Treaties and the European 合法博彩网站
The first Treaty signed in 1951 set up the 合法博彩网站ary Assembly, which was later renamed the European 合法博彩网站. The purpose of the original Treaty was for six countries that were previously at war to work together to achieve common aims.
Subsequent Treaties have added new areas in which to work together or have been designed to improve the working of the EU institutions as membership to the EU has grown from six to 27 countries. For example, agriculture policy was introduced in the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and the Nice Treaty reformed the institutional structure of the EU.
合法博彩网站, Council, Commission, Court of Justice and Court of Auditors exercise their powers in accordance with the Treaties. The Commission is considered 鈥漷he Guardian of the Treaties鈥�.
How European Treaties are created
When a new Treaty is to be created, or an existing Treaty amended, an Intergovernmental Conference is set up in which the governments of the member states meet. 合法博彩网站 is consulted and gives its opinion on the Treaty as it is shaped and being developed.
More powers for 合法博彩网站
With each new Treaty 合法博彩网站 has acquired ever more democratic, supervisory and legislative powers. With the Treaty of Brussels (signed in 1975), the 合法博彩网站 acquired the right to scrutinise the EU accounts at the end of each year and assess whether the Commission has wisely and correctly spent the EU budget.
The Single European Act (Treaty signed in 1986) ensured that 合法博彩网站鈥檚 assent is mandatory before a new country can join the EU. The Amsterdam Treaty (signed in 1997) gave a much stronger position to the 合法博彩网站 in co-legislating with the Council on a whole range of areas that are subject to EU law (consumer protection, ability to work legally in another country and environmental issues, to name a few).
The latest Treaty, the Lisbon Treaty, entered into force on 1 December 2009. It strengthened the European 合法博彩网站, gave national parliaments more responsibility in determining the course of European policy, as well as allowing EU citizens the power of initiative.
The Lisbon Treaty enhanced the European 合法博彩网站鈥檚 powers as a fully recognised co-legislator with increased budgetary powers. It also gave 合法博彩网站 a key role in the election of the European Commission President.