Ettore Greco

The EU constitutional treaty: How to deal with the ratification bottleneck

The effects of the Constitutional Treaty, the result of a long and common effort, are bound to unfold naturally once it enters into force. Yet it will take some time before ratification is completed and there is even the risk that one or more member states could fail to ratify. In order not to waste the valuable work done, a closer look must be taken at three important matters 1) the timeframe and methods of ratification; 2) possible anticipated application of parts of the Constitutional Treaty (CT) before it enters into force; and 3) initiatives to be undertaken in case the Treaty is not ratified by all member states. Analysis of these aspects necessarily calls for both political and legal considerations.

Conclusions: Beyond Resilience. The Case for Transatlantic Leadership

If we had to describe the transatlantic relationship with just one word, ‘resilient’ is what would first come to mind. The historical record is unequivocal: the 75-year-old partnership between the USA and Europe has shown a remarkable capacity to manage conflict.