The Lisbon Treaty. Information leaflet for the citizens of the European Union

The Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December 2007, improves the legal framework so as to allow for more effective implementation of European policies. The objective of the new Treaty, which amends the Treaties currently in force, is to make the European Union, which now has 27 Member States, more effective, democratic and transparent. It also aims to give the Union the means to conduct policy in areas that are particularly important to citizens: the position of Europe on the international stage, energy, climate change, a more social Europe, security and immigration.

This document describes what is contained in the Lisbon Treaty, in particular the objectives of the Union, and the main innovations compared with the current Treaties.