The EU Treaty of Lisbon retains the advisory committee of national experts on transport matters.
***
Article 99 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 99 TFEU
(ex Article 79 TEC)
An Advisory Committee consisting of experts designated by the governments of Member States shall be attached to the Commission. The Commission, whenever it considers it desirable, shall consult the Committee on transport matters.
***
In Article 2, point 74 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 79 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
74) In Article 79, the phrase ‘without prejudice to the powers of the Economic and Social Committee’ shall be deleted.
***
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 79 TEC first became Article 79 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 99 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 79 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/73):
Article 79 TEC
An Advisory Committee consisting of experts designated by the governments of Member States shall be attached to the Commission. The Commission, whenever it considers it desirable, shall consult the Committee on transport matters without prejudice to the powers of the Economic and Social Committee.
***
For the sake of a systematic comparison, we look at the Article during the previous treaty reform stages.
First, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-142 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe looked like this (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/55):
Article III-142 Draft Constitution
An Advisory Committee consisting of experts designated by the governments of Member States shall be attached to the Commission. The Commission, whenever it considers it desirable, shall consult the Committee on transport matters.
***
Article III-244 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the wording of the European Convention without change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107).
***
We see that the Lisbon Treaty amendment was part of the draft Constitution.
***
What have others said about Article 99 TFEU?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the amendment of Article 79 TEC and TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 99 TFEU in the consolidated version, but made no comment (page 23).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). It offers the following comment on Article 99 TFEU, Article 79 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 79 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 99 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, but it makes no reference to Article 79 TEC and TFEU (ToL).
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), mentions the words deleted from Article 79 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 99 TFEU, and adds the observation that the contents are the same as in ArticleIII-244 of the Constitutional Treaty (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same observations on page 209.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Friday, 23 May 2008
EU TFEU: Transport and Germany
Here is a question for sadistic quizmasters: Can the Council amend the EU Treaty of Lisbon without later ratification by national parliaments?
The answer is ‘yes’ in at least one, highly atypical situation. Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union offers the Council the possibility to repeal a privilege enjoyed by Germany as a legacy of the division of that country.
***
Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 98 TFEU
(ex Article 78 TEC)
The provisions of this Title shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division. Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may adopt a decision repealing this Article.
***
In Article 2, point 73 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 78 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
73) In Article 78, the following sentence shall be added:
‘Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Council, acting on a proposal
from the Commission, may adopt a decision repealing this Article.’.
***
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 78 TEC first became Article 78 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 98 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 78 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/73):
Article 78 TEC
The provisions of this title shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division.
***
For the sake of a systematic comparison, we look at the Article during the previous treaty reform stages.
First, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-141 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe used the word ‘Section’ where the current Article 77 TEC says ‘title’, but otherwise the text was unchanged (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/55).
***
Article III-243 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe added a sentence to the text of the European Convention (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107):
Article III-243 Constitution
The provisions of this Section shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division. Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may adopt a European decision repealing this Article.
***
We can see that the IGC 2004 agreed on the possibility to repeal the provision on derogations on the basis of the division of Germany. This was taken over by the IGC 2007 as part of the 2004 package, if nothing in the IGC 2007 Mandate said anything to the contrary.
Naturally, the effects of the division of Germany are not over yet, almost two decades after German unification.
Sozialpolitik aktuell in Deutschland, Universität Duisburg, Essen, Institut für Soziologie, offers web pages with social indicators in Germany. In 2007 the unemployment rate in the old ‚Bundesländer’ was 8.4 per cent, but twice as high (16.8 per dent) in the new states. See Arbeitslosenquoten in neuen und alten Bundesländern 1975 – 2007:
http://www.sozialpolitik-aktuell.de/datensammlung/4/ab/abbIV35.pdf
On the other hand, increasingly a special rule for the rich Federal Republic of Germany is an anomaly in a European Union with ten poorer former Communist member states, without a richer big brother to help them out.
In principle, of anecdotal value only, one of the consequences of the stalled ratification process of the Constitutional Treaty was that this German special arrangement got an extra two year lease of life (if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force according to plan).
***
What have others said about Article 98 TFEU?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers commented on the last sentence of Article 78 TEC and TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 98 TFEU in the consolidated version, in the following way (page 23):
“The amendment is entirely new. It permits this Treaty Article to be amended (repealed) by QMV.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). It offers the following comment on Article 98 TFEU, Article 78 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 78 TEC, with a new power for the Council, by QMV, to repeal this provision.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 98 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, and Article 78 TEC and TFEU (ToL) is explained on page 282:
“Vidare har genom Lissabonfördraget införts en möjlighet för rådet att, efter fem år från ikraftträdandet av fördraget, upphäva artikel 78 i EUF-fördraget, som möjliggör att vissa åtgärder vidtas för att uppväga de ekonomiska nackdelar som uppkommit genom Tysklands delning för näringslivet i vissa av de områden i förbundsrepubliken som påverkats av delningen. I en gemensam förklaring (28) till artikel 78 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt anges att bestämmelsen ska tillämpas i enlighet med gällande praxis från EU-domstolen.”
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), describes Article 78 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 98 TFEU, mentions Declaration 28 and refers to a more detailed treatment of declarations (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), explains Article 78, mentions Declaration 28 and refers to the detailed text on declarations (page 209).
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
Among the declarations annexed to the final act of the intergovernmental conference which adopted the Treaty of Lisbon, we find Declaration number 28 (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/347):
28. Declaration on Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
The Conference notes that the provisions of Article 98 shall be applied in accordance with the current practice. The terms ‘such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division’ shall be interpreted in accordance with the existing case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
The answer is ‘yes’ in at least one, highly atypical situation. Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union offers the Council the possibility to repeal a privilege enjoyed by Germany as a legacy of the division of that country.
***
Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 98 TFEU
(ex Article 78 TEC)
The provisions of this Title shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division. Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may adopt a decision repealing this Article.
***
In Article 2, point 73 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 78 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
73) In Article 78, the following sentence shall be added:
‘Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Council, acting on a proposal
from the Commission, may adopt a decision repealing this Article.’.
***
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 78 TEC first became Article 78 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 98 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 78 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/73):
Article 78 TEC
The provisions of this title shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division.
***
For the sake of a systematic comparison, we look at the Article during the previous treaty reform stages.
First, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-141 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe used the word ‘Section’ where the current Article 77 TEC says ‘title’, but otherwise the text was unchanged (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/55).
***
Article III-243 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe added a sentence to the text of the European Convention (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107):
Article III-243 Constitution
The provisions of this Section shall not form an obstacle to the application of measures taken in the Federal Republic of Germany to the extent that such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division. Five years after the entry into force of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may adopt a European decision repealing this Article.
***
We can see that the IGC 2004 agreed on the possibility to repeal the provision on derogations on the basis of the division of Germany. This was taken over by the IGC 2007 as part of the 2004 package, if nothing in the IGC 2007 Mandate said anything to the contrary.
Naturally, the effects of the division of Germany are not over yet, almost two decades after German unification.
Sozialpolitik aktuell in Deutschland, Universität Duisburg, Essen, Institut für Soziologie, offers web pages with social indicators in Germany. In 2007 the unemployment rate in the old ‚Bundesländer’ was 8.4 per cent, but twice as high (16.8 per dent) in the new states. See Arbeitslosenquoten in neuen und alten Bundesländern 1975 – 2007:
http://www.sozialpolitik-aktuell.de/datensammlung/4/ab/abbIV35.pdf
On the other hand, increasingly a special rule for the rich Federal Republic of Germany is an anomaly in a European Union with ten poorer former Communist member states, without a richer big brother to help them out.
In principle, of anecdotal value only, one of the consequences of the stalled ratification process of the Constitutional Treaty was that this German special arrangement got an extra two year lease of life (if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force according to plan).
***
What have others said about Article 98 TFEU?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers commented on the last sentence of Article 78 TEC and TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 98 TFEU in the consolidated version, in the following way (page 23):
“The amendment is entirely new. It permits this Treaty Article to be amended (repealed) by QMV.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). It offers the following comment on Article 98 TFEU, Article 78 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 78 TEC, with a new power for the Council, by QMV, to repeal this provision.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 98 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, and Article 78 TEC and TFEU (ToL) is explained on page 282:
“Vidare har genom Lissabonfördraget införts en möjlighet för rådet att, efter fem år från ikraftträdandet av fördraget, upphäva artikel 78 i EUF-fördraget, som möjliggör att vissa åtgärder vidtas för att uppväga de ekonomiska nackdelar som uppkommit genom Tysklands delning för näringslivet i vissa av de områden i förbundsrepubliken som påverkats av delningen. I en gemensam förklaring (28) till artikel 78 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt anges att bestämmelsen ska tillämpas i enlighet med gällande praxis från EU-domstolen.”
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), describes Article 78 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 98 TFEU, mentions Declaration 28 and refers to a more detailed treatment of declarations (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), explains Article 78, mentions Declaration 28 and refers to the detailed text on declarations (page 209).
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
Among the declarations annexed to the final act of the intergovernmental conference which adopted the Treaty of Lisbon, we find Declaration number 28 (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/347):
28. Declaration on Article 98 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
The Conference notes that the provisions of Article 98 shall be applied in accordance with the current practice. The terms ‘such measures are required in order to compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by the division of Germany to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic affected by that division’ shall be interpreted in accordance with the existing case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
Histoire de la construction européenne
Sixty years from the Congress of Europe is a good enough cause to take a long view of European integration. Reflection is needed as much as celebration.
Marie-Thérèse Bitsch has written a book, which should be translated into every European language and read by each citizen. The new pocket edition of her « Histoire de la construction européenne de 1945 à nos jours » manages to take the reader through the main developments from the end of World War II to the great enlargement of the European Union in 2004.
