Consider the following statements about the Treaty of Lisbon (2007) I. This is an international agreement signed to change the functioning of European Union. II. To enter into legal force, the treaty must be ratified by at least 3/4th member states of the European Union. Which of the statements given above is/are correc?

1. Evolution of European Integration: From ECSC to EU (basic)

Hello! It’s wonderful to have you here. To understand the European Union (EU), we must first look at the wreckage of World War II. After the war, European leaders realized that if they didn't find a way to tie their economies together, the continent would be doomed to perpetual conflict. The logic was simple but profound: if countries are economically interdependent, they are far less likely to go to war with one another. This journey began not as a full-blown political union, but as a strategic partnership centered on the very resources needed for war: coal and steel.

In May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the "Schuman Plan," suggesting that France and West Germany place their coal and steel production under a single, supranational authority History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The World after World War II, p.257. This led to the Treaty of Paris (1951), which established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The founding members, often called the "Inner Six," included France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18. By pooling these resources, war between France and Germany became not just unthinkable, but materially impossible.

As the success of the ECSC became evident, the vision expanded. In 1957, the same six countries signed the Treaties of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC). This was a massive leap forward; it aimed to create a Common Market by eliminating barriers to the movement of goods, services, capital, and labor History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The World after World War II, p.257. Over the following decades, this economic club grew into a political powerhouse. However, changing the rules of this club is never easy. Unlike a simple majority vote in a parliament, major EU reforms (like the Treaty of Lisbon) require unanimous ratification by every single member state to enter into force, ensuring that no nation's sovereignty is bypassed without its consent.

Sources: History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The World after World War II, p.257; Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18

2. Institutional Framework of the European Union (intermediate)

To understand the European Union (EU), we must look beyond it as a simple trade agreement. It is a unique supranational entity—meaning member states delegate some of their sovereign powers to central institutions. This framework was not built overnight; it evolved through decades of treaties, most notably the Maastricht Treaty (1993), which formally established the EU and laid the foundation for common policies in foreign affairs and security History (TN State Board), The World after World War II, p.258.

The heart of the EU's functioning lies in the "Institutional Triangle," which balances different interests:

• The European Commission: The executive branch. It has the "right of initiative," meaning it is the only body that can propose new laws. It also acts as the Guardian of the Treaties, ensuring member states follow EU rules.
• The European Parliament: The legislative voice of the citizens. It is directly elected every five years. Over time, its powers have expanded significantly, moving from a consultative body to a co-legislator History (TN State Board), The World after World War II, p.258.
• The Council of the European Union: The legislative voice of the member states. It consists of government ministers from each country who meet to discuss, amend, and adopt laws.

Together, the Parliament and the Council must agree for a proposal to become law, ensuring a balance between the people's will and national interests.

Beyond this triangle, the European Council (not to be confused with the Council of the EU) consists of the Heads of State or Government. It provides the overall political direction and priorities for the Union. However, integration hasn't always been smooth. For instance, in 2003, an attempt to create a formal European Constitution failed due to internal resistance, highlighting the tension between national sovereignty and deeper integration Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19. This led to the Treaty of Lisbon (2009), which replaced the idea of a constitution with a series of reforms to make the EU more efficient and democratic.

Institution	Represents...	Primary Role
European Commission	The EU as a whole	Proposes laws; Executive action
European Parliament	EU Citizens	Passes laws; Budgetary oversight
Council of the EU	Member State Govts	Passes laws; Coordinates policies
European Council	Heads of State	Sets political agenda

Sources: History (Tamilnadu State Board), The World after World War II, p.258; Contemporary World Politics (NCERT), Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16, 19

3. Major Milestones: Maastricht and Nice Treaties (intermediate)

The transition from a purely economic cooperative to a deeply integrated political entity reached its watershed moment with the Maastricht Treaty (officially the Treaty on European Union). Signed in February 1992, this treaty was the 'birth certificate' of the modern European Union (EU). It expanded the scope of cooperation far beyond trade, moving into sensitive areas like a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and cooperation on justice and home affairs Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Chapter 2: Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16. Crucially, it laid the legal groundwork for the Euro, the single currency that would eventually be introduced in 2002 to facilitate a truly seamless single market History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The World after World War II, p.258.

