Constitutional Treaty

What should be in the new Treaty?

Stefano Micossi, Sebastian Kurpas, 13 June 2007

The new EU Treaty must be based on a compromise that does not cross member states’ red-lines while still delivering real improvement in the functioning and democratic accountability of the EU institutions.

The new treaty: economist’s perspective, part 4

Richard Baldwin, 13 June 2007

Council voting reform is one change that must be in the new treaty to consider it a success. The impact of Turkish membership on the distribution of power could be the key to choosing from the options for Council voting reform

The new treaty: economist’s perspective, part 1

Richard Baldwin, 09 June 2007

Public debate on the new treaty focuses on marketing issues (re-packing) or extreme generalities (mini-treaty), but there are important choices to be made, and the various reform elements – such as voting rules, the number of Commissioners and removal of the famous Maastricht pillars – interact in complex ways. First in a series of 4 columns on the issue.

Sarkozy’s rush for a new treaty

Renaud Dehousse, 08 June 2007

France is keen on a new treaty for two reasons – its desire to be a leader in EU issues, and Sarkozy’s eagerness to clear his desk. The road to a treaty, however, is paved with difficulties.

EU absorptive capacity

Michael Emerson, 15 November 2006

Written in November 2006, this essay discusses what is meant by the curious but critical phrase 'absorptive capacity.'

Constitutional treaty fallacies

Richard Baldwin, 03 June 2005

Written June 2005: A great deal of nonsense has been written in the mainstream press about the French and Dutch rejections, much of it stemming from the ‘cry wolf’ campaigns of the ‘yes’ camps. Here are five fallacies that are critical to the future debate.

Plan B for the EU constitution

Richard Baldwin, 03 June 2005

Written June 2005: The ‘non’ and ‘nee’ will have important effects on French and Dutch domestic politics, but won’t be the ‘political tsunami’ for the EU that many observers predict. The EU was headed for tough times regardless of the Constitution’s fate, and there is a simple, viable ‘Plan B.’