The 401 pages are not confined to the European Union and its predecessors, but include the other manifestations of European integration, such as the OECE (OECD), the Council of Europe, the defence alliances and the CSCE (OSCE).
The book is not only a good read, but it is detailed enough to serve as an introductory source for serious students who want to explore certain developments.
***
Marie-Thérèse Bitsch: Histoire de la construction européenne de 1945 à nos jours ; Nouvelle édition mise à jour (Editions Complexe, 2008 ; 11,90 €)
Ralf Grahn
Marie-Thérèse Bitsch has written a book, which should be translated into every European language and read by each citizen. The new pocket edition of her « Histoire de la construction européenne de 1945 à nos jours » manages to take the reader through the main developments from the end of World War II to the great enlargement of the European Union in 2004.
The 401 pages are not confined to the European Union and its predecessors, but include the other manifestations of European integration, such as the OECE (OECD), the Council of Europe, the defence alliances and the CSCE (OSCE).
The book is not only a good read, but it is detailed enough to serve as an introductory source for serious students who want to explore certain developments.
***
Marie-Thérèse Bitsch: Histoire de la construction européenne de 1945 à nos jours ; Nouvelle édition mise à jour (Editions Complexe, 2008 ; 11,90 €)
Ralf Grahn
Alfred the Ordinary
You take up so many levels of matters and such various grounds for discontent in your comment on transport support and protection that it is difficult to answer within the space of comment of normal proportions. In a way, my writing about the Lisbon Treaty is a running commentary, although only one Article is dealt with each time.
Treaties: In spite of the fact that my postings are excruciatingly dull to read, I think that they have some merit in that they deal with every provision of the Lisbon Treaty, including the unchanged ones of little interest to national governments and parliaments with regard to the ongoing ratification processes.
Importance of treaties: Like it or not, but the European Community (European Union) is based on the rule of law. Thus, what the treaties say and what they omit forms the basis for secondary legislation and subsequent action.
Transport: I have to admit that the vagueness of the (unreformed) transport Articles is somewhat disturbing. Yesterday I proposed that the treaties should be overhauled as to the internal policy areas. The common agricultural policy and the common transport policy are two examples of practically unreformed areas, and there are many more or less redundant provisions elsewhere, which have been technically adjusted, but just clutter up the coming TFEU.
EU studies: If, as some purport, 80 per cent of national legislation emanates from “Brussels” (or even significantly less, as I believe), curricula for EU law and politics should be extended significantly. Yesterday I noted that students probably learn nothing about EU transport (or most other policy areas) from the standard EU law coursebooks in English. I also noted that many continental students seem to get a more complete view of the EU.
Internal market, competition and protectionism: French protectionism has deep roots; a sense of inferiority running back to at least German unification in the late 19th century. But if you abolish the internal market and its competition rules, as well as the supranational Commission as the guardian of the treaties, what would result? Enforcing and improving competition rules is a hard slog for the Commission, but have you thought through the alternatives to the EU (countries) as a whole, or even the situation for the United Kingdom after possible secession?
CAP: In my view, the EU would be much better off if the resources spent on the common agricultural policy were used to improve the conditions for Europe to compete in a globalising world. But how can the resources and expenditure of the EU be reformed decisively as long as the member states’ governments have to reach unanimous decisions on the financial perspectives?
Fisheries: Is not the global root problem overfishing? What should be done about that?
Black and white: Any working human society requires some sort of adaptation, be it family, work, municipality, region, state or the EU. Wholesale rejection is seldom the right answer. I have to adjust to the fact that some of the decisions and actions of these entities are less palatable, even distasteful. When in a minority, I can try to influence opinions and to work for what I believe to be a more constructive future majority. Where does anger lead, if not turned into action for improvement?
Intergovernmentalism: Many of the basic problems of the European Union have much to do with the defects and limits of intergovernmental cooperation. Often it would be better to ask about the interests of EU citizens, instead of brandishing barren concepts like ‘sovereignty’ when the nation state is incapable of offering solutions.
In my humble opinion, we Europeans need a European Union, but a better EU based on effective decision-making, democracy and solidarity.
Imperfect as it is, the Treaty of Lisbon is a step in the right direction, but many more are needed.
Ralf Grahn
Treaties: In spite of the fact that my postings are excruciatingly dull to read, I think that they have some merit in that they deal with every provision of the Lisbon Treaty, including the unchanged ones of little interest to national governments and parliaments with regard to the ongoing ratification processes.
Importance of treaties: Like it or not, but the European Community (European Union) is based on the rule of law. Thus, what the treaties say and what they omit forms the basis for secondary legislation and subsequent action.
Transport: I have to admit that the vagueness of the (unreformed) transport Articles is somewhat disturbing. Yesterday I proposed that the treaties should be overhauled as to the internal policy areas. The common agricultural policy and the common transport policy are two examples of practically unreformed areas, and there are many more or less redundant provisions elsewhere, which have been technically adjusted, but just clutter up the coming TFEU.
EU studies: If, as some purport, 80 per cent of national legislation emanates from “Brussels” (or even significantly less, as I believe), curricula for EU law and politics should be extended significantly. Yesterday I noted that students probably learn nothing about EU transport (or most other policy areas) from the standard EU law coursebooks in English. I also noted that many continental students seem to get a more complete view of the EU.
Internal market, competition and protectionism: French protectionism has deep roots; a sense of inferiority running back to at least German unification in the late 19th century. But if you abolish the internal market and its competition rules, as well as the supranational Commission as the guardian of the treaties, what would result? Enforcing and improving competition rules is a hard slog for the Commission, but have you thought through the alternatives to the EU (countries) as a whole, or even the situation for the United Kingdom after possible secession?
CAP: In my view, the EU would be much better off if the resources spent on the common agricultural policy were used to improve the conditions for Europe to compete in a globalising world. But how can the resources and expenditure of the EU be reformed decisively as long as the member states’ governments have to reach unanimous decisions on the financial perspectives?
Fisheries: Is not the global root problem overfishing? What should be done about that?
Black and white: Any working human society requires some sort of adaptation, be it family, work, municipality, region, state or the EU. Wholesale rejection is seldom the right answer. I have to adjust to the fact that some of the decisions and actions of these entities are less palatable, even distasteful. When in a minority, I can try to influence opinions and to work for what I believe to be a more constructive future majority. Where does anger lead, if not turned into action for improvement?
Intergovernmentalism: Many of the basic problems of the European Union have much to do with the defects and limits of intergovernmental cooperation. Often it would be better to ask about the interests of EU citizens, instead of brandishing barren concepts like ‘sovereignty’ when the nation state is incapable of offering solutions.
In my humble opinion, we Europeans need a European Union, but a better EU based on effective decision-making, democracy and solidarity.
Imperfect as it is, the Treaty of Lisbon is a step in the right direction, but many more are needed.
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 22 May 2008
EU TFEU: Transport charges and dues
The EU Treaty of Lisbon takes over the provision on charges and dues in respect of the crossing of frontiers which are charged by a carrier in addition to the transport rates, but the new treaty gives no indication of if the provision has any relevance since the scrapping of border controls in the Schengen area.
Is it time to overhaul both EU treaties and coursebooks?
***
Article 97 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 97 TFEU
(ex Article 77 TEC)
Charges or dues in respect of the crossing of frontiers which are charged by a carrier in addition to the transport rates shall not exceed a reasonable level after taking the costs actually incurred thereby into account.
Member States shall endeavour to reduce these costs progressively.
The Commission may make recommendations to Member States for the application of this Article.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC, and in point 73 it dealt with Article 78 TEC. Thus, no specific amendments were made to Article 77 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 77 TEC first became Article 77 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 97 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 77 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/72). The wording is exactly the same as in Article 97 TFEU.
***
Still, for the sake of a systematic comparison, we look at the Article during the previous treaty reform stages.
Therefore, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-140 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe just deleted the word ‘progressively’ from the text of the current Article 77 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-242 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention unchanged (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107).
***
The IGC 2007 managed to keep the bulk of the Lisbon Treaty down by basing its amendments on the current treaties and by disregarding cosmetic changes in a number of instances. The word ‘progressively’ flows from the TEC to the TFEU.
***
Have others found anything to say about an unchanged provision of the Lisbon Treaty?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
The unchanged Article 77 TEC and TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 97 TFEU in the consolidated version, drew no comment (page 22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 97 TFEU, Article 77 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short (page 11):
“Unchanged from Article 77 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 97 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, but I found nothing on Article 77 TEC and ToL.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), bundles together Articles 76 and 77 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 96 and 97 TFEU, in a brief explanation (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on page 209:
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the viewpoint of treaty change, a provision without amendments is uninteresting, as shown by the fair sample of documents we have looked at. For national legislators these provisions are covered by earlier ratifications.
Possibly, a provision such as 97 TFEU may have become redundant, but lives on because there has been no thorough spring-cleaning of the internal policy areas.
But how is a student to know, since internal policy sectors are hardly dealt with at all in university curricula, in English? I failed to find ‘Transport’ indexed in four coursebooks.
At least some continental books for students seem to take a broader ‘law and politics’ approach. Here are a few examples of general books with chapters on transport (although there may be later editions than the ones I have at hand):
Roland Bieber, Astrid Epiney & Marcel Haag: Die Europäische Union, Europarecht und Politik (6. Auflage, Nomos, 2005)
Fernando Díez Moreno: Manual de derecho de la Unión Europea (Tercera edición, Editorial Aranzadi, 2005)
Louis Dubouis & Claude Blumann: Droit matériel de l’Union européenne (3e édition, Montchrestien, 2004)
Enrique Linde Paniagua (Coordinador) : Políticas de la Unión Europea (2a edicón, Colex, 2005)
Ralf Grahn
Is it time to overhaul both EU treaties and coursebooks?
