The Lisbon Treaty is a highly consequential document in the modern history of European integration. Signed in 2007, it consolidated policy reforms and streamlined bureaucratic processes within the European Union, while also making the EU more powerful and cohesive by moving some aspects of foreign policy decision-making to a more centralized level.

The treaty updated the rules and regulations of the European Union by streamlining bureaucratic processes, such as voting procedures, and consolidating the Union’s foreign policies into an EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. Additionally, the treaty established mechanisms to allow new members to enter the Union, and established a process for countries that wanted to leave the EU.

The treaty also established a new role for the president of the European Council. The Council president is appointed for a two-and-a-half year term and is responsible for setting the agenda for EU summits and other important meetings. They also coordinate policy among the EU’s member states and represent the Union at international events.

The treaty has had a significant impact on how the EU operates. One example is the new Qualified Majority Voting system within the Council of the EU. This system enables the Council to vote with less unanimity, allowing it to pass resolutions more quickly than before. The treaty also introduced the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who leads the EU’s external relations, as well as the European External Action Service, which is the EU’s foreign diplomatic corps. These institutions represent a more unified policy for the Union on the international stage.

Lastly, the treaty also includes a newfound “Charter of Fundamental Rights,” which enshrines the fundamental rights of all European citizens.

The Lisbon Treaty has been a major catalyst for European integration over the last decade. The treaty has given the Union a more unified presence on the international stage, allowing it to negotiate and implement policies more effectively. It has also made the EU more efficient and unified internally, enabling it to pass resolutions more quickly and ensuring that citizens’ fundamental rights are protected.