EU-27 WATCH No. 6 ISSN 1610-6458 Issued in March 2008 Edited by the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Berlin in collaboration with the Austrian Institute of International Affairs, Vienna Institute for International Relations, Zagreb Bulgarian European Community Studies Association, Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Sofia Academy of Sciences, Budapest Center for European Studies / Middle East Technical Institute for Strategic and International Studies, University, Ankara Lisbon Centre européen de Sciences Po, Paris Institute of European Affairs, Dublin Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Européennes Institute of International Relations, Prague Robert Schuman, Luxembourg Institute of International Relations and Political Centre of International Relations, Ljubljana Science, Vilnius University Cyprus Institute for Mediterranean, European and Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome International Studies, Nicosia Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Danish Institute for International Studies, Riga Copenhagen Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, Elcano Royal Institute and UNED University, Madrid University of Malta European Institute of Romania, Bucharest Netherlands Institute of International Relations Federal Trust for Education and Research, London ‘Clingendael’, The Hague Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki Slovak Foreign Policy Association, Bratislava Foundation for European Studies, European Institute, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Łodz (SIPRI) Greek Centre of European Studies and Research, Trans European Policy Studies Association Athens (TEPSA), Brussels Groupe d’Etudes Politiques Européennes, Brussels University of Tartu Bundesallee 23, D-10717 Berlin Tel.: +49/30/88.91.34-0, Fax: +49/30/88.91.34-99 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.iep-berlin.de www.eu-consent.net EU-27 Watch On the Project The enlarged EU of 27 members is in a process of reshaping its constitutional and political order, of continuing membership talks with candidate countries and taking on new obligations in international politics. This project sheds light on key issues and challenges of European integration. Institutes from all 27 EU member states as well as from Croatia and Turkey participate in the project. The aim is to give a full comparative picture of debates on European integration and current developments in European politics in each of these countries. This survey was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire that has been elaborated in November 2007 by all participating institutes. Most of the 28 reports were delivered at the beginning of February 2008. This issue and all previous issues of EU-27 Watch (formerly EU-25/27 Watch) are available on the homepage of EU-CONSENT (www.eu-consent.net) and on the internet sites of most of the contributing institutes. Please note the detailed table of content that allows readers to easily grasp key information and headlines of the country reports. The Institute for European Politics (IEP) in Berlin coordinates and edits EU-27 Watch. The IEP is grateful to the Otto Wolff-Foundation, Cologne, for supporting its research activities in the field of “Enlargement and neighbourhood policy of the EU”. Contact persons at the IEP are Barbara Lippert ([email protected]) and Tanja Leppik ([email protected]). Institutes/authors are responsible for the content of their country reports. Recommended citation form: Institut für Europäische Politik (Ed.): EU-27 Watch, No. 6, March 2008, Berlin, available at: http://www.eu-consent.net/content.asp?contentid=522. EU-27 Watch is part of EU-CONSENT, a network of excellence for joint research and teaching comprising more than 50 research institutes that addresses questions of the mutual reinforcing effects of deepening and widening of the EU. EU-CONSENT is supported by the European Union’s 6th Framework Programme. EU-27 Watch | Table of Content Table of Content On the Project ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Table of Content .................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Authors ....................................................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION The art of ratification management and the caution with forward planning ................................. 10 Future of Europe: Few stumbling blocks – little debate..................................................................... 10 Enlargement and Western Balkans: Focus on Turkey and Kosovo .................................................. 12 Neighbours: Looking East – looking South........................................................................................ 13 Consultation on the budget review: EU spending and resources – first trends................................. 15 Other current issues of high salience in the member states.............................................................. 16 Outlook............................................................................................................................................... 16 Overview 1: State of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty (as of March 25th 2008)............................ 17 THE SURVEY Future of the EU................................................................................................................................... 21 Austria (Austrian Institute of International Affairs) No obstacles for parliamentary ratification – but some calls for a referendum.............................. 22 Bulgaria (Bulgarian European Community Studies Association) Ratification via parliament .............................................................................................................. 23 Croatia (Institute for International Relations) Timetable for ratification vs. Croatian accession timetable............................................................ 25 Cyprus (Cyprus Institute for Mediterranean, European and International Studies) Parliamentary ratification – little debate due to Presidential elections........................................... 27 Czech Republic (Institute of International Relations) The 2009 Council presidency restricts the debate on the Lisbon Treaty....................................... 28 Denmark (Danish Institute for International Studies) Parliamentary ratification only........................................................................................................ 31 Estonia (University of Tartu) Smooth ratification of the Reform Treaty expected........................................................................ 32 Finland (Finnish Institute of International Affairs) Lisbon Treaty: Ratification expected before July ........................................................................... 33 France (Centre européen de Sciences Po) President Sarkozy’s determination to push forward....................................................................... 34 Germany (Institute for European Politics) Now a rapid ratification process..................................................................................................... 36 Greece (Greek Centre of European Studies and Research) “A Treaty, at last!”........................................................................................................................... 41 Hungary (Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) First to ratify – little public debate................................................................................................... 42 Ireland (Institute of European Affairs) The upcoming referendum – large majority still undecided ........................................................... 43 Italy (Istituto Affari Internazionali) After ratification – More competition among member states ......................................................... 44 Latvia (Latvian Institute of International Affairs) Ratification process should be completed in spring 2008.............................................................. 46 Lithuania (Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University) Timely ratification – wide public information campaign.................................................................. 46 EU-27 Watch | Table of Content Luxembourg (Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Européennes Robert Schuman) Juncker first ‘President of Europe’? ............................................................................................... 47 Malta (Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, University of Malta) No obstacles envisaged to ratification ........................................................................................... 50 Netherlands (Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’) Parliamentary ratification only........................................................................................................ 50 Poland (Foundation for European Studies, European Institute) Opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights raised some discussions .................................. 51 Portugal (Institute for Strategic and International Studies) Decision for parliamentary ratification proved controversial .......................................................... 52 Romania (European Institute of Romania) Fourth member state having ratified the Lisbon