***
Article 97 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 97 TFEU
(ex Article 77 TEC)
Charges or dues in respect of the crossing of frontiers which are charged by a carrier in addition to the transport rates shall not exceed a reasonable level after taking the costs actually incurred thereby into account.
Member States shall endeavour to reduce these costs progressively.
The Commission may make recommendations to Member States for the application of this Article.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC, and in point 73 it dealt with Article 78 TEC. Thus, no specific amendments were made to Article 77 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 77 TEC first became Article 77 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 97 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 77 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/72). The wording is exactly the same as in Article 97 TFEU.
***
Still, for the sake of a systematic comparison, we look at the Article during the previous treaty reform stages.
Therefore, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-140 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe just deleted the word ‘progressively’ from the text of the current Article 77 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-242 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention unchanged (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107).
***
The IGC 2007 managed to keep the bulk of the Lisbon Treaty down by basing its amendments on the current treaties and by disregarding cosmetic changes in a number of instances. The word ‘progressively’ flows from the TEC to the TFEU.
***
Have others found anything to say about an unchanged provision of the Lisbon Treaty?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
The unchanged Article 77 TEC and TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 97 TFEU in the consolidated version, drew no comment (page 22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 97 TFEU, Article 77 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short (page 11):
“Unchanged from Article 77 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 97 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, but I found nothing on Article 77 TEC and ToL.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), bundles together Articles 76 and 77 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 96 and 97 TFEU, in a brief explanation (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on page 209:
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the viewpoint of treaty change, a provision without amendments is uninteresting, as shown by the fair sample of documents we have looked at. For national legislators these provisions are covered by earlier ratifications.
Possibly, a provision such as 97 TFEU may have become redundant, but lives on because there has been no thorough spring-cleaning of the internal policy areas.
But how is a student to know, since internal policy sectors are hardly dealt with at all in university curricula, in English? I failed to find ‘Transport’ indexed in four coursebooks.
At least some continental books for students seem to take a broader ‘law and politics’ approach. Here are a few examples of general books with chapters on transport (although there may be later editions than the ones I have at hand):
Roland Bieber, Astrid Epiney & Marcel Haag: Die Europäische Union, Europarecht und Politik (6. Auflage, Nomos, 2005)
Fernando Díez Moreno: Manual de derecho de la Unión Europea (Tercera edición, Editorial Aranzadi, 2005)
Louis Dubouis & Claude Blumann: Droit matériel de l’Union européenne (3e édition, Montchrestien, 2004)
Enrique Linde Paniagua (Coordinador) : Políticas de la Unión Europea (2a edicón, Colex, 2005)
Ralf Grahn
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
EU TFEU: Transport support and protection
Under the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union prohibits support and protection for transport firms or industries as it does today, with the Commission able to allow exceptions.
***
Article 96 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86–87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 96 TFEU
(ex Article 76 TEC)
1. The imposition by a Member State, in respect of transport operations carried out within the Union, of rates and conditions involving any element of support or protection in the interest of one or more particular undertakings or industries shall be prohibited, unless authorised by the Commission.
2. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, examine the rates and conditions referred to in paragraph 1, taking account in particular of the requirements of an appropriate regional economic policy, the needs of underdeveloped areas and the problems of areas seriously affected by political circumstances on the one hand, and of the effects of such rates and conditions on competition between the different modes of transport on the other.
After consulting each Member State concerned, the Commission shall take the necessary decisions.
3. The prohibition provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply to tariffs fixed to meet competition.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC, and in point 73 it dealt with Article 78 TEC. Thus, no specific amendments were made to Article 76 TEC. (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 76 TEC first became Article 76 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 96 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 76 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/72):
Article 76 TEC
1. The imposition by a Member State, in respect of transport operations carried out within the Community, of rates and conditions involving any element of support or protection in the interest of one or more particular undertakings or industries shall be prohibited, unless authorised by the Commission.
2. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, examine the rates and conditions referred to in paragraph 1, taking account in particular of the requirements of an appropriate regional economic policy, the needs of underdeveloped areas and the problems of areas seriously affected by political circumstances on the one hand, and of the effects of such rates and conditions on competition between the different modes of transport on the other.
After consulting each Member State concerned, the Commission shall take the necessary decisions.
3. The prohibition provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply to tariffs fixed to meet competition.
***
From the current TEC to the TFEU the ‘Community’ has become the ‘Union’, one of the so called horizontal amendments.
***
This does not lead us to expect any mind-blowing innovations during the previous stages of the treaty reform process, but the aim of systematic comparison requires a look at each version of every Article.
Therefore, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-139 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe made minimal stylistic amendments to the current Article 76 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-241 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention unchanged (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107).
***
Indeed, there is very little to say about treaty change.
Someone may want to reflect on the recurring theme of Title VI on transport policy and the framework of a common transport policy.
The words in Article 91(1) TFEU ‘and taking into account the distinctive features of transport’ are echoed in the later Articles. Aids, rates and conditions, discrimination as well as support and protection for particular firms or industries in the area of transport have been given their own rules, reminiscent of the general provisions for the internal market, but still different.
***
Have others found anything to say about a virtually unchanged provision of the Lisbon Treaty?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 76 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 76 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 96 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 96 TFEU, Article 76 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short (page 11):
“Unchanged from Article 76 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 96 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, but I found nothing on Article 76 TEC and ToL.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), bundles together Articles 76 and 77 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 96 and 97 TFEU, in a brief explanation (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on page 209:
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
Ralf Grahn
***
Article 96 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86–87:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 96 TFEU
(ex Article 76 TEC)
1. The imposition by a Member State, in respect of transport operations carried out within the Union, of rates and conditions involving any element of support or protection in the interest of one or more particular undertakings or industries shall be prohibited, unless authorised by the Commission.
2. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, examine the rates and conditions referred to in paragraph 1, taking account in particular of the requirements of an appropriate regional economic policy, the needs of underdeveloped areas and the problems of areas seriously affected by political circumstances on the one hand, and of the effects of such rates and conditions on competition between the different modes of transport on the other.
After consulting each Member State concerned, the Commission shall take the necessary decisions.
3. The prohibition provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply to tariffs fixed to meet competition.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC, and in point 73 it dealt with Article 78 TEC. Thus, no specific amendments were made to Article 76 TEC. (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 76 TEC first became Article 76 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 96 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 76 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/72):
Article 76 TEC
1. The imposition by a Member State, in respect of transport operations carried out within the Community, of rates and conditions involving any element of support or protection in the interest of one or more particular undertakings or industries shall be prohibited, unless authorised by the Commission.
2. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, examine the rates and conditions referred to in paragraph 1, taking account in particular of the requirements of an appropriate regional economic policy, the needs of underdeveloped areas and the problems of areas seriously affected by political circumstances on the one hand, and of the effects of such rates and conditions on competition between the different modes of transport on the other.
After consulting each Member State concerned, the Commission shall take the necessary decisions.
3. The prohibition provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply to tariffs fixed to meet competition.
***
From the current TEC to the TFEU the ‘Community’ has become the ‘Union’, one of the so called horizontal amendments.
***
This does not lead us to expect any mind-blowing innovations during the previous stages of the treaty reform process, but the aim of systematic comparison requires a look at each version of every Article.
Therefore, we turn to the European Convention.
Article III-139 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe made minimal stylistic amendments to the current Article 76 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-241 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention unchanged (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/107).
***
Indeed, there is very little to say about treaty change.
Someone may want to reflect on the recurring theme of Title VI on transport policy and the framework of a common transport policy.
The words in Article 91(1) TFEU ‘and taking into account the distinctive features of transport’ are echoed in the later Articles. Aids, rates and conditions, discrimination as well as support and protection for particular firms or industries in the area of transport have been given their own rules, reminiscent of the general provisions for the internal market, but still different.
***
Have others found anything to say about a virtually unchanged provision of the Lisbon Treaty?
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 76 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 76 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 96 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 96 TFEU, Article 76 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short (page 11):
“Unchanged from Article 76 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 96 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’, but I found nothing on Article 76 TEC and ToL.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), bundles together Articles 76 and 77 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 96 and 97 TFEU, in a brief explanation (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on page 209:
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
EU TFEU: Transport non-discrimination and direct effect
What’s in a name? When discrimination ‘shall be abolished’ is replaced by ‘shall be prohibited’ in the Treaty of Lisbon, non-discrimination and direct effect appear in a new light.
***
Article 95 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 95 TFEU
(ex Article 75 TEC)
1. In the case of transport within the Union, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be prohibited.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the European Parliament and the Council from adopting other measures pursuant to Article 91(1).
3. The Council shall, on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, lay down rules for implementing the provisions of paragraph 1.
The Council may in particular lay down the provisions needed to enable the institutions of the Union to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, shall take the necessary decisions within the framework of the rules laid down in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
72) Article 75 shall be amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the words ‘shall be abolished’ shall be replaced by ‘shall be prohibited’;
(b) in paragraph 2, the words ‘the Council’ shall be replaced by ‘the European Parliament and
the Council’;
(c) in the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, the words ‘the Economic and Social Committee’
shall be replaced by ‘the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee’.
***
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 75 TEC first became Article 75 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 95 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71–72):
Article 75 TEC
1. In the case of transport within the Community, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be abolished.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the Council from adopting other measures pursuant to Article 71(1).
3. The Council shall, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee, lay down rules for implementing the provisions of paragraph 1.
The Council may in particular lay down the provisions needed to enable the institutions of the Community to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, shall take the necessary decisions within the framework of the rules laid down in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
***
We look at the previous stages of the treaty reform process. First, the European Convention.
