The European Commission has this morning unveiled a guide to the Lisbon Treaty that aims to explain what the treaty means for people.
The 16-page booklet discusses why a new treaty is required, the key provisions of the document, the aims and values of the European Union, the historical background to the treaty, and technical terms related to EU decision-making.
Speaking this morning, Catherine Day, secretary general of the EC, said that in the aftermath of the first referendum, "everyone was struck about the need that people felt for more information".
"This guide is one response to that demand from citizens for more information about the treaty, not just here in Ireland but right across the Union."
Ms Day said existing rules were designed for a far smaller EU that did not have to face global challenges such as climate change, a global recession, and cross-border crime.
"The EU has the potential, and the commitment, to tackle these problems, but can only do so by improving the way it works. This is the very purpose of the Lisbon Treaty," she said.
"It makes the EU more democratic, efficient and transparent. It gives citizens and parliaments a bigger input into what goes on at a European level, and gives Europe a clearer, stronger voice in the world, while protecting national interests.
"The guide . . . is designed to explain, as simply as possible, what the Lisbon Treaty means to you as a citizen. In producing this guide, the Commission is responding to a real need, not just in Ireland but in all member states across the Union," Ms Day said.
She expressed the hope that the booklet would enrich people's understanding of the treaty and the EU's broader workings.
The guide, which is published in Irish and English, is available on the EC's Irish website. It will be available in printed format from the start of next week.
Elsewhere, the indpendent Referendum Commission today unveiled its public information campaign on the Lisbon Treaty.
