The role of the European Parliament in the process of developing the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy after the Lisbon Treaty

Abstract

The article discusses the problem o f the EP’s role in the shaping of the CFSP after the changes made in the area o f integration by the Lisbon Treaty. Unlike economic issues, the matters that fall within the scope o f the CFSP are not traditional areas of integration, since they dea with the essence o f sovereignty o f the nation state, which still remains the most important actor of the process of European integration. The dominance o f intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms within the CFSP determines the limited role of the PE in shaping the policy. However, it should be noted that despite its limited treaty competence in the area of foreign and security policy, the EP seeks to play a major role, often going beyond its formal powers. This is due to the fact o f being the only EU institution with democratic legitimacy, and able to influence the European public opinion with a whole range of instruments of influence it has at its disposal. The growing importance o f the EP in the field of CFSP also results from the Lisbon Treaty establishing unified EU external relations, where the EP has significant competence. Further development of the EP's prerogatives in the CFSP is, however, dependent on progress in transforming the EU into a structure of major transnational powers.