The European Parliament and International Trade Agreements: Practice after the Lisbon Treaty

Abstract

This chapter is written in honour of Professor Marc Maresceau. It aims at exploring the role of the European Parliament in the negotiation and conclusion of EU international trade agreements after the Treaty of Lisbon. It is well documented that the Lisbon Treaty marked a major advance with regard to Parliament's formal involvement in the conclusion of international agreements covering the common commercial policy (CCP). The chapter briefly recalls the main elements of the pertinent Lisbon Treaty provisions. It then deals with their implementation and effects on the EU's interinstitutional dynamics. The Lisbon Treaty and its implementation have contributed in a concrete manner to the process of making the EU a more democratic actor in international trade relations, whereby the voice of the directly elected representatives of the European people can no longer be ignored. Keywords: common commercial policy (CCP); European Parliament; international trade agreements; Lisbon Treaty; Marc Maresceau