Lisbon Treaty
The Treaty of Lisbon is an international agreement signed in 2007 by the member states of the European Union and entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amended the EU's previous founding texts — the Treaty establishing the European Community and the Treaty on European Union — streamlining the Union's institutional structure and decision-making procedures. The treaty strengthened the role of the European Parliament, reformed qualified majority voting in the Council of the EU, and created the positions of President of the European Council and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It also set out the legal framework for future EU enlargement and codified a procedure for a state to withdraw from the Union.
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European Commission plans to bypass national vetoes to enable EU enlargement
The European Commission is preparing a reform package that would replace some unanimity requirements with qualified majority voting, allowing the EU to expand beyond 27 members without amending the Lisbon Treaty. President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present the plan next week, with potential implications for the accession prospects of Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova, Albania, and North Macedonia.