Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Future of EU Treaty Revisions

Abstract

The European economic crisis revived the discussion on future treaty revision. However, stringency of the revision procedure based on unanimity requirement presented an obstacle to fast resolution of complicated problems posed by the crisis. Faced with that difficulty, a majority of the Member States showed willingness to depart form the ordinary procedure and adopt necessary reform measures in form of intergovernmental agreements. In this policy analysis, Carlos Closa examines feasibility of future treaty revisions. With less than perfect options available – and far-fetched solutions proposed to resolve the dilemma – current demands for revision may remain unanswered for the time being.

Keywords: Treaty revision, ratification, unanimity, EU law, EU politics