Achieving Stability: Balance in the Draft Constitutional Treaty (A More Perfect Union‪)‬

Assessments of the European Union often argue that proposed changes respect or even enhance the crucial "balance" that has been carefully achieved among European institutions over the years. However, scrutiny reveals that at least three different forms of balancing are at stake. These balances may all conflict but must still be honored. The institutions must achieve and maintain balance between member states and EU institutions, among EU institutions, and among member states within EU institutions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]