EU Constitution Reconsidered – Challenges of the EU Perception

Abstract

Following multi-year negotiations, 25 member states of the European Union signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe that required further ratification by the national parliaments of the countries to enter into force. Notwithstanding the support of the majority of EU member states, the Constitution was rejected by the nationals of particular countries. Consequently, a new document was elaborated – Treaty of Lisbon – signed in 2007. This paper aims to examine substantial differences between the Constitution and Lisbon Treaty from the legal and political standpoint as well as the reasons for the failure of the Constitution and the successful adoption of the Treaty. The paper argues that Lisbon Treaty is practically similar to the Constitution, while the failure of the latter only related to the perceptions of the nationals of EU countries and the lack of readiness on their side to stand above sovereign aspirations and national mentality as well as lack of unity, as being a high contracting party is easier than a party to a joint Constitution.