According to Article III-138 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, in addition to minor amendments, the cases of discrimination mentioned shall be ‘prohibited’ instead of ‘abolished’ as in the current Article 75 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-138 Draft Constitution
1. In the case of transport within the Union, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the Member State of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be prohibited.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the adoption of other European laws or framework laws pursuant to the first paragraph of Article III-134.
3. The Council of Ministers, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt European regulations or decisions for implementing paragraph 1. It shall act after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.
The Council of Ministers may in particular adopt the European regulations and decisions needed to enable the institutions to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, shall investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, adopt the necessary European decisions within the framework of the European regulations and decisions referred to in paragraph 3.
***
Article III-240 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention with only some terminological change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106–107).
***
The current Article 75 TEC depends on implementing measures to abolish discrimination with regard to carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods. As such, Article 75 TEC is not directly applicable.
The Treaty of Lisbon (TFEU) has taken over the prohibition concerning discriminatory transport practices, proposed by the European Convention. A prohibition can be applied directly, without the need for implementing rules.
On the other hand, given the general ban on ‘any discrimination on grounds of nationality’ in Article 18 TFEU (currently Article 12 TEC), what is the scope for the special prohibition in the area of transport policy and with regard to certain forms of discrimination?
***
We now check our preliminary conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 75 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 75 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 95 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21–22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 95 TFEU, Article 75 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, focuses of the requirement to consult the European Parliament (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 75 TEC, with a new requirement to consult the EP.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 95 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’. Without mentioning Article 75 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 95 TFEU, the consultation paper describes the current rules to abolish discrimination on page 281 and mentions the change that the European Parliament has to be consulted according to Article 75(3) TFEU (ToL):
“Beslutsförfarandet för att genomföra avskaffande av diskriminering vid transporter inom gemenskapen ändras på så sätt att Europaparlamentet ska höras innan rådet fattar beslut med kvalificerad majoritet (artikel 75.3 i EUF-fördraget).”
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), explains the amendments to Article 75 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 95 TFEU, although it does not draw any connclusions from the difference between measures to abolish discrimination and an outright prohibition (page 206):
”75 artiklaa (uusi 95 artikla), joka koskee syrjintää yhteisön sisäisessä liikenteessä tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määrämaan perusteella, muutetaan siten, että syrjinnän poistamisen sijasta käytetään ilmaisua ”Unionin sisäisessä liikenteessä on kiellettyä”.
SEUT 75 artikla vastaa pääosin perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklaa. Perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklan 1 kohdassa käytetään kuitenkin ilmaisun ”tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määrämaa” sijasta ilmaisua ”tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määräjäsenvaltio”. Sen lisäksi perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklan 2 ja 3 kohdassa yksilöidään käytettävät säädösinstrumentit.”
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on pages 208–209:
”Artikel 75 (blivande artikel 95), som gäller diskriminering vid transporter inom gemenskapen på grund av godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelseland, ändras så att man i stället för avskaffandet av diskriminering använder ”vid transporter inom unionen ska all sådan diskriminering vara förbjuden".
Artikel 75 i EUF-fördraget motsvarar i huvudsak artikel III-240 i det konstitutionella fördraget. I artikel III-240.1 i det konstitutionella fördraget används dock uttrycket "godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelsemedlemsstat” i stället för ”godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelseland". I artikel III-240.2 och III-240.3 i det konstitutionella fördraget specificeras de rättsaktsinstrument som ska användas.”
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
The current Article 75 TEC does not, if I understand correctly, have direct effect, since it depends on implementing measures. But the new TFEU 95 prohibition on discrimination should be directly applicable as ‘lex specialis’. In a concrete case the provision’s scope for non-discrimination and direct effect requires study, with the general ban on discrimination based on nationality (18 TFEU, 12 TEC) as a guiding light for interpretation.
Should my reasoning be correct, I am surprised that my sources have paid so little attention to the proposed change.
Ralf Grahn
***
Article 95 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 95 TFEU
(ex Article 75 TEC)
1. In the case of transport within the Union, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be prohibited.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the European Parliament and the Council from adopting other measures pursuant to Article 91(1).
3. The Council shall, on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, lay down rules for implementing the provisions of paragraph 1.
The Council may in particular lay down the provisions needed to enable the institutions of the Union to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, shall take the necessary decisions within the framework of the rules laid down in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
***
In Article 2, point 72 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) laid out the specific amendments to Article 75 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
72) Article 75 shall be amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the words ‘shall be abolished’ shall be replaced by ‘shall be prohibited’;
(b) in paragraph 2, the words ‘the Council’ shall be replaced by ‘the European Parliament and
the Council’;
(c) in the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, the words ‘the Economic and Social Committee’
shall be replaced by ‘the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee’.
***
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 75 TEC first became Article 75 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 95 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
The current Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the treaties in force (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71–72):
Article 75 TEC
1. In the case of transport within the Community, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be abolished.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the Council from adopting other measures pursuant to Article 71(1).
3. The Council shall, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee, lay down rules for implementing the provisions of paragraph 1.
The Council may in particular lay down the provisions needed to enable the institutions of the Community to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission shall, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, shall take the necessary decisions within the framework of the rules laid down in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
***
We look at the previous stages of the treaty reform process. First, the European Convention.
According to Article III-138 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, in addition to minor amendments, the cases of discrimination mentioned shall be ‘prohibited’ instead of ‘abolished’ as in the current Article 75 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-138 Draft Constitution
1. In the case of transport within the Union, discrimination which takes the form of carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the Member State of origin or of destination of the goods in question shall be prohibited.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the adoption of other European laws or framework laws pursuant to the first paragraph of Article III-134.
3. The Council of Ministers, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt European regulations or decisions for implementing paragraph 1. It shall act after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.
The Council of Ministers may in particular adopt the European regulations and decisions needed to enable the institutions to secure compliance with the rule laid down in paragraph 1 and to ensure that users benefit from it to the full.
4. The Commission, acting on its own initiative or on application by a Member State, shall investigate any cases of discrimination falling within paragraph 1 and, after consulting any Member State concerned, adopt the necessary European decisions within the framework of the European regulations and decisions referred to in paragraph 3.
***
Article III-240 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention with only some terminological change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106–107).
***
The current Article 75 TEC depends on implementing measures to abolish discrimination with regard to carriers charging different rates and imposing different conditions for the carriage of the same goods over the same transport links on grounds of the country of origin or of destination of the goods. As such, Article 75 TEC is not directly applicable.
The Treaty of Lisbon (TFEU) has taken over the prohibition concerning discriminatory transport practices, proposed by the European Convention. A prohibition can be applied directly, without the need for implementing rules.
On the other hand, given the general ban on ‘any discrimination on grounds of nationality’ in Article 18 TFEU (currently Article 12 TEC), what is the scope for the special prohibition in the area of transport policy and with regard to certain forms of discrimination?
***
We now check our preliminary conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 75 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 75 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 95 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21–22).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 95 TFEU, Article 75 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, focuses of the requirement to consult the European Parliament (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 75 TEC, with a new requirement to consult the EP.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 95 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’. Without mentioning Article 75 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 95 TFEU, the consultation paper describes the current rules to abolish discrimination on page 281 and mentions the change that the European Parliament has to be consulted according to Article 75(3) TFEU (ToL):
“Beslutsförfarandet för att genomföra avskaffande av diskriminering vid transporter inom gemenskapen ändras på så sätt att Europaparlamentet ska höras innan rådet fattar beslut med kvalificerad majoritet (artikel 75.3 i EUF-fördraget).”
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The systematic Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), explains the amendments to Article 75 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 95 TFEU, although it does not draw any connclusions from the difference between measures to abolish discrimination and an outright prohibition (page 206):
”75 artiklaa (uusi 95 artikla), joka koskee syrjintää yhteisön sisäisessä liikenteessä tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määrämaan perusteella, muutetaan siten, että syrjinnän poistamisen sijasta käytetään ilmaisua ”Unionin sisäisessä liikenteessä on kiellettyä”.
SEUT 75 artikla vastaa pääosin perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklaa. Perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklan 1 kohdassa käytetään kuitenkin ilmaisun ”tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määrämaa” sijasta ilmaisua ”tavaroiden alkuperä- tai määräjäsenvaltio”. Sen lisäksi perustuslakisopimuksen III-240 artiklan 2 ja 3 kohdassa yksilöidään käytettävät säädösinstrumentit.”
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same explanation on pages 208–209:
”Artikel 75 (blivande artikel 95), som gäller diskriminering vid transporter inom gemenskapen på grund av godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelseland, ändras så att man i stället för avskaffandet av diskriminering använder ”vid transporter inom unionen ska all sådan diskriminering vara förbjuden".
Artikel 75 i EUF-fördraget motsvarar i huvudsak artikel III-240 i det konstitutionella fördraget. I artikel III-240.1 i det konstitutionella fördraget används dock uttrycket "godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelsemedlemsstat” i stället för ”godsets ursprungs- eller bestämmelseland". I artikel III-240.2 och III-240.3 i det konstitutionella fördraget specificeras de rättsaktsinstrument som ska användas.”
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
The current Article 75 TEC does not, if I understand correctly, have direct effect, since it depends on implementing measures. But the new TFEU 95 prohibition on discrimination should be directly applicable as ‘lex specialis’. In a concrete case the provision’s scope for non-discrimination and direct effect requires study, with the general ban on discrimination based on nationality (18 TFEU, 12 TEC) as a guiding light for interpretation.
Should my reasoning be correct, I am surprised that my sources have paid so little attention to the proposed change.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 19 May 2008
EU TFEU: Economic circumstances of carriers
The impact of the EU Treaty of Lisbon is a hotly debated issue. Especially if we follow the bulk of the provisions, namely the current Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), we realise how little attention has been paid to the internal policy areas, with police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters the main exception (where most, but not all, member states want to achieve progress).
