ABSTRACT
The ToL contains a new provision emphasising that the EU should respect the equality of Member States before the Treaties and their national identities (Article 4(2) TEU). The principle of equality means that in the EU all Member States are equal101 in that they enjoy the same privileges and have to fulfil the same obligations vis-à-vis each other and vis-à-vis the EU. Unlike certain international organisations (for example, UNESCO), no special status is granted to any Member State of the EU.
