By now, many Europeans know that the EU Treaty of Lisbon (OJEU 9.5.2008 C 115) enters into force on 1 December 2009. However, the flurry of activities to take the first decisions to get the treaty up and running obscures the fact that many adjustments take effect only after transitional periods and that a number of new procedures have to be put into place before they become living law.
(At the end of this blog post we look at some French books on the Lisbon Treaty.)
Jean-Luc-Sauron offers us an opportune reminder of the gradual coming into effect of the Lisbon Treaty, on Diploweb, the French web site for geopolitics:
Jean-Luc Sauron: Le traité de Lisbonne : un traité à effet retardé ? (Diploweb.com, La revue géopolitique, 22 November 2009).
***
Sauron’s article is a detailed but short compilation of the Lisbon Treaty provisions with “delayed action”, a handy reference for serious students.
Books on the Lisbon Treaty (in French)
Since the literature on the Lisbon Treaty is still small and the standard books on EU law and politics have not yet fully integrated the amendments of the reform treaty, I take the opportunity to remind readers of the general introduction written by Jean-Luc Sauron: Comprendre le Traité de Lisbonne (Gualino éditeur, 2008). The book offers an overview of the changes as well as the preliminary consolidated texts of the provisions.
Another introduction for the (more) general reader is Étienne de Poncins: Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés (Éditions Lignes de Repères, 2008).
A more detailed book, for teachers and students, is François-Xavier Priollaud & David Siritzky : Le traité de Lisbonne (LaDocumentation française, 2008).
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Do you find EUSSR myths fascinating? Are we EU citizens worth a better European Union? Read some or all of the 481 Euroblogs aggregated on multilingual Bloggingportal.eu. On most of the blogs you can comment and discuss our common European future.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, 23 November 2009
Saturday, 11 October 2008
EU: Monetary policy Ic
The European Central Bank (ECB) offers the interested reader a number of publications on economic and monetary union (EMU). Here is a sample for students of history, politics, economics and law.
***
An introductory brochure, available in 23 EU languages, is ‘The European Central Bank, the Eurosystem, the European System of Central Banks’ (2nd edition, April 2008). It presents the history of economic and monetary union, the structure and tasks of the European System of Central Banks, monetary policy, the Target2 System, the euro banknotes and coins and banking supervision, and it offers a handy glossary for the general reader. The English version is available at the website of the European Central Bank:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/escb_en.pdf
***
Hanspeter K. Scheller: The European Central Bank ─ History, role and functions (2nd revised edition, 2006). The book is available in 13 languages; for the English version, go to:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/ecbhistoryrolefunctions2006en.pdf
***
‘10th Anniversary of the ECB’ is the theme of the Special edition of the Monthly Bulletin (29 May 2008), with a comprehensive overview of monetary policy within the euro area. The English version is available at:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/10thanniversaryoftheecbmb200806en.pdf
***
There are a number of useful publications on the ECB’s web pages, from the Monthly Bulletin and the handy Monthly Statistics Pocket Book to various specialist books and research papers. Look for Publications at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu
The latest ECB Monthly Bulletin with economic and monetary developments, articles and euro area statistics (October 2008) is available at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/mobu/mb200810en.pdf
The latest Statistics Pocket Book with macroeconomic data (October 2008):
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/stapobo/spb200810en.pdf
***
Both long term decisions and the current financial turmoil are reflected in the European Central Bank’s press releases, available at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2008/html/index.en.html
***
If you are digging deeper, this legal blog or blawg would like to draw your attention to ‘Legal framework of the Eurosystem and the ESCB. ECB legal acts and instruments’ (July 2008), which “contains summaries of the legal acts and instruments constituting the legal framework of the Eurosystem and the ESCB. It covers the main legal acts and instruments that have been adopted by the ECB and published since the ECB’s establishment in June 1998 up to the end of 2007.”
