Constitutionalizing the European Union

This important new text outlines the evolution and main themes of constitutional debate in the EU; the role of key institutions, notably the Intergovernmental Conferences and the European Court of Justice and the impact of the Convention method and of the constitutional text emerging from it.

Thomas Christiansen is Jean Monnet Lecturer and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre, University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Professor of the College of Europe in Bruges.Christine Reh is Academic Assistant in the Department of Politics at the College of Europe.

Introduction * Conceptualising Constitutional Politics and Treaty Reform in the EU * The Evolution of the Constitutional Debate in the EU * Of Rights and Parties: Europe's 'Constitutional Dimension' * The Actors: Supranational Entrepreneurship and National Preferences * The Structure of Negotiation: The Institutional, Ideational and Legal Context * Beyond the 'Summit Bargain': The Process of Constitutional Politics * The IGC Process: Issue Framing and Agenda Setting * Intergovernmental Conferences: Multilevel Negotiation * After IGCs: Ratifying and Implementing Treaty Change * The Convention and IGC 2004: The Beginning of the End of Constitutional Politics? * Analysing the 'European Constitution'