The Provisions on CFSP and CSDP in the Lisbon Reform Treaty: Stumbling Blocks or Milestones?

Abstract

Historically, issues of foreign, security and defence policy have been considerable stumbling blocks in the process of constitutionalisation of European integration. Developments in this area have been shaped by competing intergovernmentalist and supranationalist grand designs as well as by diverging preferences among the EU Member States in the area of security and defence. In the Lisbon Reform Treaty, the field of foreign, security and defence policy was attributed high relevance and it was possible to introduce some elements of reform, particularly regarding the institutional structures and flexible forms of integration. However, these innovations were still influenced by traditional divides among the Member States and many questions were left open, as this was the only way to reach an agreement. Furthermore, the consensus principle in this policy field was retained with hardly any changes, and areas which are 'domaines reservees' of the Member States were marked even more explicitly than before. In conclusion, it remains questionable whether the provisions on foreign, security and defence policy in the Lisbon Reform Treaty may turn out to be milestones. Nevertheless, it has become clear that these issues are important touchstones for dealing with differing basic outlooks on European integration as well as with various national sensitivities.