The Lisbon Treaty and the role of the European Parliament in the European Atomic Energy Community

In June 2007, the European Council commissioned an intergovernmental conference to draft a "treaty of reform" of the European Union. The wording of the treaty was signed by the heads of state and government of the member countries on December 13, 2007. The ongoing process of ratification in the 27 EU member countries is to be completed before the next elections to the European Parliament in June 2009. The treaty is now referred to as "Lisbon Treaty." The Lisbon Treaty (Treaty Amending the Treaty about the European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community) does not replace the European Treaties currently in force, but merely amends them. Also the "Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM" is amended in this way. On the basis of the contributions about "The German Presidency Program of the Council Working Group on Nuclear Issues an Interim Report" (W. Sandtner and S. Thomas) and "Euratom Treaty and Inter-governmental Conference" (S. Thomas), current links to the Euratom Treaty with potential amendments are presented and commented upon.