In other words, this publication contains legal material at a deeper level than the treaty provisions this blog is currently focused on. Go to:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/legalframeworkeurosystemescb2008en.pdf
***
The legal framework of the European Central Bank in its entirety can be accessed through:
http://www.ecb.int/ecb/legal/html/index.en.html
There is a helpful User Guide and links for detailed search.
***
‘Legal aspects of the European System of Central Banks ─ Liber amicorum Paolo Zamboni Garavelli’ (2005) is a hefty compilation of articles about various legal aspects of European monetary policy:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/legalaspectsescben.pdf
***
Is the European Central Bank secretive?
Ralf Grahn
***
An introductory brochure, available in 23 EU languages, is ‘The European Central Bank, the Eurosystem, the European System of Central Banks’ (2nd edition, April 2008). It presents the history of economic and monetary union, the structure and tasks of the European System of Central Banks, monetary policy, the Target2 System, the euro banknotes and coins and banking supervision, and it offers a handy glossary for the general reader. The English version is available at the website of the European Central Bank:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/escb_en.pdf
***
Hanspeter K. Scheller: The European Central Bank ─ History, role and functions (2nd revised edition, 2006). The book is available in 13 languages; for the English version, go to:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/ecbhistoryrolefunctions2006en.pdf
***
‘10th Anniversary of the ECB’ is the theme of the Special edition of the Monthly Bulletin (29 May 2008), with a comprehensive overview of monetary policy within the euro area. The English version is available at:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/10thanniversaryoftheecbmb200806en.pdf
***
There are a number of useful publications on the ECB’s web pages, from the Monthly Bulletin and the handy Monthly Statistics Pocket Book to various specialist books and research papers. Look for Publications at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu
The latest ECB Monthly Bulletin with economic and monetary developments, articles and euro area statistics (October 2008) is available at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/mobu/mb200810en.pdf
The latest Statistics Pocket Book with macroeconomic data (October 2008):
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/stapobo/spb200810en.pdf
***
Both long term decisions and the current financial turmoil are reflected in the European Central Bank’s press releases, available at:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2008/html/index.en.html
***
If you are digging deeper, this legal blog or blawg would like to draw your attention to ‘Legal framework of the Eurosystem and the ESCB. ECB legal acts and instruments’ (July 2008), which “contains summaries of the legal acts and instruments constituting the legal framework of the Eurosystem and the ESCB. It covers the main legal acts and instruments that have been adopted by the ECB and published since the ECB’s establishment in June 1998 up to the end of 2007.”
In other words, this publication contains legal material at a deeper level than the treaty provisions this blog is currently focused on. Go to:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/legalframeworkeurosystemescb2008en.pdf
***
The legal framework of the European Central Bank in its entirety can be accessed through:
http://www.ecb.int/ecb/legal/html/index.en.html
There is a helpful User Guide and links for detailed search.
***
‘Legal aspects of the European System of Central Banks ─ Liber amicorum Paolo Zamboni Garavelli’ (2005) is a hefty compilation of articles about various legal aspects of European monetary policy:
http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/legalaspectsescben.pdf
***
Is the European Central Bank secretive?
Ralf Grahn
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
TFEU: Introduction
The European Convention never had the time to make a deep impact on the policy areas of the European Community, and in the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2004) the governments of the member states were obsessed by institutional questions, such as voting weights in the Council.
The IGC 2007 returned to the unfinished business left by the aborted ratification process of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
Already in the context of the Convention and the Constitutional Treaty there were calls from pundits for an overhaul of the policies of the EU, and some echo from European leaders, but the national leaders seem to have been overwhelmed by the challenge to bring this stage of institutional reform to a close.
Thus, the main thrust of the Lisbon Treaty reform is institutional: to improve decision making within areas where the European Union (EU) and the European Community (EC) already exercise powers delegated by the member states.
If the Treaty of Lisbon survives the gauntlet of 27 national ratifications, the more mundane task of reforming the practical policies of the EU might raise enough of politicians’ interest to allow an overdue modernising exercise.
