The Law and Politics of the Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty

Abstract

The Law and Politics of the Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty I. The state of ratifications 309 II. Do Article 48 TEU and Article 6 Lisbon Treaty matter? Answers for today and for tomorrow 312 III. Dropping the 'constitutional concept': does it matter? A Dutch answer to a European question 314 IV. Does the content of the Lisbon Treaty lead to specific requirements for the authorisation of ratification? A classical French answer to a classical question 322 V. Opt-ins, opt-outs and other derogations: a legal necessity or a political pretext? Different answers in the countries of Hamlet and Shakespeare 324 VI. Nothing will be done until all has been done: possible sources of delays and surprises: beyond the Irish referendum 326 VII. Involving the Citizens? Wishful thinking or realistic endeavour? 331 References 334