The main thrust of the Lisbon Treaty changes is institutional, not even adding significant areas of competence to the EU, but improving the procedures for making decisions by restricting the scope of debilitating national vetoes. At the same time, transparency and parliamentary scrutiny are improved.
The Transport Title is one example of internal policy areas with almost imperceptible change.
Now and in the future, the EU has to take account of the economic circumstances of carriers, when transport rates and conditions are decided.
***
Article 94 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 94 TFEU
(ex Article 74 TEC)
Any measures taken within the framework of the Treaties in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) mentioned Article 72 TEC and in point 72 it laid out the amendments to Article 75 TEC. Thus, there are no specific amendments to Article 74 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 74 TEC first became Article 74 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 94 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
Article 74 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 74 TEC
Any measures taken within the framework of this Treaty in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
We can see one horizontal amendment, between the current TEC and the TFEU, when ‘this Treaty’ has been replaced by ‘the Treaties’ in accordance with Article 2, point 2(b), of the Treaty of Lisbon.
***
Article III-137 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe made no attempt to change the substance of the current Article 74 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-137 Draft Constitution
Any measures adopted within the framework of the Constitution in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
Article III-239 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention without change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106).
***
In other words, the only changes proposed during the different stages since the Treaty of Nice have been technical adjustments.
***
We now check our modest conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 74 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 74 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 94 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 94 TFEU, Article 74 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 74 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 94 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 74 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 94 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), dutifully gives a brief explanation of Articles 73 and 74 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 93 and 94 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the angle of treaty change – the objective of this posting – Article 94 TFEU can be described in the same words as the previous provision, the subject of yesterday’s post: about as exciting as watching paint dry.
In its own way, Article 94 TFEU echoes the words of Article 91(1) TFEU about ‘taking into account the distinctive features of transport’ when implementing the common transport policy.
Nowadays, transport rates are more often set by the markets than by governments, so this part of Article 94 TFEU is less significant than formerly. Transport conditions, on the other hand, encompass a number of factors to be taken into account when measures are proposed.
Ralf Grahn
The main thrust of the Lisbon Treaty changes is institutional, not even adding significant areas of competence to the EU, but improving the procedures for making decisions by restricting the scope of debilitating national vetoes. At the same time, transparency and parliamentary scrutiny are improved.
The Transport Title is one example of internal policy areas with almost imperceptible change.
Now and in the future, the EU has to take account of the economic circumstances of carriers, when transport rates and conditions are decided.
***
Article 94 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 94 TFEU
(ex Article 74 TEC)
Any measures taken within the framework of the Treaties in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) mentioned Article 72 TEC and in point 72 it laid out the amendments to Article 75 TEC. Thus, there are no specific amendments to Article 74 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 74 TEC first became Article 74 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 94 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
Article 74 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 74 TEC
Any measures taken within the framework of this Treaty in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
We can see one horizontal amendment, between the current TEC and the TFEU, when ‘this Treaty’ has been replaced by ‘the Treaties’ in accordance with Article 2, point 2(b), of the Treaty of Lisbon.
***
Article III-137 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe made no attempt to change the substance of the current Article 74 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-137 Draft Constitution
Any measures adopted within the framework of the Constitution in respect of transport rates and conditions shall take account of the economic circumstances of carriers.
***
Article III-239 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention without change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106).
***
In other words, the only changes proposed during the different stages since the Treaty of Nice have been technical adjustments.
***
We now check our modest conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 74 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 74 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 94 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 94 TFEU, Article 74 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 74 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) made no explicit reference to Article 94 TFEU.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 74 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 94 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), dutifully gives a brief explanation of Articles 73 and 74 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 93 and 94 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the angle of treaty change – the objective of this posting – Article 94 TFEU can be described in the same words as the previous provision, the subject of yesterday’s post: about as exciting as watching paint dry.
In its own way, Article 94 TFEU echoes the words of Article 91(1) TFEU about ‘taking into account the distinctive features of transport’ when implementing the common transport policy.
Nowadays, transport rates are more often set by the markets than by governments, so this part of Article 94 TFEU is less significant than formerly. Transport conditions, on the other hand, encompass a number of factors to be taken into account when measures are proposed.
Ralf Grahn
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés
Étienne de Poncins has done much to offer EU citizens information about the treaty reform process. « Vers une Constitution Européenne » was based on his work in the secretariat of the European Convention, and « La Constitution européenne en 25 clefs » explained the main points of the Constitutional Treaty.
« Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés » turns to the Treaty of Lisbon.
One fifth of the book presents the rocky road of EU treaty reform. De Poncins dedicates four fifths of the book text to thematic presentations of the main institutional arrangements the Treaty of Lisbon tries to address.
De Poncins describes the need for reform, follows the different reform stages (the European Convention, the IGC’s 2004 and 2007) and then offers a picture of the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty.
The author’s style is clear, concise and readable without being superficial, so the book can be recommended for interested citizens and students of EU affairs. De Poncins, who has substantial experience of French EU policies and currently represents his country as ambassador to Bulgaria, adds the benefit of French (and personal) viewpoints on the matters discussed.
His views come across loud and clear, without pussyfooting. On the eve of the French Council presidency and the preparation of the needed Lisbon implementing decisions, his comments are useful for all who follow the Council negotiations from the outside.
***
Étienne de Poncins: Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés (Éditions Lignes de Repères, 2008 ; 261 pages ; 18,50 €)
Ralf Grahn
« Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés » turns to the Treaty of Lisbon.
One fifth of the book presents the rocky road of EU treaty reform. De Poncins dedicates four fifths of the book text to thematic presentations of the main institutional arrangements the Treaty of Lisbon tries to address.
De Poncins describes the need for reform, follows the different reform stages (the European Convention, the IGC’s 2004 and 2007) and then offers a picture of the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty.
The author’s style is clear, concise and readable without being superficial, so the book can be recommended for interested citizens and students of EU affairs. De Poncins, who has substantial experience of French EU policies and currently represents his country as ambassador to Bulgaria, adds the benefit of French (and personal) viewpoints on the matters discussed.
His views come across loud and clear, without pussyfooting. On the eve of the French Council presidency and the preparation of the needed Lisbon implementing decisions, his comments are useful for all who follow the Council negotiations from the outside.
***
Étienne de Poncins: Le traité de Lisbonne en 27 clés (Éditions Lignes de Repères, 2008 ; 261 pages ; 18,50 €)
Ralf Grahn
EU TFEU: Aids for public transport
Public funding for transport services remains allowed under the EU Treaty of Lisbon, as it currently is according to the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC).
***
Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 93 TFEU
(ex Article 73 TEC)
Aids shall be compatible with the Treaties if they meet the needs of coordination of transport or if they represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) mentioned Article 72 TEC and in point 72 it laid out the amendments to Article 75 TEC. Thus, there are no specific amendments to Article 73 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 73 TEC first became Article 73 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 93 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
Article 73 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 73 TFEU
Aids shall be compatible with this Treaty if they meet the needs of coordination of transport or if they represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service.
***
We can see one horizontal amendment, when ‘this Treaty’ has been replaced by ‘the Treaties’ in accordance with Article 2, point 2(b), of the Treaty of Lisbon.
***
Article III-136 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe referred to compatibility with the Constitution, but took over the rest of the text of the current Article 73 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-238 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention without change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106).
***
In other words, the only changes proposed during the different stages have been technical adjustments.
***
We now check our modest conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 73 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 73 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 93 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 93 TFEU, Article 73 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 73 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) may not have found a substantially unchanged provision like Article 93 TFEU worthy of special mention, but for the reader who wants to understand the framework, the Committee’s discussion about ‘Services of General Interest’ from page 221 to page 222 may be helpful.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 73 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 93 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), is content to give only a brief explanation of Articles 73 and 74 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 93 and 94 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the angle of treaty change – the objective of this posting – Article 93 TFEU is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
But, in real life fundamental EU principles and great economic interests are at stake: general rules on competition and state aid (including regional and local governments), as well as services of general economic interest, form the background for adaptations to the transport sector.
Ralf Grahn
***
Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/86:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 93 TFEU
(ex Article 73 TEC)
Aids shall be compatible with the Treaties if they meet the needs of coordination of transport or if they represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) mentioned Article 72 TEC and in point 72 it laid out the amendments to Article 75 TEC. Thus, there are no specific amendments to Article 73 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68).
The TFEU table of equivalences tells us that Article 73 TEC first became Article 73 TFEU (ToL), but later renumbered Article 93 TFEU in the consolidated version (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/210).
***
Article 73 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 73 TFEU
Aids shall be compatible with this Treaty if they meet the needs of coordination of transport or if they represent reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service.
***
We can see one horizontal amendment, when ‘this Treaty’ has been replaced by ‘the Treaties’ in accordance with Article 2, point 2(b), of the Treaty of Lisbon.
***
Article III-136 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe referred to compatibility with the Constitution, but took over the rest of the text of the current Article 73 TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54).
***
Article III-238 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe adopted the text of the European Convention without change (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106).
***
In other words, the only changes proposed during the different stages have been technical adjustments.
***
We now check our modest conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 73 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, but found no need to comment on Article 73 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 93 TFEU in the consolidated version (page 21).
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 93 TFEU, Article 73 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 73 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) may not have found a substantially unchanged provision like Article 93 TFEU worthy of special mention, but for the reader who wants to understand the framework, the Committee’s discussion about ‘Services of General Interest’ from page 221 to page 222 may be helpful.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 73 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 93 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), is content to give only a brief explanation of Articles 73 and 74 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Articles 93 and 94 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rd), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
From the angle of treaty change – the objective of this posting – Article 93 TFEU is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
But, in real life fundamental EU principles and great economic interests are at stake: general rules on competition and state aid (including regional and local governments), as well as services of general economic interest, form the background for adaptations to the transport sector.
