Following the Conservative Party’s victory in the 2015 general election, the UK is set to hold an in/out referendum on its membership of the European Union before the end of 2017.
Since becoming a member in 1973, the United Kingdom has negotiated opt-outs on key parts of EU legislation, and a sizeable rebate from the EU annual budget. But do they really serve the best interests of the UK and Europe?
All 27 EU countries – except Britain and the Czech Republic – have agreed on a new treaty for tighter fiscal discipline and deeper economic integration to save the euro currency. The treaty came into force on 1 January 2013.
Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is intended to give the European Union a greater role in foreign policy. It is now operational, though its scope and competences have been the subject of fierce debate among EU countries.
After eight years of struggle and soul-searching, the European Union's reform treaty came into force on 1 December 2009. EU leaders believe the Lisbon Treaty will rejuvenate the decision-making apparatus of the EU institutions, making the functioning of the 27-member Union more efficient and democratic.
The Treaty of Lisbon introduces two new European top jobs: a high-profile president to chair EU summit meetings for a two-and-a-half year term and a revamped foreign policy chief. However, selecting the right people to fill these positions proved a politically-sensitive task.
So far, the EU's involvement in sport policy has revolved around its economic aspects but with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, Europe now has a legal base to provide a supporting role to member states in the social, educational and cultural aspects of sport.
Sweden assumes the EU's six-month rotating presidency from the Czech Republic on 1 July as Europe battles its most severe economic recession in decades and faces an uncertain institutional future. If the Lisbon Treaty enters into force before the end of the year, this could be history's last fully-fledged EU presidency.
Several scenarios have been suggested as a means of overcoming the crisis triggered by the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland. Here, EURACTIV gives an overview.
Irish voters rebuffed the EU's entire political class with a resounding 'no' to the draft Lisbon Treaty, throwing the Union into yet another political crisis.
The ratification process for the Treaty of Lisbon began in December 2007 and is set to continue throughout 2008 despite Ireland’s rejection of the Treaty by referendum.
EU leaders signed the Constitutional Treaty in autumn 2004, but the ratification was stalled following the two negative votes on the text in France and the Netherlands in 2005. EU leaders are now seeking to agree to a new treaty on the basis of the constitutional provisions. This dossier outlines the key changes proposed by the Constitutional Treaty text to the current system based on the provisions of the Nice Treaty.
EU governments began an Intergovernmental conference (IGC) on 4 October 2003 to revise the draft Constitutional Treaty, adopted by the European Convention on 10 July. Heads of State and Government of the EU-25 failed to agree on the Council voting system during the IGC session of 12-13 December 2003. The European Council on 17-18 June 2004, however, brought the IGC to a conclusion.
The 105-member European Convention signed the draft EU Constitution on 10 July 2003, concluding 16 months of work.
