The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the common foreign and security policy and European defence and security policy

Abstract

This dissertation explores the fundamental changes of the Lisbon Treaty on the European Union's Foreign Policy. Its aim is to study the ways in which the Lisbon Treaty was established, and how the history of European Integration led to the current situation. Further, it gives the significance of the legal bases for developing and implementing foreign policy which has evolved with the Union as a whole through past treaties. The study points out the fundamental aspects of the treaties and of Europe's foreign policy. This document also points out the specific amendments which the Reform Treaty introduced to the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Defence and Security Policy of the European Union. Unanswered questions concerning the Lisbon Treaty and the External policies of the European Union are further examined. This dissertation gives a clear view of the current situation of the Union and moreover, leads to different ideas and effective conclusions regarding the Treaty. Thus, the main indication of this dissertation is to determine what changes the Lisbon Treaty will bring with it should it be ratified, whether it is possible for these changes to be effective and whether the Treaty will bring with it fundamental changes or negative reactions to the European Union as a whole and to the individual Member States.