Lisbon Treaty: changes from unanimity to QMV

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Hear are lists of areas that change to QMV under Lisbon or are introduced by Lisbon and use QMV. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]None of the [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]first group[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] below applies to Ireland as it's opted out of this area (Freedom, Security and Justice). [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Freedom, Security and Justice Provisions:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]1. Arrangements for a mutual evaluation mechanism of the implementation of the Union policies in the area of freedom, security and justice (Article 70 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]2. Administrative cooperation in the area of freedom, security and justice (Article 74 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]3. Financial sanctions against assets [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]belonging to, or owned or held by, natural or legal persons, groups or non-State entities (Article 75 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]4. Border checks (Article 77 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]5. Asylum (Article 78 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]6. Immigration from non-EU states (Article 79 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]7. Judicial cooperation in civil matters (Article 81 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]8. Judicial cooperation in criminal matters (Article 82 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]9. Approximation of criminal legislation, offences and sanctions, possibly[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] enhanced cooperation [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]in the areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] (Article 83 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]10. Measures in the field of crime prevention (Article 84 TFEU)°[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]11. Eurojust's structure, operation, field of action and tasks[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] (Article 85 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=EUAlbertina][FONT=Calibri] [/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]12. Non-operational police cooperation (Article 87 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana]13. Europol – structure, operation, field of action and tasks (Article 88 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=red][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Conditions to certain articles above:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*Article 79: [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]“This Article shall not affect the right of Member States to determine volumes of admission of third-country nationals coming from third countries to their territory in order to seek work, whether employed or self-employed.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 81: “Notwithstanding paragraph 2, measures concerning family law with cross-border implications shall be established by the Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The Council, on a proposal from the Commission, may adopt a decision determining those aspects of family law with cross-border implications which may be the subject of acts adopted by the ordinary legislative procedure. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The proposal referred to in the second subparagraph shall be notified to the national Parliaments. If a national Parliament makes known its opposition within six months of the date of such notification, the decision shall not be adopted. In the absence of opposition, the Council may adopt the decision.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 82: “Where a member of the Council considers that a draft directive as referred to in paragraph 2 would affect fundamental aspects of its criminal justice system, it may request that the draft directive be referred to the European Council. In that case, the ordinary legislative procedure shall be suspended.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]After discussion, and in case of a consensus, the European Council shall, within four months of this suspension, refer the draft back to the Council, which shall terminate the suspension of the ordinary legislative procedure.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Within the same timeframe, in case of disagreement, and if at least nine Member States wish to establish enhanced cooperation on the basis of the draft directive concerned, they shall notify the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission accordingly. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]In such a case, the authorisation to proceed with enhanced cooperation referred to in Article 20(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 329(1) of this Treaty shall be deemed to be granted and the provisions on enhanced cooperation shall apply.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 83: “These areas of crime are the following: terrorism, trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of women and children, illicit drug trafficking, illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, corruption, counterfeiting of means of payment, computer crime and organised crime.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]On the basis of developments in crime, the Council may adopt a decision identifying other areas of crime that meet the criteria specified in this paragraph. It shall act unanimously after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]“Where a member of the Council considers that a draft directive as referred to in paragraph 1 or 2 would affect fundamental aspects of its criminal justice system, it may request that the draft directive be referred to the European Council. In that case, the ordinary legislative procedure shall be suspended.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]After discussion, and in case of a consensus, the European Council shall, within four months of this suspension, refer the draft back to the Council, which shall terminate the suspension of the ordinary legislative procedure.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Within the same timeframe, in case of disagreement, and if at least nine Member States wish to establish enhanced cooperation on the basis of the draft directive concerned, they shall notify the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission accordingly. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]In such a case, the authorisation to proceed with enhanced cooperation referred to in Article 20(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 329(1) of this Treaty shall be deemed to be granted and the provisions on enhanced cooperation shall apply.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]°Article 84: [/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]supporting competence: excludes any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 87: operational co-operation requires unanimity: [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]“The Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, may establish measures concerning operational cooperation between the authorities referred to in this Article. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 88: “Any operational action by Europol must be carried out in liaison and in agreement with the authorities of the Member State or States whose territory is concerned. The application of coercive measures shall be the exclusive responsibility of the competent national authorities.”[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Overall, decisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy must be taken unanimously. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]However, there are some decisions that can be taken by QMV as set out below.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Provisions: [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]14. Establishment of voluntary permanent structured cooperation in the area of defence (Article 46 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]15. Admission of a Member State to the voluntary permanent structured cooperation arrangement in the area of defence (Article 46 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]16. Suspension of a Member State from the voluntary permanent structured cooperation arrangement in the area of defence (Article 46 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]17. Statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency (Article 45.2 TEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* participation in the EDA is voluntary[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]18. Appointment by the European Council of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (Article 18.1 TEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*requires agreement of President of the Commission (Article 18.1 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*subject to the consent of the European Parliament [/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Verdana]19.