On December 1, 2009, the Lisbon Treaty went into effect after more than two years of negotiations. The treaty, which was ratified by all 27 EU member-states, was crafted to make the EU more democratic, transparent and efficient, and to increase the EU's role as a global actor. Within the framework of the treaty, Herman Van Rompuy took office as the EU's first president in January.


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Learn more about the Lisbon Treaty from the JURIST news archive, and about the effects of the treaty from Guest Columnist Virginia Keyder on JURIST Forum.

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