AFRI 2010, Volume XI - The Lisbon Treaty as seen from France

This article aims at interpreting the French position on the Treaty of Lisbon and does so by studying three essential points : the French initiative to use a « simplified » treaty after the failure of the Treaty establishing a Constitution, the constitutionality control of the Treaty of Lisbon and the resulting constitutional amendments, and finally those parts of the treaty that reflect French preferences. The Treaty of Lisbon fits indeed into the logic of a « simplified Treaty » and « de-constitutionalization » advocated by France. French influences can be found in the Treaty’s, such as the institutionalization of the European Council and the strengthening of national parliaments.