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 16 May 2008
EU TFEU: Transport standstill clause and derogation
According to the Treaty of Lisbon, the member states can legislate in areas of shared competence if the European Union has not legislated or if it has decided to cease exercising its competence. But already the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community included a special standstill clause to prevent national legislation against the aims of the common transport policy, before Community acts were in place. The same principle applies to countries which accede later.
Article 92 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union offers a (slim) chance of derogations (exceptions) to the rule.
***
Article 92 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/85:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 92 TFEU
(ex Article 72 TEC)
Until the provisions referred to in Article 91(1) have been laid down, no Member State may, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a measure granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) stated (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
71) At the beginning of Article 72, the words ‘, without the unanimous approval of the Council,’ shall be replaced by ‘, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a measure granting a derogation,’.
***
The provision to be amended, Article 72 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 72 TEC
Until the provisions referred to in Article 71(1) have been laid down, no Member State may, without the unanimous approval of the Council, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
Article III-135 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe substantially took over the text of the current Article 72 TEC, but a small mistake remained in the text of the European Convention. Because the draft Constitution deleted the second paragraph of the preceding provision, there was no need to make a reference to the first and only paragraph of Article III-134 (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-135 Draft Constitution
Until the European laws or framework laws referred to in the first paragraph of Article III-134 have been adopted, no Member State may, unless the Council of Ministers has unanimously adopted a European decision granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
The IGC 2004 had merged the European Convention’s Article III-133 on the common transport policy (paragraph 1) and Article III-134 on legislation (paragraph 2) and brought back Article 71(2) TEC in an attenuated form (paragraph 3).
Therefore, the resulting Article III-237 looked like this, without altering the substance of the provision (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106):
Article III-237 Constitution
Until the European laws or framework laws referred to in Article III-236(2) have been adopted, no Member State may, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a European decision granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
We have followed the treaty reform process from the current TEC to the Treaty of Lisbon (TFEU), now in various stages of ratification, and we have seen that the essence of the provision has remained the same throughout, despite differences in terminology.
***
We now check our conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 72 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. His comment on Article 72 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 92 TFEU in the consolidated version, concerned only an earlier draft (page 21):
“The technical error in the July draft of the Reform Treaty (which referred to such acts as legislative) has been corrected.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 92 TFEU, Article 72 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 72 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
My comment: The comment on the ‘special legislative procedure’ in Article 72 may have been based on an earlier text (but I leave it to the reader interested enough to check). Cf. the comment of Steve Peers above.
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) may not have found a substantially unchanged provision like Article 92 TFEU worthy of special mention, but for the reader who wants to understand the framework, the Committee’s discussion about ‘The competences of the European Union’ from page 23 to page 30 may be helpful, especially the text on shared competence.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 72 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 92 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), is content to give only a short explanation of Article 72 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 92 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rp), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
Undramatic as it looks, the role of Article 92 TFEU merits some discussion, if we want to understand EU law as a system.
Article 4(2)(g) TFEU mentions transport as one of the principal areas of shared competence between the EU and the member states (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/51).
Article 2(2) TFEU explains the main meaning of shared competence (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/50):
“2. When the Treaties confer on the Union a competence shared with the Member States in a specific area, the Union and the Member States may legislate and adopt legally binding acts in that area. The Member States shall exercise their competence to the extent that the Union has not exercised its competence. The Member States shall again exercise their competence to the extent that the Union has decided to cease exercising its competence.”
For the sake of clarity, Protocol (No 25) on the exercise of shared competence should be mentioned although, in my humble opinion, it only states the obvious (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/307):
“PROTOCOL (No 25)
ON THE EXERCISE OF SHARED COMPETENCE
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,
HAVE AGREED UPON the following provisions, which shall be annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union:
Sole Article
With reference to Article 2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on shared competence, when the Union has taken action in a certain area, the scope of this exercise of competence only covers those elements governed by the Union act in question and therefore does not cover the whole area.”
***
The function of the predecessors of Article 92 TFEU was, in spite of the general rule, to safeguard the objectives of the common transport market, before the European Union (still today the European Community) had had time to legislate. Even absent Community legislation, the member states were prohibited from frustrating the common aim by legislating in the meantime. The standstill clause became effective for the original six members from the entry into force of the EEC Treaty (Treaty of Rome).
For members who join later, the cut-off date is the date of accession.
At the same time, Article 92 TFEU offers an ‘eye of the needle’ type basis for a measure granting a derogation (exception). The measure has to be unanimously adopted by the Council.
Ralf Grahn
Article 92 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union offers a (slim) chance of derogations (exceptions) to the rule.
***
Article 92 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/85:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 92 TFEU
(ex Article 72 TEC)
Until the provisions referred to in Article 91(1) have been laid down, no Member State may, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a measure granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
In Article 2, point 71 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) stated (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
71) At the beginning of Article 72, the words ‘, without the unanimous approval of the Council,’ shall be replaced by ‘, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a measure granting a derogation,’.
***
The provision to be amended, Article 72 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/71):
Article 72 TEC
Until the provisions referred to in Article 71(1) have been laid down, no Member State may, without the unanimous approval of the Council, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
Article III-135 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe substantially took over the text of the current Article 72 TEC, but a small mistake remained in the text of the European Convention. Because the draft Constitution deleted the second paragraph of the preceding provision, there was no need to make a reference to the first and only paragraph of Article III-134 (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-135 Draft Constitution
Until the European laws or framework laws referred to in the first paragraph of Article III-134 have been adopted, no Member State may, unless the Council of Ministers has unanimously adopted a European decision granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
The IGC 2004 had merged the European Convention’s Article III-133 on the common transport policy (paragraph 1) and Article III-134 on legislation (paragraph 2) and brought back Article 71(2) TEC in an attenuated form (paragraph 3).
Therefore, the resulting Article III-237 looked like this, without altering the substance of the provision (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/106):
Article III-237 Constitution
Until the European laws or framework laws referred to in Article III-236(2) have been adopted, no Member State may, unless the Council has unanimously adopted a European decision granting a derogation, make the various provisions governing the subject on 1 January 1958 or, for acceding States, the date of their accession less favourable in their direct or indirect effect on carriers of other Member States as compared with carriers who are nationals of that State.
***
We have followed the treaty reform process from the current TEC to the Treaty of Lisbon (TFEU), now in various stages of ratification, and we have seen that the essence of the provision has remained the same throughout, despite differences in terminology.
***
We now check our conclusions against how others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty have informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon in a number of Statewatch Analyses. ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers highlighted the differences between the current Article 72 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. His comment on Article 72 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 92 TFEU in the consolidated version, concerned only an earlier draft (page 21):
“The technical error in the July draft of the Reform Treaty (which referred to such acts as legislative) has been corrected.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 92 TFEU, Article 72 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is short and to the point (page 11):
“In substance the same as Article 72 TEC.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
My comment: The comment on the ‘special legislative procedure’ in Article 72 may have been based on an earlier text (but I leave it to the reader interested enough to check). Cf. the comment of Steve Peers above.
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) may not have found a substantially unchanged provision like Article 92 TFEU worthy of special mention, but for the reader who wants to understand the framework, the Committee’s discussion about ‘The competences of the European Union’ from page 23 to page 30 may be helpful, especially the text on shared competence.
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the fairly small amendments, but understandably has nothing specific to say about Article 72 TFEU (ToL), the future Article 92 TFEU.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
Even the methodical Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), is content to give only a short explanation of Article 72 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 92 TFEU (page 206).
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rp), offers the same brief explanation on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
***
Undramatic as it looks, the role of Article 92 TFEU merits some discussion, if we want to understand EU law as a system.
Article 4(2)(g) TFEU mentions transport as one of the principal areas of shared competence between the EU and the member states (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/51).
Article 2(2) TFEU explains the main meaning of shared competence (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/50):
“2. When the Treaties confer on the Union a competence shared with the Member States in a specific area, the Union and the Member States may legislate and adopt legally binding acts in that area. The Member States shall exercise their competence to the extent that the Union has not exercised its competence. The Member States shall again exercise their competence to the extent that the Union has decided to cease exercising its competence.”
For the sake of clarity, Protocol (No 25) on the exercise of shared competence should be mentioned although, in my humble opinion, it only states the obvious (OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/307):
“PROTOCOL (No 25)
ON THE EXERCISE OF SHARED COMPETENCE
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,
HAVE AGREED UPON the following provisions, which shall be annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union:
Sole Article
With reference to Article 2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on shared competence, when the Union has taken action in a certain area, the scope of this exercise of competence only covers those elements governed by the Union act in question and therefore does not cover the whole area.”
***
The function of the predecessors of Article 92 TFEU was, in spite of the general rule, to safeguard the objectives of the common transport market, before the European Union (still today the European Community) had had time to legislate. Even absent Community legislation, the member states were prohibited from frustrating the common aim by legislating in the meantime. The standstill clause became effective for the original six members from the entry into force of the EEC Treaty (Treaty of Rome).
For members who join later, the cut-off date is the date of accession.
At the same time, Article 92 TFEU offers an ‘eye of the needle’ type basis for a measure granting a derogation (exception). The measure has to be unanimously adopted by the Council.
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 15 May 2008
EU resources: How to find them (Example: transport policies)
Do you need resources on EU policies or law? Are you in a hurry, but don’t know where to start?
Many find the European Union’s web pages hard to navigate. Therefore, I have tried to gather a few basic resources, without striving to include everything.
