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European Treaties

The European heads of government reached agreement about the content of a new treaty. According to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the document 'does justice to the views held by a large proportion of the population about Europe'.

A new treaty

The European heads of government reached agreement about the content of a new treaty in Brussels on Saturday 23 June 2007. The agreement was then translated into a formal text, which was approved by the EU leaders at the Informal European Council in Lisbon on 19 October 2007. On 13 December 2007, heads of state and government and foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries put their signatures to the Treaty of Lisbon.

According to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the document 'does justice to the views held by a large proportion of the population about Europe'.

The new pact will be an amending treaty aimed at concrete improvements. 'We will now have a new treaty, without pretensions but with ambitions,' said Balkenende.

The prime minister mentioned several points agreed by the EU member states:

  • National parliaments will play a greater role. If several countries have problems with EU plans, their parliaments can prevent the plans from being carried out. National parliaments will also have more time to determine whether a proposal is on a subject that is more suited to the EU or to individual countries.
  • The member states have solidified their commitment to making Europe respect its own conditions for enlargement.
  • Member states will retain responsibility for organising their own public services, such as health care and housing policy.
  • The boundaries between what will be decided at European level and at national level have been more clearly delineated. In the area of family law, for example, European policy can only be made by majority vote if all the member states, including their parliaments, agree to this.
  • The treaty will address important issues like mitigating climate change. The EU's pioneering role on this point is being underscored. But the treaty will not include matters that do not need to be in it. While the rights in the Charter of Fundamental Rights will become binding, for example, they will not be incorporated as a whole in the treaty. The rights of Dutch citizens will now be protected from any infringement by the European Union.

Balkenende also mentioned a number of useful provisions from the Constitutional Treaty that will be maintained:

  • The European Union will become more efficient. EU external policy will now unite diplomacy, development cooperation and trade, for example.
  • There will be more far-reaching cooperation at EU level to solve transnational problems like crime and terrorism. EU decisions in these areas will be made by majority vote.

'With this treaty, the Netherlands and Europe are taking a major step forward,' Balkenende said.

More information

European Constitution

Dutch voters voted on the European Constitution on 1 June 2005. Approximately 62 percent of Dutch voters rejected the proposed constitution. The turnout was about 63 percent. The referendum was held on the initiative of the House of Representatives.

The Constitutional Treaty for the European Union (as it is officially known) was signed in Rome in October 2004. It contained agreements on the organisation and governance of the EU.

For example, it set out the powers and responsibilities of the various European institutions. It would have replaced all existing European treaties.

Reaction to referendum

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende said that the Dutch people voted against the proposed constitution, not against European cooperation. 'The Netherlands, as one of the founding fathers of the Union, will remain a constructive partner within Europe for taking on the problems that matter to all of us', Mr Balkenende said.

'I will tell my fellow European leaders that they must do justice to the Dutch "no". Because we understand the Dutch voters' concerns. About losing sovereignty. About the rapid pace of change, in which the public doesn't feel involved. And about our financial contribution. The European Union must take account of these issues.'

Amending European treaties

These were the government's aims in the discussion of a new treaty:

  • A treaty, not a constitution.
  • A treaty that makes Europe more democratic.
  • A treaty that makes clear what Europe's powers are and how they will be limited.
  • A treaty that enables Europe to act effectively when a concerted approach is needed.
  • A treaty that ensures that the EU abides by its own rules, especially concerning EU enlargement.

More information:
20 March 2007
Dutch aims in amending European treaties