Treaty of Lisbon 

The IGC responsible for drawing up a European Reform Treaty opened in Lisbon on 23 July 2007(European Parliament representatives: Elmar Brok, Enrique Barón Crespoand Andrew Duff). The text of the Treaty was approved at a meeting of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon on 18-19 October 2007. The Treaty of Lisbon was signed in the presence of EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering on 13 December 2007, following a proclamation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in Parliament by the presidents of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council.

By 19 February 2008, the Treaty of Lisbon was adopted by the European Parliament (Corbett/Méndezde Vigo report). According to the Treaty of Lisbon, Parliament has the right to appoint the President of the Commission, on the basis of a proposal from the European Council that takes into account the results of European Parliamentary elections. Codecision is further extended to new areas, and is to be known as the «ordinary legislative procedure».

Signature of the Lisbon Treaty    
Signature of the Lisbon Treaty 

With a few exceptions, the Treaty puts the European Parliament on an equal footing as law maker with the Council in areas where this was not previously the case, notably in setting the EU budget (Parliament enjoys full parity), agriculture policy and justice and home affairs.
The Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009, after being ratified by all 27 member states.

  • Signed in: Lisbon (Portugal) 13 December 2007
  • Entry into force: 1 December 2009