Part III

By analyzing the Community treaties (the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, the Amsterdam Treaty, and the Nice Treaty)—which have amended the founding treaties over time—we can observe a clear evolution toward a political union among member states, a sign that the member states’ concerns in this regard have not ceased and have not been deterred by the setbacks experienced in the process of European integration.

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe represents the most recent achievement in this regard and a significant step forward on the path toward the political integration of the European Union. We cannot help but wonder whether this “Constitution for Europe” has, however, succeeded in addressing the challenges outlined in the Laeken Declaration, namely: increasing democratic legitimacy, bringing citizens closer to the European Union, improving the efficiency of the enlarged European Union’s operations, and strengthening its role in the world.

Jean Monnet himself acknowledged the limitations of his innovation, stating that the integration system would function until there was a desire to move from a mere economic union to a political union; the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe seeks to provide a solution in this regard, offering Europe a new dimension.