aid and the possibility of creating a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.
While defining the role of the EU in the world, the Treaty of Lisbon also deals with a possible common security and defence policy, recognising this as an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. This includes a “solidarity clause”, calling for the EU and its Member States to act jointly if a Member State is the target of a terrorist attack. Progress in European Security and Defence Policy will preserve the specific positions of Member States (NATO members or neutral) but also pave the way towards reinforced cooperation amongst a smaller group of Member States.
About the Speaker
As Legal Counsel of the European Council (Presidents or Prime Ministers of the 27 Member States) and of the EU Council of Ministers, Mr Jean-Claude Piris participated in all important decisions taken over the past 20 years by the EU, notably the adoption of new Treaties (Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice, Constitutional Treaty, Lisbon), and the solutions to the problems caused by their non-ratification. He participated in the EU’s legislative work, in the work aimed at helping the euro zone in the current crisis, and in organising the new European External Action Service. He was Director-General of the Legal Service (270 officials including 130 lawyers) which provides oral and written advice to the Council and the committees preparing its work, which helps in drafting EU law, and which acts as Council’s advocate before the EU Courts. Mr. PIRIS is a French Conseiller d’Etat, a former diplomat to the UN and former Director of Legal Affairs at the OECD. He has written articles and books, most recently: “The Lisbon Treaty: A Legal and Political Analysis” (Cambridge University Press, June 2010, 400 pages).
