The announcement of an agreement between the 27 member states on a new "Reform Treaty" at the informal Lisbon summit of 18-19 October deserved the welcome it received - that is, as good news of a fresh start after two difficult years for the European project. Beyond this initial reaction, it is important to take time to analyse the key moments of the negotiation and the innovations which the Treaty of Lisbon brings.

The dossier we are publishing on the Reform Treaty should shed light on these questions. If it can make it through this institutional relaunch, we can hope that the EU might approach more serenely the down-to-earth policies that it hopes to lead in the future - and while taking account of its renewed objectives. Among these objectives can be found the protection of children. How can Europe play a greater role in the area of childhood policy? Notre Europe tries to answer this question with en essay dealing with the arguments in favour of a more efficient, more coherent and fully legitimate approach to this policy area at European level.