Leaders reach deal on EU treaty
The new treaty is expected to come into force in 2009
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Friday, 19, Oct 2007 06:28
Leaders at a summit of European heads of state in Lisbon have agreed on a new EU treaty after individual members ensured that the document met their needs.
The new treaty, which will replace the European Union (EU) constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, will be signed in Lisbon on December 13th and is expected to come into force in 2009.
The text of the agreement contains no mention of an EU anthem or flag but calls for a foreign affairs chief from the organisation to hold a seat on the EU's executive commission.
Prime minister Gordon Brown said "red lines", the UK's objections to the treaty impinging on the country's foreign policy and domestic security, had been achieved, while Italy and Poland also reported making gains from late-night bargaining.
Mr Brown told reporters: "The UK's red lines are secured", adding that the country's national interests had "been protected".
The heads of state of Poland and Italy also stated that their concerns about being outvoted by major members had been addressed, with both leaders saying their problems with their representation in the bloc had been solved.
Italy will now have another seat in the European parliament while Poland and other relatively smaller countries will be able to delay the enactment of laws.
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the agreement saying it was a great achievement that had given the bloc "the capacity to act".
The president of Portugal, Jose Socrates, said the treaty had overcome an "institutional crisis" and that the treaty had strengthened the 27-member body's ability to tackle global issues.
Leaders at the summit are set to discuss issues such as climate change and the global economy on the second day of the summit today.