15 years since the Lisbon Treaty: How open data is supported by the treaty
What does the Treaty look like and the purpose of Article 15
Today we mark the 15th anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty, where we reflect on its transformative impact on the European Union's governance and structure. Signed on December 13, 2007, and effective from December 1, 2009, the Lisbon Treaty aimed to enhance the EU's efficiency and democratic legitimacy. Key changes included the establishment of a long-term President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, strengthening the EU's external representation.
A notable achievement of the treaty was the extension of the co-decision procedure, now known as the ordinary legislative procedure, which changed the European Parliament's legislative powers. This ensured that the Parliament and the Council of the European Union share equal responsibility in passing legislation, thereby enhancing democratic accountability. Additionally, the treaty empowered national parliaments with a greater role in the EU legislative process, ensuring adherence to the principle of subsidiarity.
The Lisbon Treaty has also been instrumental in promoting open data over the past 15 years. With Article 15 of the Treaty focusing on transparency in work and citizens being able to access documents of the Union, the treaty encourages the provision of open data, to which data.europa.eu contributes. For example, our portal offers a range of almost 20 000 datasets from EU institutions, accessible to all citizens. The Lisbon Treaty provides the legal and philosophical framework for open data initiatives, like our platform.
Looking ahead, the Lisbon Treaty continues to operate as the EU’s governing framework, supporting the usage and provision of open data. Only if needed, the Treaty will adapt to the changing world and challenges of the 21st century, but this will then need to be aligned with Member States and European citizens’ expectations.
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