THE EU IN THE WORLD

Promoting its values and interests globally, the EU is the world’s

biggest trader and its biggest provider of aid to developing
countries. Under the Treaty of Lisbon, Europe will speak with a
clear voice on external relations.
Maintaining freedom, security and prosperity in Europe requires
that Europe fulfil its potential as a global player. In a globalised
world, challenges such as securing energy, climate change,
sustainable development, economic competitiveness and terrorism
cannot be tackled by a single country, but need an answer that
only the EU as a whole can provide.
The Treaty of Lisbon contains two important institutional
innovations with a significant impact on the Union’s external action:
the “permanent” President of the European Council appointed for a
renewable term of two and a half years, and the new High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-
President of the Commission, who shall ensure the consistency of
the Union's external action. The Treaty of Lisbon helps the EU
work more effectively and consistently around the world.
Connecting different strands of EU external policy, such as
diplomacy, security, trade, development, humanitarian aid and
international negotiations, will give the EU a clearer voice in
relations with our partner countries and organisations worldwide.
The impact of EU intervention is also enhanced by a new
European External Action Service, drawing on the resources of the
EU institutions and the Member States to assist the High
Representative.
The Treaty introduces a single legal personality for the Union that
enables the EU to conclude international agreements and join
international organisations. The EU is therefore able to speak and
take action as a single entity.
The Treaty of Lisbon gives a higher profile to the principles under
which the European Union acts: democracy, the rule of law, human
rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, and
the principles of equality and solidarity. It 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 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 Union and its
Member States to act jointly if a Member State is the target of a
terrorist attack

A EUROPE OF RIGHTS AND VALUES

Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and
the respect for human rights: these are the core values of the EU
which are set out at the beginning of the Treaty of Lisbon. They are
common to all Member States, and any European country wishing
to become a member of the Union must respect them.
Promoting these values, as well as peace and the well-being of the
Union’s peoples are now the main objectives of the Union. These
general objectives are supplemented by a list of more detailed
ones, including the promotion of social justice and protection, and
the fight against social exclusion and discrimination.
The Treaty of Lisbon makes significant advances regarding the
protection of fundamental rights. It opens the way for the Union to
seek accession to the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
In addition, the Treaty of Lisbon guarantees the enforcement of the
Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU therefore acquires for itself
a catalogue of civil, political, economic and social rights, which are
legally binding not only on the Union and its institutions, but also on
the Member States as regards the implementation of Union law.
The Charter lists all the fundamental rights under six major
headings: Dignity, Freedom, Equality, Solidarity, Citizenship and
Justice. It also proclaims additional rights not contained in the
European Human Rights Convention, such as data protection,
bioethics and the right to good administration. It reaffirms important
steps to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of gender, race and
colour. It also mentions social rights applied within companies, e.g.
workers’ rights to be informed, to negotiate and take collective
action – in other words, the right to strike.
Last but not least, the Treaty of Lisbon introduces a new right,
which enables you to have your say on European matters: a
petition with at least one million signatures obtained from a number
of Member States can be sent to the Commission inviting it to take
a legislative initiative.

MORE JUSTICE,FREEDOM AND SECURITY

Building an area of Justice, Freedom and Security is a high priority
for the European Union.
The Treaty of Lisbon has considerable influence on the existing
rules governing freedom, and security and justice at EU level and
will facilitate more comprehensive, legitimate, efficient, transparent
and democratic EU action in this field.
Before the Lisbon Treaty entered in force, important matters in this
field required decision by unanimity in the Council with only a
limited role given to the European Parliament and the European
Court of Justice.
The Treaty of Lisbon leads to increased democracy and
transparency as a set of uniform legal acts are adopted with a
stronger role for the European Parliament as co-legislator (co-
decision procedure) and by the extension of the qualified majority
principle in the Council.
EU action is facilitated by the abolition of the existing separate
policy areas - also known as 'pillars' - that characterise today's
institutional structure with regard to police and judicial co-operation
in criminal matters.
However, legislative initiatives based on Member States' initiatives
(at least a quarter of Member States) in the area of operational
police cooperation, criminal justice and administrative cooperation
remains possible. The European Commission gains its full role as
guardian of the Treaties and will, together with the European Court
of Justice, ensure that decisions are being applied correctly.
National Parliaments also take a more active role in the
examination and delivery of opinions regarding justice, freedom
and security issues.
The Treaty of Lisbon guarantees the freedoms and rights set out in
the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and
gives its provisions binding legal force. The Court of Justice also, in
this respect, gains an increased ability to ensure that the Charter is
being applied correctly.
These advances facilitate the creation of more comprehensive,
legitimate, efficient, transparent and democratic decision making
for the common Area of Justice Freedom and Security by tackling
the recurrent blockages of proposals due to the unanimity rule.
Nevertheless, three Member States have considered it necessary
to negotiate or extend special arrangements on specific Justice,
Freedom and Security areas with a view to maintaining specific
national arrangements.