Lisbon Treaty and Turkey at a First Glance

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The European Union (EU) has taken a significant step in its recent history of integration/deepening with the entry into force of Lisbon Treaty on 1st of December 2009, after a rather long and winding road. The starting point of this process was the Laeken Summit of European leaders 2001 where the major objectives of the then “Constitutional Treaty” were set as:

• simplification of the rules,
• a clearer distribution of power between the centre and national governments,
• greater transparency,
• bringing the EU closer to voters.