Here is a selective (or eclectic) list of gateways to EU economics, law and policies. We use transport policy as an example, but you can ‘mutatis mutandis’ use most of the materials in other policy fields.
***
What is the importance and impact of transport within the European Union?
EU energy and transport in figures, Statistical pocketbook 2007/2008, offers 216 pages of information about two crucial economic sectors:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/figures/pocketbook/doc/2007/2007_pocketbook_all_en.pdf
In another policy area, you might not be as lucky, but almost every area of human activity leaves a statistical footprint. For the European Union, your default option is to see what Eurostat has to offer:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1090,30070682,1090_33076576&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
***
What has happened since your course-book was finalised?
The Commission’s Activities of the European Union Transport web page, offers all-round links to EU transport matters:
http://europa.eu/pol/trans/index_en.htm
In the same way you can access every DG of the European Commission through the Europa portal:
http://europa.eu/
Look for ‘What the European Union does by subject’ on:
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
***
The Commission’s Scadplus web pages, with summaries of legislation, present thematic starting points for different policy areas. Transport is found on:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s13000.htm
Correspondingly, you find the other areas of European Community (European Union) legislation through:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/scad_en.htm
***
What is going on in the European Union?
As always, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2007 offers a summary of the main developments in the various policy areas, except for the latest months after the beginning of 2008, with Transport on pages 76 to 83. The current report can be accessed through:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/welcome.htm
In this and in other cases, for those who understand a Nordic language, the government of Sweden offers an annual report of comparable scope and quality. The latest activity report is ‘Regeringens skirivelse 2007/2008:85 Berättelse om verksamheten I Europeiska union under 2007’, with transport treated on pages 163 to 180 (in ’Del 7 Transporter, elektroniska kommunikationer och energi’):
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/10/06/17/00a8fda3.pdf
Both the Commission’s Activity Report and the Swedish Annual Report work as well for other policy fields.
***
You missed the last days?
The latest press releases from the EU institutions are found on ‘What’s new on Europa’:
http://europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm
***
Foreign and security policy? European Council or Council?
If your interest concerns the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including the common security and defence policy (CSDP), or the European Council or the different Council configurations, the Council web pages are for you:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.ASP?lang=en
***
Naturally, there are lots of more EU web sites depending on your interests. Law librarians have compiled useful EU research guides, but for a ‘quick and dirty’ search a few minutes on the ‘Essential European Union Law Websites’ may be all you need. The Delegation of the European Commission to the USA has compiled the mini site map of European Union legal web pages:
http://www.eurunion.org/infores/BestLawSites.htm
***
Languages?
I have followed the English web pages, but the European Union has 23 treaty languages and official languages. This means that you can find the treaties, secondary legislation and proposals in these languages.
A huge amount of information material is produced in every official EU language, and there are often language options on the web page, once you have found what you are looking for.
Press releases and other non-binding materials are translated according to need and capacity, with the Commission’s working languages (English, French and German) well represented. The Council works almost equally in English and French (my feeling), and the primary internal language of the European Court of Justice is French. The European Parliament heroically translates most information material into every official language.
Still, knowing languages increases your options. The press release or document you are looking for may be released earlier in one language, but it may take a while before the other language versions appear.
***
Dear reader, I would be happy to read about your experiences navigating the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
Many find the European Union’s web pages hard to navigate. Therefore, I have tried to gather a few basic resources, without striving to include everything.
Here is a selective (or eclectic) list of gateways to EU economics, law and policies. We use transport policy as an example, but you can ‘mutatis mutandis’ use most of the materials in other policy fields.
***
What is the importance and impact of transport within the European Union?
EU energy and transport in figures, Statistical pocketbook 2007/2008, offers 216 pages of information about two crucial economic sectors:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/figures/pocketbook/doc/2007/2007_pocketbook_all_en.pdf
In another policy area, you might not be as lucky, but almost every area of human activity leaves a statistical footprint. For the European Union, your default option is to see what Eurostat has to offer:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1090,30070682,1090_33076576&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
***
What has happened since your course-book was finalised?
The Commission’s Activities of the European Union Transport web page, offers all-round links to EU transport matters:
http://europa.eu/pol/trans/index_en.htm
In the same way you can access every DG of the European Commission through the Europa portal:
http://europa.eu/
Look for ‘What the European Union does by subject’ on:
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
***
The Commission’s Scadplus web pages, with summaries of legislation, present thematic starting points for different policy areas. Transport is found on:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s13000.htm
Correspondingly, you find the other areas of European Community (European Union) legislation through:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/scad_en.htm
***
What is going on in the European Union?
As always, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2007 offers a summary of the main developments in the various policy areas, except for the latest months after the beginning of 2008, with Transport on pages 76 to 83. The current report can be accessed through:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/welcome.htm
In this and in other cases, for those who understand a Nordic language, the government of Sweden offers an annual report of comparable scope and quality. The latest activity report is ‘Regeringens skirivelse 2007/2008:85 Berättelse om verksamheten I Europeiska union under 2007’, with transport treated on pages 163 to 180 (in ’Del 7 Transporter, elektroniska kommunikationer och energi’):
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/10/06/17/00a8fda3.pdf
Both the Commission’s Activity Report and the Swedish Annual Report work as well for other policy fields.
***
You missed the last days?
The latest press releases from the EU institutions are found on ‘What’s new on Europa’:
http://europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm
***
Foreign and security policy? European Council or Council?
If your interest concerns the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including the common security and defence policy (CSDP), or the European Council or the different Council configurations, the Council web pages are for you:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.ASP?lang=en
***
Naturally, there are lots of more EU web sites depending on your interests. Law librarians have compiled useful EU research guides, but for a ‘quick and dirty’ search a few minutes on the ‘Essential European Union Law Websites’ may be all you need. The Delegation of the European Commission to the USA has compiled the mini site map of European Union legal web pages:
http://www.eurunion.org/infores/BestLawSites.htm
***
Languages?
I have followed the English web pages, but the European Union has 23 treaty languages and official languages. This means that you can find the treaties, secondary legislation and proposals in these languages.
A huge amount of information material is produced in every official EU language, and there are often language options on the web page, once you have found what you are looking for.
Press releases and other non-binding materials are translated according to need and capacity, with the Commission’s working languages (English, French and German) well represented. The Council works almost equally in English and French (my feeling), and the primary internal language of the European Court of Justice is French. The European Parliament heroically translates most information material into every official language.
Still, knowing languages increases your options. The press release or document you are looking for may be released earlier in one language, but it may take a while before the other language versions appear.
***
Dear reader, I would be happy to read about your experiences navigating the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
EU TFEU: Transport legislation
The Treaty of Lisbon introduces marginal improvements for future EU transport legislation. Qualified majority voting, already the norm, is extended to cases where veto powers and special pleading have offered opportunities for political black-mailing and unprincipled derogations. At the same time, the powers of the European Parliament are slightly extended.
***
Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) lays down the procedure and the scope of EU transport legislation. The Article is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/85:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 91 TFEU
(ex Article 71 TEC)
1. For the purpose of implementing Article 90, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the European Parliament and the Council shall, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate provisions.
2. When the measures referred to in paragraph 1 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.
***
In Article 2, point 70 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) stated (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
70) In Article 71, paragraph 2 shall be replaced by the following:
‘2. When the measures referred to in paragraph 1 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.’.
***
Article 71 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/70):
Article 71 TEC
1. For the purpose of implementing Article 70, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the Council shall, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate provisions.
2. By way of derogation from the procedure provided for in paragraph 1, where the application of provisions concerning the principles of the regulatory system for transport would be liable to have a serious effect on the standard of living and on employment in certain areas and on the operation of transport facilities, they shall be laid down by the Council acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. In so doing, the Council shall take into account the need for adaptation to the economic development which will result from establishing the common market.
***
Article III-134 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe substantially took over the text of the first paragraph of the current Article 71, but left out the second paragraph TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-134 Draft Constitution
European laws or framework laws shall implement Article III- 133, taking into account the distinctive features of transport. They shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of
the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
Such European laws or framework laws shall contain:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate measure.
***
The IGC 2004 merged the European Convention’s Article III-133 on the common transport policy (paragraph 1) and Article III-134 on legislation(paragraph 2) and brought back Article 71(2) TEC in an attenuated form (paragraph 3).
The resulting Article III-236 looked like this (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/105–106):
Section 7
Transport
Article III-236 Constitution
1. The objectives of the Constitution shall, in matters governed by this Section, be pursued within the framework of a common transport policy.
2. European laws or framework laws shall implement paragraph 1, taking into account the distinctive features of transport. They shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
Such European laws or framework laws shall establish:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non‑resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate measure.
3. When the European laws or framework laws referred to in paragraph 2 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.
***
The European Convention would have abolished the unanimity requirement or power to block legislation as well as the express grounds for special pleading by the member states to exact derogations by the force of their veto power in the current Article 71(2) TEC. In these cases the European Parliament, now only consulted, would have been a co-legislator according to the main rule, even if a member state pleaded serious effects on the standard of living and on employment in certain areas and on the operation of transport facilities.
The IGC 2004 adopted the proposal of the European Convention, insofar as it scrapped the gridlock-inducing unanimity rule, but special pleading was expressly allowed within the framework of the ordinary legislative procedure.
The IGC 2007, with the normal horizontal amendments, took over the substance of the current Article 71(1) TEC or III-236(2) of the Constitutional Treaty (however you want to present it), with Article 71(2) TEC replaced by the Article III-236(3) text.
In principle, the Treaty of Lisbon means that qualified majority voting applies in the Council and that the European Parliament participates in co-decision over the whole area of the common transport policy. Thus, the powers of the European Parliament are enhanced, at least marginally, and on the face of it, the prospects for more consistent transport legislation become somewhat brighter.
