Lisbon Treaty Analysis.pdf

The European Union faces challenges, including institutional incapacity, conflict of interests, and economic crisis, which have led to a political deadlock and "European apathy". The Lisbon Treaty aims to address these issues, but its effectiveness is questioned. The authors argue that a traditional constitution is not the only mechanism to provide an umbrella for harmonious development and a sense of belonging. They propose that the European constitutional order, although intangible and clandestine, crystallizes around principles, values, and achievements, such as the rule of law, democracy, and human rights, which are reflected in the EU's substantive rules and are gradually emerging as constitutional principles. The authors claim that being European has become part of the culture and that European identity is being slowly acquired despite negative debates and inconsistencies in the integration process. They examine the mechanisms of the Lisbon Treaty and how it can bring European people together and create a favorable context for the development of a sense of belonging.