December 21, 2009: Since the first of this month the European Union Treaty of Lisbon has been in force, streamlining EU processes in a way that will make the EU more efficient. With the new treaty, the EU has taken the first real step toward eventual full political union, possibly among fewer countries than it has as full members. The most important part of the treaty is the elimination of the single nation veto right, which has impeded progress on EU political integration for years. In the words of the European Union itself, the Lisbon treaty provides for "effective and efficient decision-making: qualified majority voting in the Council is extended to new policy areas to make decision-making faster and more efficient. From 2014 on, the calculation of qualified majority will be based on the double majority of Member States and people, thus representing the dual legitimacy of the Union. A double majority will be achieved when a decision is taken by 55 percent of the Member States representing at least percent of the Union's population."

The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. The road to today's European Union has been a remarkable transition from a devastated continent in the aftermath of World War II. Here are the major milestones of that 60 year transition:

1948 Treaty of Brussels: This treaty between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom expanded a mutual defense pledge between France and England known as the Dunkirk Treaty. This mutual defense pledge formed the foundation for a Western European Union.

1951 Treaty of Paris: This treaty was largely the work of France and West Germany, but was also signed by Italy and the Benelux countries. Its purpose was to establish the European Coal and Steel Community. The main goal was to produce diplomatic and economic stability in Western Europe after World War II. The members of this new community were former enemies in a bloody war, now sharing production of coal and steel, both essential to the war effort. The Treaty of Paris was not all they signed. They also signed something called the European Declaration, which stated that the treaty had given birth to Europe. All the leaders present signed the declaration, emphasizing the supranational principle of a new, united democratic Europe. Especially noteworthy is that this 1951 treaty was the brainchild of former enemies France and Germany, both of which claim Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne (Karl der Große) as a national hero who had united Europe in his time.

1954 Western European Union: The Western European Union was created in 1954 by a new European pact signed in Brussels. It paved the way for the militarization of the Federal Republic of Germany and its integration into the WEU.

1957 Treaty of Rome: This treaty created the European Economic Community (EEC), which was later changed to just the "European Community." The original signatories were the same six countries that formed the European Coal and Steel Community: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Another treaty, signed at the same time, created the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). It and the EEC were the first international organizations based on the idea of supranationalism.

1965 Merger Treaty (or Brussels Treaty): The purpose of this treaty was to combine the executive bodies of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the European Economic Community (EEC) into a single institutional structure.

1986 Single European Act: The Single European Act (SEA) was a major revision of the Treaty of Rome. Its objectives were to create a European common market and to codify European political cooperation. This treaty was signed in Luxembourg and The Hague.

1992 The Maastricht Treaty: Also known as the Treaty on European Union, the Maastricht Treaty created the European Union and the common monetary unit known as the Euro. This treaty also sought to extend the scope of union to the areas of foreign policy, military, criminal justice, and judicial matters. As the Union worked to extend the scope of its supranational power, it encountered resistance. Denmark, France, and the United Kingdom opposed giving up more and more sovereignty.

1997 Treaty of Amsterdam: This treaty made substantial changes to the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht). It increased the powers of the European Parliament and provided the basis for the start of a common foreign and security policy.

2001 The Treaty of Nice: The Treaty of Nice amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome. The Treaty of Nice also reformed the institutional structure of the European Union to accommodate membership from nations of Eastern Europe.

2007 Treaty of Lisbon:: The stated aim of this most recent treaty is to complete the process begun by the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Treaty of Nice. It creates a President of the European Council as well as a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (a Foreign Minister, comparable to a U.S. Secretary of State). Both of these persons have already been selected. Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is now the President of the EU. Baroness Catherine Ashton (Britain) holds the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In spite of the reservations of the French, Danes, Irish, Dutch and others, the Treaty of Lisbon was finally ratified by all member states. With a President and a Foreign Minister, the European Union has the appearance of a single sovereign state. The EU can now enter into various international treaties and maintain its own national army.

Most importantly, future progress toward greater political integration can no longer be impeded by a single nation. Instead, those nations desiring greater political union may proceed without being held back by dissenting EU members. This is reflected in the EU's own words concerning mandatory participation in any future EU military force: "A group of Member States who are willing and have the necessary capability will be able to undertake disarmament operations, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and peace-keeping tasks. No Member State can be forced to participate in such operations."

The Treaty of Lisbon lays the groundwork for a"two-speed" Europe in the years ahead.