Account shall still be taken of cases where the application of EU legislation might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities. Even if the European Commission has a general duty to analyse and to anticipate the consequences of its proposals, both it and the member states are invited to pay special attention to possible dire outcomes on the micro level.
***
We check our conclusions against those of others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty and informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon. Statewatch Analysis ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers makes highlighted the differences between the current Article 71 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. His conclusion on Article 71 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 91 TFEU in the consolidated version, is on page 21:
“The unanimity exception would be deleted. This also entails an extension of the co-decision procedure.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 91 TFEU, Article 71 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is as pithy as that of Peers (page 11):
“Draws on Article 71 TEC. Co-decision applied to paragraph 2.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) discussed the Lisbon Treaty extensions of the powers of the European Parliament, with the following conclusion (page 72):
“4.138. The Lisbon Treaty considerably increases the powers of the European Parliament—in particular because of the extension of codecision to a substantially larger range of areas, including agriculture, fisheries, transport and structural funds, in addition to the whole of the current “third pillar” of justice and home affairs—to the extent that the European Parliament will become co-legislator for most European laws. This will have an effect on the balance of power between the institutions (see below).”
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the (fairly small) amendments.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), explains the contents of Article 71 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 91 TFEU (page 205).
A small slip occurs, when the explanation mentions, among technical adjustments, that the words ’common market’ are replaced by the ’internal market’. The last words of Article 71(2) are indeed the ‘common market’, but the Lisbon Treaty Article 91(2) TFEU is worded differently, so the observation is made in the wrong context.
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rp), presents the same explanation and makes the same small error on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
Ralf Grahn
***
Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) lays down the procedure and the scope of EU transport legislation. The Article is found in the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/85:
Part Three ‘Policies and internal actions of the Union’
Title VI TFEU ‘Transport’
Article 91 TFEU
(ex Article 71 TEC)
1. For the purpose of implementing Article 90, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the European Parliament and the Council shall, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate provisions.
2. When the measures referred to in paragraph 1 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.
***
In Article 2, point 70 of the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) stated (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/68):
70) In Article 71, paragraph 2 shall be replaced by the following:
‘2. When the measures referred to in paragraph 1 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.’.
***
Article 71 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) is found under Title V ‘Transport’ in the latest consolidated version of the current treaties (OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/70):
Article 71 TEC
1. For the purpose of implementing Article 70, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the Council shall, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate provisions.
2. By way of derogation from the procedure provided for in paragraph 1, where the application of provisions concerning the principles of the regulatory system for transport would be liable to have a serious effect on the standard of living and on employment in certain areas and on the operation of transport facilities, they shall be laid down by the Council acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. In so doing, the Council shall take into account the need for adaptation to the economic development which will result from establishing the common market.
***
Article III-134 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe substantially took over the text of the first paragraph of the current Article 71, but left out the second paragraph TEC (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/54):
Article III-134 Draft Constitution
European laws or framework laws shall implement Article III- 133, taking into account the distinctive features of transport. They shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of
the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
Such European laws or framework laws shall contain:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate measure.
***
The IGC 2004 merged the European Convention’s Article III-133 on the common transport policy (paragraph 1) and Article III-134 on legislation(paragraph 2) and brought back Article 71(2) TEC in an attenuated form (paragraph 3).
The resulting Article III-236 looked like this (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/105–106):
Section 7
Transport
Article III-236 Constitution
1. The objectives of the Constitution shall, in matters governed by this Section, be pursued within the framework of a common transport policy.
2. European laws or framework laws shall implement paragraph 1, taking into account the distinctive features of transport. They shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
Such European laws or framework laws shall establish:
(a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States;
(b) the conditions under which non‑resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State;
(c) measures to improve transport safety;
(d) any other appropriate measure.
3. When the European laws or framework laws referred to in paragraph 2 are adopted, account shall be taken of cases where their application might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities.
***
The European Convention would have abolished the unanimity requirement or power to block legislation as well as the express grounds for special pleading by the member states to exact derogations by the force of their veto power in the current Article 71(2) TEC. In these cases the European Parliament, now only consulted, would have been a co-legislator according to the main rule, even if a member state pleaded serious effects on the standard of living and on employment in certain areas and on the operation of transport facilities.
The IGC 2004 adopted the proposal of the European Convention, insofar as it scrapped the gridlock-inducing unanimity rule, but special pleading was expressly allowed within the framework of the ordinary legislative procedure.
The IGC 2007, with the normal horizontal amendments, took over the substance of the current Article 71(1) TEC or III-236(2) of the Constitutional Treaty (however you want to present it), with Article 71(2) TEC replaced by the Article III-236(3) text.
In principle, the Treaty of Lisbon means that qualified majority voting applies in the Council and that the European Parliament participates in co-decision over the whole area of the common transport policy. Thus, the powers of the European Parliament are enhanced, at least marginally, and on the face of it, the prospects for more consistent transport legislation become somewhat brighter.
Account shall still be taken of cases where the application of EU legislation might seriously affect the standard of living and level of employment in certain regions, and the operation of transport facilities. Even if the European Commission has a general duty to analyse and to anticipate the consequences of its proposals, both it and the member states are invited to pay special attention to possible dire outcomes on the micro level.
***
We check our conclusions against those of others who have scrutinised the Lisbon Treaty and informed ratifying parliaments and the public.
United Kingdom
Professor Steve Peers covered the Treaty of Lisbon. Statewatch Analysis ‘EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 3.3: Revised text of Part Three, Titles I to VI of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC): Internal Market and competition’ (Version 2, 23 October 2007) includes the current Title V Transport.
Peers makes highlighted the differences between the current Article 71 TEC, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. His conclusion on Article 71 TFEU (ToL), to be renumbered Article 91 TFEU in the consolidated version, is on page 21:
“The unanimity exception would be deleted. This also entails an extension of the co-decision procedure.”
The analysis 3.3 and other useful Statewatch analyses are available through:
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
***
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers a convenient source of brief annotations on Lisbon Treaty amendments in ‘A comparative table of the current EC and EU treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon’ (Command Paper 7311, published 21 January 2008). The comment on Article 91 TFEU, Article 71 TFEU (ToL) in the original Lisbon Treaty, is as pithy as that of Peers (page 11):
“Draws on Article 71 TEC. Co-decision applied to paragraph 2.”
The FCO comparative table is available at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7311/7311.asp
***
The UK House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/86 ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: amendments to the Treaty establishing the European Community’ (published 6 December 2007) wrapped up Transport in a brief comment on page 56:
“F. Transport
Title V, Articles 70-80 (Constitution Articles III-236 – 245) are on transport and are based largely on Articles 70 – 75 TEC, but with a change in the voting procedure to the OLP with QMV, except for Article 72, which replaces unanimity in the Constitution Article III-237 with a “special legislative procedure”. Other, minor, changes are Article 75(c), which adds the EP to those bodies to be consulted, and Article 78 (Constitution Article III-243), allowing the Article concerning German unification to be repealed after 5 years.
Present Articles 154 – 156 on Trans-European Networks (TENS) have been moved to Title VII and contain only minor amendments.”
The Library Research Paper 07/86 is available at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2007/rp07-086.pdf
***
The House of Lords European Union Committee report ‘The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment, Volume I: Report’ (HL Paper 62-I, published 13 March 2008) discussed the Lisbon Treaty extensions of the powers of the European Parliament, with the following conclusion (page 72):
“4.138. The Lisbon Treaty considerably increases the powers of the European Parliament—in particular because of the extension of codecision to a substantially larger range of areas, including agriculture, fisheries, transport and structural funds, in addition to the whole of the current “third pillar” of justice and home affairs—to the extent that the European Parliament will become co-legislator for most European laws. This will have an effect on the balance of power between the institutions (see below).”
The report is accessible at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/62/62.pdf
***
Sweden
The consultation paper of the government of Sweden, ‘Lissabonfördraget; Statsrådsberedningen, Departementsserien (Ds), Ds 2007:48’ published 20 December 2007, bundled together transport and trans-European networks under the headline ‘Transporter och transeuropeiska nät’ (page 280 to 282).
The text offers an overview of the coming Title VI ‘Transport’ and mentions the (fairly small) amendments.
The consultation paper ’Lissabonfördraget’ is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/09/49/81/107aa077.pdf
***
Finland
The Finnish ratification bill, ‘Hallituksen esitys Eduskunnalle Euroopan unionista tehdyn sopimuksen ja Euroopan yhteisön perustamissopimuksen muuttamisesta tehdyn Lissabonin sopimuksen hyväksymisestä ja laiksi sen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta’ (HE 23/2008 vp), explains the contents of Article 71 TFEU (ToL), renumbered Article 91 TFEU (page 205).
A small slip occurs, when the explanation mentions, among technical adjustments, that the words ’common market’ are replaced by the ’internal market’. The last words of Article 71(2) are indeed the ‘common market’, but the Lisbon Treaty Article 91(2) TFEU is worded differently, so the observation is made in the wrong context.
The Finnish ratification bill is available at:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
The Swedish language version of the ratification bill ‘Regeringens proposition till Riksdagen med förslag om godkännande av Lissabonfördraget om ändring av fördraget om Europeiska unionen och fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen och till lag om sättande i kraft av de bestämmelser i fördraget som hör till området för lagstiftningen’ (RP 23/2008 rp), presents the same explanation and makes the same small error on page 208.
The ratification bill in Swedish can be accessed at:
http://www.finlex.fi/sv/esitykset/he/2008/20080023.pdf
Ralf Grahn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To Grahnlaw
Posts
All Comments
