The Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe - the Most Significant Changes in the Existing Treaties
The Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe - the Most Significant Changes in the Existing Treaties

Summary/Abstract: During the last period the conception of simplifying the Treaties has emerged in order to improve and to monitor the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the Union, its institution and bring them closer to the citizens of the Member States. Notwithstanding the initial progress made by the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Nice Declaration on the future of the Union mentioned the simplification of the Treaties as one of the issues for discussion. The Laeken Declaration placed this exercise in a wider context towards a Constitution for European citizens. The Declaration raises number of questions regarding the structure of the Treaties (simplification without changing the current content, basic treaty, incorporation of the Charter, constitutional Treaty), the development of the Treaties (distinction between amendment and ratification procedures), as well as the structure of the Union itself (distinction between the Union and the Communities, division into three pillars).'

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