The Lisbon Treaty has entered into force

The new treaty is designed to adjust the functioning of a Union with 27 member states and the prospect of further enlargements. It creates more efficient institutional structures and streamlines decision-making rules. The aim is to meet future challenges and adapt the European Union to an increasingly globalised world.

© European Union

Major changes are introduced. The European Community is replaced by the European Union with a single legal personality and a unified system of external representation. Working methods and decision procedures are facilitated via the extension of the scope of qualified majority voting in the Council. The European Parliament is given a greater role, as more policy areas are treated under the codecision procedure.

The European Council, which brings together the heads of state or government to define the general political direction of the Union, has become an institution. Its first full-time President is Herman Van Rompuy. The President's tasks include chairing the European Council meetings, driving forward its work and facilitating consensus within the European Council. At his level and in that capacity, he also ensures the external representation of the Union on issues concerning the common foreign and security policy. The President's term of office is two and a half years, renewable once.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council - the periodic meetings of foreign ministers - has been divided into two different configurations. The Foreign Affairs Council is presided over by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. The General Affairs Council, which prepares the European Council meetings, continues to be chaired by the six-monthly rotating Presidency.

The High Representative is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. She will be assisted by a new European external action service, including more than 130 EU delegations throughout the world.

More information:
- on the Lisbon treaty