The Irish approval of the Lisbon Treaty earlier this month paves the way for what many call a substantial reform of the EU institutions. The second time around, the referendum proved to be a landslide win for the “yes” camp, not least due to the support of sports stars, artists and other celebrities. The usual ingredients of a high-profile political campaign, really.

Now, the last potential stumbling block is the still the awaited signature of the Treaty by the President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus, but there is little doubt that he will eventually surrender to increasing political pressure from Brussels. Full steam ahead – that is the maxim.

The polemic aside, let us look at the practical consequences. What does Lisbon really change? And how will it affect Poland and Polish business? Many claim that the new Treaty makes governance at the EU level easier and more straightforward, and that it will bring about smarter and more efficient legislation for Europe’s business community. However, with the conservation of all 27 Commissioner posts, a concession to the Irish and really quite welcome to the rest, and with the creation of yet an additional permanent political position at the helm of the Council, whether legislation will really be smarter and more efficient remains to be seen. Many expect that the multitude of top posts will create new governance problems rather than solve any, and may make things rather quirky and complicated.

Although on the one hand Lisbon creates a unique foreign affairs portfolio, it does not in fact pave the way for a single EU foreign policy. This means that in weighty areas of international affairs, such as the EU/Russia relationship which affects the Polish economy and society significantly, the EU will still fail to speak with one voice and will continue to play second fiddle to the more powerful diplomacies of some large “old” member states.

Already today, about 80 percent of legislation facing businesses in Poland originates in Brussels. And that number is likely to increase in the years to come. By design, the EU institutions are under constant pressure to propose new legislation, even though not all legislation adds value in the field. What Lisbon does is give the EU institutions increased confidence, even a touch of impudence, to further go down that path. The almost arrogant attitude that Brussels has exhibited by not taking the Irish seriously the first time around shows what it is ready to do in order to gain power – power that it will use.

The conclusion we can draw is that Lisbon has its merits, but some of what it claims to achieve is rather window dressing. The power of Brussels will further increase – at least that much is certain –  and, from the perspective of EU institutions, that is an achievement. More legislative initiatives in Brussels mean more potential harm to businesses in Poland. They will have to be ever more aware, and wary, of the impact Brussels has on what goes on in Warsaw. Stay tuned.