***
Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon contains the amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), which is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Many of the changes to the TFEU are caused by the reordering of the treaties, with the Treaty on European Union (TEU) becoming home to the constitutional principles and objectives of the European Union and the fundamental provisions on the institutions. In addition, the continuing separateness of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) is given emphasis by housing them in the TEU.
Besides the reordering, renaming of various concepts leads to a fair amount of amendments throughout the TFEU, but most of the changes are rather technical. The Treaty of Lisbon is no profound reform of EU policies, although the area of freedom, security and justice is united under normal rules for the countries without derogations and opt-outs, and some additional tinkering and tidying up occur.
***
Why then bother to wade through the TFEU?
The treaties are the most important documents of the European Union. They lay the foundations for common action aiming to improve the security and prosperity of the citizens of the European Union. The rule of law means that every piece of legislation and every decision has to be based on the treaties.
The great questions of foreign and security policy may attract more media attention, but businesses and citizens are affected more directly by EU legislation and the everyday workings of the institutions.
Assuming that a reasonable amount of knowledge about the European Union is in the interest of private parties, then it is better to study the latest edition of our common rules. This leads us to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as agreed on in the Lisbon Treaty. Even if the TFEU were to be hit by an accident never to enter into force, we would have gleaned some knowledge of the unreformed European Community (European Union).
***
Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon states that the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) shall be amended in accordance with the provisions of this Article (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/41).
Following from the merger of the EC into the EU and the renewed structure of the treaties, the treaty is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The IGC 2007 then sets out a number of horizontal amendments, leading to editorial or technical adaptations throughout the TFEU. I just highlight some of the new terminology we might want to get used to:
The ‘Union’ replaces the words ‘Community’ and ‘European Community’
‘The Treaties’ replaces ‘this Treaty’ and ‘the present Treaty’
The ‘ordinary legislative procedure’ replaces the procedure referred to in Article 251
The ‘internal market’ replaces the ‘common market’
‘Euro’ replaces ‘ecu’
‘Member States whose currency is the euro’ replaces ‘Member State without derogation’
The ‘European Central Bank’ replaces the abbreviation ‘ECB’
‘Economic and Financial Committee’ replaces the Committee provided for in Article 114
‘Specialised court’ replaces ‘judicial panel’
‘Acting unanimously in accordance with a special legislative procedure’ is inserted where the existing treaty says ‘acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission’
‘Acting by a simple majority’ is inserted into seven Articles
In two instances ‘obtaining the consent of the European Parliament’ replaces mere consultation
The ‘Court of Justice of the European Union’ becomes the official name, but sometimes the short form ‘Court’ is used
***
To these horizontal amendments of terminology are added the amendments concerning numbering and renumbering of the treaties, compounded by the less than reader-friendly drafting of the treaties themselves.
I salute the silent heroes who have produced the few consolidated language versions of the Treaty of Lisbon we already have. I wish that the versions still missing are produced and published soon. Brochures and web page summaries are important for the citizens of the EU, but they are far from enough.
(For the existing consolidations, as far as I know, see my latest compilation of sources, the 8 February 2008 posting ‘Lisbon Treaty: Consolidated language versions’.)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Embarking on the long journey to explore our fundamental common rules as rendered by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, I want to repeat my plea for information on the law and politics of the Lisbon reform treaty.
I am most grateful, if you want to share your knowledge on the Treaty of Lisbon with me and other EU citizens: consolidated versions as well as books and other resources, such as official documents from the member states’ governments and parliaments, popular presentations and scholarly research literature, plus information on the ratification processes.
The IGC 2007 returned to the unfinished business left by the aborted ratification process of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
Already in the context of the Convention and the Constitutional Treaty there were calls from pundits for an overhaul of the policies of the EU, and some echo from European leaders, but the national leaders seem to have been overwhelmed by the challenge to bring this stage of institutional reform to a close.
