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EU leaders agree new treaty deal | EU leaders agree new treaty deal |
(about 9 hours later) | |
European Union leaders have reached a deal on a landmark treaty to reform the 27-member bloc, officials say. | European Union leaders have reached a deal on a landmark treaty to reform the 27-member bloc, officials say. |
The agreement in Lisbon was sealed shortly after midnight after objections from Italy and Poland were overcome. | The agreement in Lisbon was sealed shortly after midnight after objections from Italy and Poland were overcome. |
The treaty is designed to replace the European Constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and will be formally signed on 13 December. | The treaty is designed to replace the European Constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and will be formally signed on 13 December. |
It includes the creation of a new longer-term president of the European Council and an EU foreign policy chief. | It includes the creation of a new longer-term president of the European Council and an EU foreign policy chief. |
If what will become known as the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009. | If what will become known as the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009. |
National pride | National pride |
After seven hours of talks, EU leaders emerged embracing and slapping each other on the back in sheer relief that the most serious crisis in the bloc's 50-year history seemed to be over, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Lisbon says. | After seven hours of talks, EU leaders emerged embracing and slapping each other on the back in sheer relief that the most serious crisis in the bloc's 50-year history seemed to be over, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Lisbon says. |
In the last-minute negotiations, Italy gained an extra seat in the future European Parliament, returning it to parity with the UK and restoring Italian national pride, our correspondent says. | In the last-minute negotiations, Italy gained an extra seat in the future European Parliament, returning it to parity with the UK and restoring Italian national pride, our correspondent says. |
Poland secured a guarantee that small groups of countries would be able to delay EU decisions they do not like - a victory for the Polish government just days before Sunday's early parliamentary election, she adds. | Poland secured a guarantee that small groups of countries would be able to delay EU decisions they do not like - a victory for the Polish government just days before Sunday's early parliamentary election, she adds. |
With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move - now we can look forward to the future with confidence Jose Socrates,Portuguese Prime Minister Q&A: The Reform Treaty class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3703&edition=1">Send us your reaction | |
Earlier, Austria reached a deal over its bid to maintain quotas for foreign students, with the European Commission agreeing to suspend for five years its legal action over the country's quota. | Earlier, Austria reached a deal over its bid to maintain quotas for foreign students, with the European Commission agreeing to suspend for five years its legal action over the country's quota. |
Bulgaria also won the right to call the EU single currency the "evro", rather than euro, in its Cyrillic alphabet. | Bulgaria also won the right to call the EU single currency the "evro", rather than euro, in its Cyrillic alphabet. |
The new Reform Treaty is designed to speed up decision making in the expanded European Union. It will also create a new president of the European Council, a new EU foreign affairs chief, a reformed voting system and scrap vetoes in dozens of areas. | The new Reform Treaty is designed to speed up decision making in the expanded European Union. It will also create a new president of the European Council, a new EU foreign affairs chief, a reformed voting system and scrap vetoes in dozens of areas. |
However, the 250-page document has been stripped of any trappings of a super-state, such as the mention of the EU anthem and flag. | However, the 250-page document has been stripped of any trappings of a super-state, such as the mention of the EU anthem and flag. |
It amends, rather than replaces, existing EU treaties, a point which some countries - notably the UK - have argued means there is no need for national referendums on the document. | It amends, rather than replaces, existing EU treaties, a point which some countries - notably the UK - have argued means there is no need for national referendums on the document. |
'Great achievement' | 'Great achievement' |
After the agreement was reached, Jose Socrates, the prime minister of Portugal, which holds the rotating presidency, said Europe had emerged from an "institutional crisis". | After the agreement was reached, Jose Socrates, the prime minister of Portugal, which holds the rotating presidency, said Europe had emerged from an "institutional crisis". |
The UK government says the treaty respects Britain's "red lines" | The UK government says the treaty respects Britain's "red lines" |
"With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move. Now we can look forward to the future with confidence," he added. | "With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move. Now we can look forward to the future with confidence," he added. |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the treaty was a "great achievement". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the treaty was a "great achievement". |
"I believe we have a treaty that will give us now the capacity to act," he said. | "I believe we have a treaty that will give us now the capacity to act," he said. |
"Our citizens want results. They want to see in concrete terms what Europe brings them in their daily lives." | "Our citizens want results. They want to see in concrete terms what Europe brings them in their daily lives." |
The UK government had little to say in Friday's negotiations. | The UK government had little to say in Friday's negotiations. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK's "red lines", which his government had declared around various policy areas, had been secured. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK's "red lines", which his government had declared around various policy areas, had been secured. |
"The British national interest has been protected," he added. | "The British national interest has been protected," he added. |
On Thursday, Mr Brown once again ruled out a referendum on the treaty. | On Thursday, Mr Brown once again ruled out a referendum on the treaty. |
Despite pressure in the UK and several other countries for a popular vote, only Ireland is legally bound to hold a referendum, and most governments will do what they can to avoid another embarrassing failure, our correspondent Oana Lungescu says. | Despite pressure in the UK and several other countries for a popular vote, only Ireland is legally bound to hold a referendum, and most governments will do what they can to avoid another embarrassing failure, our correspondent Oana Lungescu says. |