Lisbon Treaty: Another Step Towards European Unity

The process of European integration has faced many ups and downs. Since its inception, when the idea of European unity got close to its operational stage, designing necessary institutions and mechanisms was placed on the top agenda of pioneer countries. As the process of European integration expanded and deepened, the need for reforms in structures and institutions was increasingly felt. In fact, each stage of expansion and deepening required some specific institutional reforms. Implementing these reforms at every stage faced challenges resulted from differences between countries over the concept of integration in the framework of the European Union. ; While reviewing the formative stages of the European Union, the present article tries to study the proposed institutional reforms stipulated in the Lisbon Treaty formulated following the failure of European Constitution project. These reforms aim at making the structure of EU more efficient and more democratic. Finally, the consequences of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty for the future of the EU are discussed. ;