While Maastricht built the house, the Nice Treaty (signed in 2001) was about making sure that house could fit more guests. As the Cold War ended, many Eastern European countries were eager to join the EU. However, the existing rules for voting and decision-making were designed for a much smaller group. The Nice Treaty reformed the institutional structure—such as reallocating voting weights in the Council and limiting the size of the Commission—to prevent the EU from becoming paralyzed by gridlock as it expanded from 15 to 25 and eventually 27 members. Despite these milestones, integration was not always smooth; countries like Denmark and Sweden resisted certain aspects of Maastricht, specifically the adoption of the Euro, highlighting the ongoing tension between national sovereignty and supranational unity Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Chapter 2: Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19.

Feature	Maastricht Treaty (1992)	Nice Treaty (2001)
Primary Objective	Transformation of the EC into the European Union.	Institutional reform to prepare for expansion (enlargement).
Key Innovation	Introduced EU Citizenship and the Three Pillars structure.	Adjusted voting powers and Commission seats for new members.
Monetary Impact	Set the criteria and timeline for the Euro currency.	Focused on administrative efficiency rather than currency.

Sources: Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16, 18, 19; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The World after World War II, p.258

4. The Eurozone and Economic Sovereignty (intermediate)

In our journey through European integration, we now reach the pinnacle of economic coordination: the Eurozone. To understand this, we must look at the concept of a Monetary Union (MU). As noted in economic theory, a Monetary Union represents the final and most intense stage of economic integration, where member nations not only share a common market but also adopt a single common currency Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, p.504.

The creation of the Eurozone was a gradual process, evolving from the initial 1951 Treaty of Paris and the 1957 Treaties of Rome Contemporary World Politics, NCERT, p.18. However, adopting a common currency involves a significant trade-off in Economic Sovereignty. Sovereignty usually implies a state has total control over its own affairs. In the Eurozone, countries voluntarily "pool" their sovereignty. This creates a unique divide in how a country is managed:

Feature	Monetary Policy	Fiscal Policy
Definition	Control over money supply and interest rates.	Control over government taxing and spending.
Authority	European Central Bank (ECB) (Supranational)	National Governments (National)
Sovereignty	Surrendered to the EU level.	Retained by the member state (with EU oversight).

The loss of monetary sovereignty means a member state cannot independently devalue its currency to make its exports cheaper during a recession, nor can it print money to pay off national debt. This rigid structure can lead to crises, such as the Eurozone debt crisis, which required international intervention. Interestingly, India’s rising global economic stature was visible during this period; from 2003 onwards, India transitioned from a borrower to a lender, even providing funds to the IMF in 2012 specifically to help bail out Eurozone countries Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, p.521.

Sources: Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, India’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade, p.504; Contemporary World Politics, NCERT, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18; Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, International Economic Institutions, p.521

5. Challenges to Integration: Brexit and Article 50 (exam-level)

While the European Union (EU) has evolved from an economic union into an increasingly political one—acquiring its own flag, anthem, and currency—this process of integration has faced significant domestic resistance Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16. This resistance is often rooted in the tension between national sovereignty and supranational governance. Historically, leaders like Britain's Margaret Thatcher were skeptical of deep integration, and countries like Denmark and Sweden famously resisted the adoption of the Euro Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19. However, the most profound challenge to the 'ever-closer union' occurred in June 2016, when a referendum in the United Kingdom resulted in 51.9% of voters choosing to leave the EU, a phenomenon popularly known as Brexit Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18.

The legal mechanism that made this departure possible is Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Before this treaty, there was no formal, legal procedure for a member state to withdraw from the Union. Article 50 provides a structured process: a member state notifies the European Council of its intent to leave, triggering a two-year negotiation window to determine the terms of the withdrawal and the future relationship with the bloc. Britain formally triggered this article in March 2017, leading to complex negotiations over trade, security, and citizens' rights before officially exiting in 2020 History, The World after World War II, p.258.


Brexit serves as a critical case study in UPSC preparation because it highlights the fragility of regional integration. It proved that integration is not an irreversible 'one-way street.' The departure of a major power—one that held a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (though France still retains its seat)—altered the EU's geopolitical weight and forced the remaining 27 members to rethink the balance between centralized power in Brussels and the autonomy of individual capitals Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18.

Sources: Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16; Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18; Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19; History (Tamilnadu State Board), The World after World War II, p.258

6. The Treaty of Lisbon (2007): Structure and Reforms (exam-level)

By the mid-2000s, the European Union had grown significantly, expanding from 15 to 27 members after the massive 2004 and 2007 enlargements Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18. The existing administrative rules, designed for a much smaller group, were becoming inefficient. After an ambitious attempt to create a formal European Constitution failed in 2005, the member states shifted focus to a more pragmatic document: The Treaty of Lisbon (2007). Rather than replacing previous treaties, it was designed as a 'Reform Treaty' that amended the existing framework to streamline decision-making and enhance the EU's global presence.