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Initiatives of the High Representative relating to the CFSP at the request of the European Council*[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]* This can be qualified by the fact that any 'request of the European Council' must be made unanimously in the first place.[/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]20. Procedures for setting up and financing the start-up fund for preparatory activities for the CFSP tasks referred to in Article 42.1 TEU and Article 43 TEU (Article 41.3 TEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*these tasks are [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter (Article 42.1 TEU) and, more specifically, the tasks ‘shall include joint disarmament operations, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, conflict prevention and peace-keeping tasks, tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace-making and post-conflict stabilisation’ (Article 43 TEU). [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Decisions relating to these tasks must be taken unanimously: ‘Decisions under this Chapter [Specific Provisions of the Common Foreign and Security Policy] shall be taken by the European Council and the Council acting unanimously, except where this Chapter provides otherwise. The adoption of legislative acts shall be excluded (Article 31.1 TEU).[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]A Member State which abstains and makes a formal declaration does not have to apply any decision taken under Article 31.1: [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]“When abstaining in a vote, any member of the Council may qualify its abstention by making a formal declaration under the present subparagraph. In that case, it shall not be obliged to apply the decision, but shall accept that the decision commits the Union. In a spirit of mutual solidarity, the Member State concerned shall refrain from any action likely to conflict with or impede Union action based on that decision and the other Member States shall respect its position.” (Article 31.1 TEU)[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]In addition, “If the members of the Council qualifying their abstention in this way represent at least one third of the Member States comprising at least one third of the population of the Union, the decision shall not be adopted.” (Article 31.1 TEU)[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Institutional Provisions:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]21. Election, by the European Council, of the President of the European Council (Article 15.5 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]22. List of Council configurations (Article 236 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*excludes General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]23. Council Presidencies – decisions as to who becomes president of a particular Council configuration (Article 236 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*excludes Foreign Affairs Council[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]24. Amendment to [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 17, 18, 19.1, 22, 23, 24, 26, 32.2, 32.3, 32.4, 32.6, 33.1(a) and 36 of [/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]the Statute of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and European Central Bank (ECB) (Article 129 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]25. Appointment of the [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]President, the Vice-President and the other members of the Executive Board[/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] of the ECB by the European Council (Article 283 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*only Member States whose currency is the euro may vote[/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]26. Court of Justice: operating rules and appointment of the members of the panel set up in order to give an opinion on candidates' suitability to perform the duties of Judge and Advocate-General of the Court of Justice before their appointment (Article 255 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]27. Court of Justice – establishment of specialised courts (Article 257 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]28. Court of Justice – amendments to the Statute of the Court of Justice (Article 281 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* excluding [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]Title I and Article 64 ([/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]statute of judges and advocates general and the language regime of the Court)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]29. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Provision on [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]open, efficient and independent European administration.[/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] (Article 298 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]30. Amendment to the rules governing the nature of the composition of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee (Article 300.5 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*the numbers on each Committee are set out in the TFEU and can only be changed by revision of the TFEU[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*the membership of each Committee is decided by unanimity[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]31. Mechanisms for control of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (Article 291 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]32. [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]Procedures and conditions required for C[/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]itizens’ Initiative for the tabling of a European law (Article 24 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*rules for the minimum number of signatures and other conditions for the Citizens’ Initiative are set out in Article 11 TEU and can only be changed by revision of the TEU[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]33. Agreement governing the withdrawal of a Member State (Article 50.2 TEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*any Member State may decide to withdraw from the EU in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. If an agreement governing the withdrawal of a Member State cannot be reached after two years, the EU treaties no longer apply to the Member State which has decided to withdraw (i.e. it is no longer a member of the EU) (see Article 50 TEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Supporting Competences:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]34. Sport (Article 165.1, paragraph 2)* °[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana]*reads as follows: “The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]35. Measures in the field of culture (Article 167 TFEU) °[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]36. Tourism (Article 195 TFEU) °[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]37. Civil protection (Article 196 TFEU) * °[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*some measures in the area of Civil Protection were adopted on the basis of provisions which required QMV in the pre-Lisbon treaties (Art. 175 EC).[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]° supporting competences exclude any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Provisions in Specific Areas:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]38.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] Energy (Article 194 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* most of the measures in the area of energy were adopted on the basis of provisions which already required QMV (Art. 95 EC, Art. 175 EC)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]measures taken under Article 194 “shall not affect a Member State's right to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy resources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply, without prejudice to Article 192(2)(c)”[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]* Article 194: “By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall unanimously and after consulting the European Parliament, establish the measures referred to therein when they are primarily of a fiscal nature.”[/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]39[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]. Space policy (Article 189 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]40. [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]Adoption of directives establishing the coordination and cooperation measures necessary to facilitate the [/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]securing of diplomatic and consular protection for nationals of EU Member States ‘[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]in the territory of a [non-EU] country in which the Member State of which he is a national is not represented’[/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] (Article 23 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]41. Definition of the [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]tasks, priority objectives, organisation and [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]general rules applicable to the Structural Funds/Cohesion Fund and the provisions necessary to ensure their effectiveness and the coordination of the Funds with one another and with the other existing Financial Instruments [/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana](Article 177 TFEU)[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]42. Creation of EU-wide intellectual property rights and centralised [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]Union-wide authorisation, coordination and supervision arrangements[/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] for those intellectual property rights (Article 118 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*excludes language arrangements, which have to be established by unanimity:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]“[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]The Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall by means of regulations establish language arrangements for the European intellectual property rights. