What the Lisbon Treaty Means

The European Union has undertaken many changes over the last fifty years through a series of treaties and amending treaties, of which the Lisbon Treaty is the latest. The Aim of the Lisbon Treaty is to simplify the way in which the EU works by reforming the Institutional Structure of the Union and the way in which decisions are taken.

These explanatory fact sheets on the Lisbon Treaty are the latest in the series of information publications that the IIEA has produced on the European Treaties since the Institute’s establishment. The Fact sheets are designed with the general public in mind, with a particular emphasis on women and young people. In keeping with the Institute’s role as an independent forum providing in-depth analysis of EU policy developments and their implications for Ireland and Europe, these fact sheets contribute to informed public debate on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland by providing the facts in a balanced and concise manner.