Opening of Intergovernmental Conference for the Drafting of a Reform Treaty to Amend the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community

On July 23, 2007, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, opened the Intergovernmental Conference decided by the European Council of June 21 and 22, 2007. The exact mandate was to draft a Reform Treaty to amend the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community. The amendment of treaties requires unanimous agreement of all member states. Before a new treaty can enter into force, it is also necessary for all member states to ratify it, in accordance with their own national procedures. Over time, several Intergovernmental Conferences have taken place. They resulted in various amending treaties, notably the Single European Act (1986), the Treaty on European Union (1992), the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997), and the Treaty of Nice (2001).