Should the Lisbon Treaty Move Forward In Tatters?

The Lisbon Treaty, a document aiming to produce a better-defined, stronger concept of the European Union, is overcoming its final ratification hurdles. Notorious Eurosceptic and Czech President Vaclav Klaus has implied that he’ll finally sign, a move that will probably bring the treaty into ratification.

But naysayers like Klaus have put up such a stink with regards to signing the treaty that it’s been whittled down and includes a multitude of loopholes for countries that are particularly hesitant to give up any sovereignty. Is the treaty's grueling ratification process undermining its initial goal of bringing all of the EU under formal and more unified laws?

Klaus, for one, has asked to be given an opt-out from a particular section of the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights so as to not be required to grant property claims by ethnic Germans expelled after World War Two. Poland and Britain, two major stumbling blocks for the streamlining of the EU, have received similar assurances in the past that much of their legislation will not be altered by the treaty. What was initially aimed at bringing the legislation of individual countries under a larger umbrella is riddled with loopholes that will keep the union as fragmented as it is prior to the treaty. And many Europeans are already up in arms about the potential candidacy of Tony Blair for the first full-time EU presidency, a sign that does not bode well for the new position.

The plan looks to be making its way to ratification, but after years of haggling, divided opinions on the future of Europe and concessions made by its creators, the Lisbon Treaty might be too little, too late.