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.”[/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]43. Member States whose currency is the euro, common position and unified representation on the international scene (Article 138 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*only Member States whose currency is the euro may vote[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]44.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] Implementing measures for the system of own resources (Article 311 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana] Article 311: [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]“The Union shall provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Without prejudice to other revenue, the budget shall be financed wholly from own resources.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall unanimously and after consulting the European Parliament adopt a decision laying down the provisions relating to the system of own resources of the Union. In this context it may establish new categories of own resources or abolish an existing category. That decision shall not enter into force until it is approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall lay down implementing measures for the Union's own resources system in so far as this is provided for in the decision adopted on the basis of the third paragraph. The Council shall act after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]45. Freedom of Establishment: [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications; coordination of the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the taking-up and pursuit of activities as self-employed persons (Article 53 TFEU)[/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]46. Setting of principles and conditions for the functioning of services of general economic interest (Article 14 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* the setting of the principles and conditions shall be “[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]without prejudice to the competence of Member States, in compliance with the Treaties, to provide, to commission and to fund such services”[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]* the provisions of the Protocol on Services of General Interest also apply to Article 14 TFEU:[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]“Article 1[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The shared values of the Union in respect of services of general economic interest within the meaning of Article 14 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union include in particular:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]— the essential role and the wide discretion of national, regional and local authorities in providing, commissioning and organising services of general economic interest as closely as possible to the needs of the users;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]— the diversity between various services of general economic interest and the differences in the needs and preferences of users that may result from different geographical, social or cultural situations;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]— a high level of quality, safety and affordability, equal treatment and the promotion of universal access and of user rights.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Article 2[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The provisions of the Treaties do not affect in any way the competence of Member States to provide, commission and organise non-economic services of general interest.”[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Assistance to non-EU Countries:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]47. Urgent financial assistance to third countries (Article 213 TFEU): “[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]When the situation in a third country requires urgent financial assistance from the Union, the Council shall adopt the necessary decisions on a proposal from the Commission.”[/FONT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]48. Humanitarian aid (Article 214 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* some measures in the area of humanitarian aid were adopted on the basis of provisions which required QMV (Art. 179 EC)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana]*Article 214:[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] “The first subparagraph shall be without prejudice to Member States' competence to negotiate in international bodies and to conclude agreements.”[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Solidarity Clause: [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]49. Arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause in case of terrorist attack or natural disaster, where this decision has no defence implications (Article 222 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]*[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana] the following provisions of the ‘Decision of the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States of the European Union, meeting within the European Council, on the concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon’ (part of the [COLOR=#800080]Irish Guarantees[/COLOR]) apply to Article 222 TFEU:[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]“It will be for Member States - including Ireland, acting in a spirit of solidarity and without prejudice to its traditional policy of military neutrality – to determine the nature of aid or assistance to be provided to a Member State which is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of armed aggression on its territory.”[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]QMV with emergency brake:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]50. M[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Verdana]easures in the field of social security necessary to provide freedom of movement for workers[COLOR=black] (Article 48 TFEU)*[/COLOR][/FONT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana]* the measures that may be adopted are[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]“(a) aggregation, for the purpose of acquiring and retaining the right to benefit and of calculating the[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]amount of benefit, of all periods taken into account under the laws of the several countries;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana](b) payment of benefits to persons resident in the territories of Member States”[/FONT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Verdana]*the ‘emergency brake’ procedure is as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]“Where a member of the Council declares that a draft legislative act referred to in the first subparagraph would affect important aspects of its social security system, including its scope, cost or financial structure, or would affect the financial balance of that system, it may request that the matter be referred to the European Council. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]In that case, the ordinary legislative procedure shall be suspended. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]After discussion,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]the European Council shall, within four months of this suspension, either:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana](a) refer the draft back to the Council, which shall terminate the suspension of the ordinary legislative procedure; or[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana](b) take no action or request the Commission to submit a new proposal; in that case, the act originally proposed shall be deemed not to have been adopted.”[/FONT]

[marmurr1916]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Economic and Monetary Union Provision:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]51. Measures to tackle an excessive deficit (Article 126.13 TFEU)*[/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]* the pre-Lisbon treaties provided for a super Qualified Majority (two-thirds weighted majority) in this instance. The Treaty of Lisbon provides for the ‘ordinary’ Qualified Majority (55% of all Member States representing 65% of the EU’s population) required when acting on a proposal from the Commission (see Article 238.3a TFEU).[/FONT][/COLOR]