Institutional reform of the European Union [Archived]

This website offers information on the latest developments of the European Union institutional reform. There are several stages which have been of particular significance: the Treaty of Nice (which came into force on 1 February 2003), the European Convention (which finished in July 2003), the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) 2003/2004 (October 2003–June 2004) and the European Constitution (signed in October 2004). Following the rejection of the European Constitution by France and the Netherlands in 2005 and a two-year period of reflection, on 23 June 2007 EU leaders agreed on a detailed mandate for a new Intergovernmental Conference. The task of this Intergovernmental Conference was to draw up a Reform Treaty by the end of 2007.

On 19 October 2007, the informal European Council in Lisbon adopted the final text of the Treaty, as drawn up by the IGC. The Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States of the European Union signed the Treaty of Lisbon on 13 December 2007. The Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Institutional Reform of the European Union - Main dates http://europa.eu/documentation/legislation/institutional_reform/chronology/index_en.htm

EurActiv: Institutional reform http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/institutional-reform-linksdossier-188164

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