AUTHOR: Sirini Withana

IEEP Analysis Briefing: Strategic EU Affairs

The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December, thus concluding almost nine years of internal debate and introducing new provisions that seek to streamline the EU’s institutions and decision-making processes, increase democratic accountability and strengthen the Union’s global presence. While the new Treaty leaves the EU’s core provisions on environmental policy substantively unchanged, it introduces a number of changes in related areas which are likely to have an impact on the environment.