Publication

This commentary describes the dilemma the EU faces in trying to alter its Constitutional Treaty and the Treaty of Lisbon. Basically, national governments believe that any desired changes to the treaties, for good or ill, are politically impossible. For "More Europe" advocates, there are legal ways to try and evade this problem and develop the Union by “covert integration,” but they too would require 1) unanimous political agreement among the national governments, and 2) medium-term treaty changes to restore transparency and democratic legitimacy.