The Treaty introduced several landmark structural changes to make the EU act more like a cohesive political unit Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16. These included:

• A Permanent President: Replaced the old system where the presidency rotated every six months with a long-term President of the European Council.
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs: Created a single office to lead the EU’s common foreign and security policy, effectively acting as the Union's 'Foreign Minister'.
• Increased Parliamentary Power: The European Parliament gained more authority over EU legislation and the budget, making the Union more democratically accountable.
• Legal Personality: For the first time, the EU was granted the legal status to sign international treaties as a single entity.

A critical aspect of EU integration is the ratification process. Unlike internal laws of a country that might pass by a simple majority, amending the EU's founding treaties requires unanimous approval from every single member state. This means if even one country rejects it, the treaty cannot enter into force. This caused a significant delay when Ireland initially rejected the treaty in a 2008 referendum. It was only after a second Irish vote and final ratification by the Czech Republic that the Treaty of Lisbon finally came into force on December 1, 2009 Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18.

Sources: Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18; Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.16

7. The Ratification Process and Unanimity Rule (exam-level)

In the world of international diplomacy, signing a treaty is only the first step. For a treaty to actually become law, it must undergo ratification. This is the formal process where each individual member state confirms its consent to be bound by the agreement, usually through a vote in their national parliament or a public referendum. In the context of the European Union, any amendment to the fundamental treaties (the EU's "Constitution" in all but name) follows a strict unanimity rule. This means that for a new treaty to enter into force, every single member state must ratify it. If even one country fails to do so, the treaty cannot take legal effect for the entire union.

This requirement for unanimity is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it ensures that no country is forced into a deeper level of integration against its will, protecting national sovereignty. On the other hand, it makes the EU's evolution slow and vulnerable to domestic politics. For instance, the Treaty of Lisbon (2007), which was designed to make the EU more efficient and democratic, faced a major roadblock when Ireland initially rejected it in a 2008 referendum. Because of the unanimity rule, the entire Union had to wait until Ireland held a second referendum and the final country, the Czech Republic, completed its process before the treaty could finally enter into force on December 1, 2009 Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18.

The difficulty of achieving this total consensus is why some integrationist efforts have failed entirely. A famous example is the attempt to draft a common constitution for the EU in 2003, which "sank" like the Titanic because it could not clear the hurdles of national approval Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19. Over the years, while the EU has moved toward "Qualified Majority Voting" for day-to-day laws to avoid gridlock, the core constitutional changes remain strictly governed by the principle that everyone must be on board.

Feature	Daily EU Legislation	Treaty Amendments (Integration)
Voting Requirement	Qualified Majority (usually)	Unanimity (Full Consensus)
Veto Power	Limited to specific sensitive areas	Every member state holds a veto
National Hurdle	Ministerial approval in Brussels	Ratification by national parliaments/referendums

Sources: Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.18; Contemporary World Politics, Contemporary Centres of Power, p.19

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

In your recent study of Contemporary Centres of Power, you explored how the European Union evolved from a trade-focused community into a highly organized political and economic union. This question tests your understanding of the Treaty of Lisbon (2007), which served as the crucial "modernization" tool for the EU. As you recall, the EU needed to streamline its decision-making after the major 2004 expansion. Statement I aligns perfectly with this objective, as the treaty was specifically designed to reform the institutional framework—such as creating a permanent President of the European Council—to ensure the union functioned effectively with its larger membership. This is a direct application of the "Timeline of European Integration" found in Contemporary World Politics (NCERT).

To evaluate Statement II, think back to the fundamental nature of supranational organizations. While the EU has many federal features, its foundational treaties still rely on the consent of every single member state because they involve a transfer of national sovereignty. UPSC often uses "fraction traps" (like 3/4th or 2/3rd) to catch students who haven't mastered the specific ratification requirements. In reality, the Treaty of Lisbon required unanimous ratification; every member state had to approve it. You might remember the historical hurdle where Ireland's initial rejection in a referendum stalled the entire process until 2009. Because Statement II is incorrect, we must eliminate options (B) and (C).

This leaves (A) I only as the correct answer. A common trap in UPSC international relations questions is to present a broad, correct functional statement (Statement I) alongside a specific, technical procedural error (Statement II). By recognizing that the legal force of EU treaty amendments necessitates a full consensus rather than a qualified majority, you can confidently navigate through such "technicality" traps. This question serves as a reminder that for major international agreements, the process of entry into force is just as significant as the purpose of the agreement itself.