Thus, the main thrust of the Lisbon Treaty reform is institutional: to improve decision making within areas where the European Union (EU) and the European Community (EC) already exercise powers delegated by the member states.
If the Treaty of Lisbon survives the gauntlet of 27 national ratifications, the more mundane task of reforming the practical policies of the EU might raise enough of politicians’ interest to allow an overdue modernising exercise.
***
Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon contains the amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), which is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Many of the changes to the TFEU are caused by the reordering of the treaties, with the Treaty on European Union (TEU) becoming home to the constitutional principles and objectives of the European Union and the fundamental provisions on the institutions. In addition, the continuing separateness of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) is given emphasis by housing them in the TEU.
Besides the reordering, renaming of various concepts leads to a fair amount of amendments throughout the TFEU, but most of the changes are rather technical. The Treaty of Lisbon is no profound reform of EU policies, although the area of freedom, security and justice is united under normal rules for the countries without derogations and opt-outs, and some additional tinkering and tidying up occur.
***
Why then bother to wade through the TFEU?
The treaties are the most important documents of the European Union. They lay the foundations for common action aiming to improve the security and prosperity of the citizens of the European Union. The rule of law means that every piece of legislation and every decision has to be based on the treaties.
The great questions of foreign and security policy may attract more media attention, but businesses and citizens are affected more directly by EU legislation and the everyday workings of the institutions.
Assuming that a reasonable amount of knowledge about the European Union is in the interest of private parties, then it is better to study the latest edition of our common rules. This leads us to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as agreed on in the Lisbon Treaty. Even if the TFEU were to be hit by an accident never to enter into force, we would have gleaned some knowledge of the unreformed European Community (European Union).
***
Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon states that the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) shall be amended in accordance with the provisions of this Article (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/41).
Following from the merger of the EC into the EU and the renewed structure of the treaties, the treaty is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The IGC 2007 then sets out a number of horizontal amendments, leading to editorial or technical adaptations throughout the TFEU. I just highlight some of the new terminology we might want to get used to:
The ‘Union’ replaces the words ‘Community’ and ‘European Community’
‘The Treaties’ replaces ‘this Treaty’ and ‘the present Treaty’
The ‘ordinary legislative procedure’ replaces the procedure referred to in Article 251
The ‘internal market’ replaces the ‘common market’
‘Euro’ replaces ‘ecu’
‘Member States whose currency is the euro’ replaces ‘Member State without derogation’
The ‘European Central Bank’ replaces the abbreviation ‘ECB’
‘Economic and Financial Committee’ replaces the Committee provided for in Article 114
‘Specialised court’ replaces ‘judicial panel’
‘Acting unanimously in accordance with a special legislative procedure’ is inserted where the existing treaty says ‘acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission’
‘Acting by a simple majority’ is inserted into seven Articles
In two instances ‘obtaining the consent of the European Parliament’ replaces mere consultation
The ‘Court of Justice of the European Union’ becomes the official name, but sometimes the short form ‘Court’ is used
***
To these horizontal amendments of terminology are added the amendments concerning numbering and renumbering of the treaties, compounded by the less than reader-friendly drafting of the treaties themselves.
I salute the silent heroes who have produced the few consolidated language versions of the Treaty of Lisbon we already have. I wish that the versions still missing are produced and published soon. Brochures and web page summaries are important for the citizens of the EU, but they are far from enough.
(For the existing consolidations, as far as I know, see my latest compilation of sources, the 8 February 2008 posting ‘Lisbon Treaty: Consolidated language versions’.)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Embarking on the long journey to explore our fundamental common rules as rendered by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, I want to repeat my plea for information on the law and politics of the Lisbon reform treaty.
I am most grateful, if you want to share your knowledge on the Treaty of Lisbon with me and other EU citizens: consolidated versions as well as books and other resources, such as official documents from the member states’ governments and parliaments, popular presentations and scholarly research literature, plus information on the ratification processes.
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