The Lisbon Treaty has now been ratified by 25 Member States. If, as we hope, it is ratified by the end of the year, and if the Treaty enters into force by the beginning of 2010, the changes that the Treaty brings about will mean a more efficient Europe, a more transparent Europe, and a more democratic Europe, to the benefit of all European citizens.

Europe’s major problem at the moment is that the current rules and voting methods are meant for a European Union of 15 Member States, not of 27.  The Lisbon Treaty gives Europe the right tools to be efficient with 27 Member States.

First of all, decision-making within the Council of Ministers will be more efficient through the change in the default voting method. For now, unanimity is the rule in most cases, a situation that sometimes creates blocked situations and delays in decision-making. When the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, one single Member State will not be able to block the whole decision-making process any longer. This will mean a more efficient Europe, a Europe with a higher capacity to react and to make its voice heard on the international scene.

More efficiency is not the only advantage that the Lisbon Treaty will bring: when it enters into force, the European Union will also be more transparent and more democratic.

More transparent, because all deliberations of the Council on legislative matters will be made public: citizens will be able to see the details of decision-making in the Council of Ministers, and how their Ministers vote.

Europe will also be more democratic, for several reasons.

Firstly, the European Parliament, the only European institution which is directly elected by the citizens, will have increased powers and will co-decide with the Council of Ministers on almost every subject.

Secondly, national parliaments will play a greater role in the work of the Union. Their role is clearly set out in the Treaty. They will have a particular role to play as regards subsidiarity and will be able to flag a proposal of Directive which they believe does not respect this principle.

Thirdly, a citizens’ initiative has been created which, if they gather one million signatures, enables citizens to ask the Commission to present a proposal in any of the EU’s areas of responsibility.

The direct improvement brought by the Lisbon Treaty to the citizens is a more transparent, more democratic Europe which also comes closer to the citizens. With the Lisbon Treaty, the EU will finally have the right tools to make decisions with 27 Member States and to adapt itself and its economy to the challenges of the 21^st century. A more competitive Europe, a Europe that can be active and have its voice heard among its partners: this too, will bring concrete advantages to our citizens.