Treaty declared “great achievement” by EC President Barroso

After seven hours of negotiations in Portugal, the leaders of the 27 European Union countries have agreed on the final wording of the new EU treaty.

Jose Socrates, the Portuguese Prime Minister declared, “With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move. Now we can look forward to the future with confidence.” Portugal currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

Agreement was reached in the early hours of Friday morning after last minute negotiations with Italy, Poland and Bulgaria. Austrian and United Kingdom objections had been addressed earlier.

What’s New

EU leaders consider a reorganization of the EU necessary due to its expansion to 27 members. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso described the objective of the treaty as “the wellbeing, the prosperity, the security and the solidarity of Europe.” He said, “I believe we have a treaty that will give us now the capacity to act. Our citizens want results.”

The treaty replaces the proposed European constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. It is similar, but without the constitutional niceties such as an anthem and flag.

It will reform the voting system and scrap many national vetoes in order to streamline decision making. It will end the rolling sixth-monthly presidencies by creating an elected president of the European Council and it creates an EU foreign policy chief.

Now for the Difficult Bit

Only the Republic of Ireland, which is constitutionally obliged to hold a referendum, plans to do so. Hoping to avoid the difficulties caused by the 2005 “No” votes, the other member states are planning no such vote.

This is causing problems for Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. Many Dutch voters feel there is little difference between the treaty and the constitution they have already rejected. The Dutch parliament could force the government to hold a referendum if it chose. But presently it appears to have lost the will for such a confrontation.

U.K. voters would also likely reject the treaty given the chance. Labor, under Tony Blair, had promised a referendum on the new constitution. Gordon Brown has again ruled out a national vote. He said, “Why do I say that this should then go to parliament for very detailed discussions by members of parliament? Because it is no longer a constitutional treaty, it’s an amending treaty.”

Many in the U.K. are unimpressed with this argument. The opposition question Brown’s electoral mandate to sign the treaty. The Sun, a popular tabloid, has already accused Brown of an “act of betrayal” which the paper threatens will haunt him “for the rest of his political days.”

The treaty, likely to be known as the Treaty of Lisbon, is due to be formally signed at a meeting in Brussels on Dec. 19. If ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009.

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